1996 Geo Prizm

Routine

Owners filed 61 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Geo Prizm years to avoid. Which Geo Prizm years to avoid →

Most common 1996 Geo Prizm problems

19 of the 61 complaints (31%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags18
15013
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor4
102
Seat Belts4
101
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip · brakes3
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage3
000
Seat Belts › Rear/Other2
000
Wheels1
000
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration1
000
Unknown or Other1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Suspension10E002000
Filed Feb 11, 201012,657 vehiclesRide Control, LLC

Defect. RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Risk. THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags1 injured
Filed Apr 1, 2019228,194 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,194.

Suspension
Filed Jul 5, 201655,140 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO OR THREE TIMES PER DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, AT 40,000 MILES, THE TIRES BECAME WORN OUT WITHIN 10,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,140.

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jul 15, 2005NY

THREE OF MY DOORS ON MY 1996 GEO PRIZM LOCKS HAVE FAILED, SHUTTING THE DOORS PERMANENTLY. I HAVE ONLY ONE DOOR TO GET IN/OUT OF MY CAR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER GEO OWNERS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO SE IF I CAN FIND A SHOP TO GET THE DOORS UNLOCKED SO I NO LONGER HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO GET IN TO DRIVE. HEAVEN HELP ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 20, 2004AZ

TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A PULL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC (DAYTON TIRE). *JB

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Jun 4, 2004109,132 milesAZ

REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD UNLOCK FROM THE BUCKLE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jun 1, 2004OH

THE SEAT BELTS LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION THEY ARE UNABLE TO BE USED. THIS USUALLY STARTS WITH THEM STICKING WHEN YOU TRY TO PULL THEM DOWN TO BUCKLE. I HAVE TWO GEO PRIZMS A 1996 AND A 1997 THEY BOTH HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 25, 2004DC

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT BUCKLE. THE BELT DOES NOT COME OUT OF HOLDER. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 15, 2004MT

MY REAR WINDOW LITERALLY SHATTERED TODAY (JUNE 5, 2003) WHILE I WAS A WORK THE CAR WAS PARKED THE TWO FRONT SIDE WINDOWS WHERE ROLLED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 INCHES THE TEMPERATURE HERE TODAY REACHED ONLY 71 DEGREES WITH A SLIGHT WIND AND IT WAS OVERCAST SO IT WAS NOT EXTREMELY HOT YET IT SHATTERED HAVE YOU HAD ANY SIMULAR REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Nov 29, 2002KA

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RAR SEAT BELTS.DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE CALL. PH

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Oct 17, 2002WA

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *NLM

TiresCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 11, 2002MI

WHILE DRIVING REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF AXLE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL , RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 11, 2002MI

IN AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK

Power Train
Filed Aug 18, 2002CA

I GOT A REPORT FROM CARFAX AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR I BOUGHT TWO YEARS AGO HAD OVER 37,000 MORE MILES ON IT .THE DEALER SOLD ME THIS CAR KNOWING THAT THE ODOMETER HAD BEEN ROLLED BACK.BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS AGO,DO I STILL HAVE ANY RIGHTS?. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 23, 2002VA

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND IT HIT DRIVERS SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jun 16, 2002MN

THE DRIVERS SEATBEALT COMPLETLY UNWOUND WHILE BUCKLED AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT EASILY. IN ORDER TO GET IT BUCKLED IT MUST BE TUGGED CONTINUOSLY MOVING A QUARTER INCH AT A TIME.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed May 9, 2002KY

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SHOULDER BELT WOULD TIGTHEN DOWN ON USERS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED SEAT BELT SYSTEM. AT PRESENT MILEAGE OF 71,000 MILES PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed May 9, 2002KY

REAR LAP SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE, BELT WILL NOT LATCH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

SeatsCrash
Filed Apr 25, 2002NY

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, AND CONSUMER ENDED UP IN BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jul 12, 2001PA

WINSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS RESULTS IN INOPERATIVEWINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH REDUCE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASES RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

Seat Belts
Filed May 30, 2001UT

REAR BUCKLE WOULDN'T UNLOCK WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO TAKE CAR SEAT OUT. CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER , AND DEALER COULDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed May 7, 2001CT

CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE PROHIBITING ONE FROM PUTTING IT ON, IT WOULD ALSO LOCK UP WHILE WEARING IT RESTRICTING MOVEMENT. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 4, 2001NJ

FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *JB

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 14, 2001TN

BOTH SEATBELTS WERE IN USE THE DRIVERS FAILED AS WELL, BY BREAKING FREE AT THE RETRACTOR.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Dec 6, 2000TX

A FIRE HAD DEVELOPED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, BUT FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF BEFORE THEY ARRIVED. VEHICLE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC BELIEVED THAT FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

Wheels
Filed Sep 18, 2000PA

WHEELS WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ONTO THE CENTER SHOULDER OF THE HUB, THE WHEEL CENTER CAPS WERE ALSO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CAUSING THE TABS ON THE INSIDE TO BEND OR BREAK, CONSUMER REQUESTS A PAYMENT IN FULL FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS. *SLC

Suspension › Rear
Filed Sep 10, 2000MO

STRUTS CAUSE TIRE TO FAIL AND ROAD HANDLING IN DRY OR RAIN ,RAIN IS WORSE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175/65R14 )

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 14, 2000PA

WAS TRAVING AT ABOUT45MILES PER HOUR,CAR CUT ME OFF, HIT REAR DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER, HIT MY BUMPER, WENT THROUGH MY GRILL AND HOOD, LOOKING AT FRONT OF CAR HOLE IS IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CONER OF DECRITIVE PLATE AND BUMPER,BUMPER IS DAMAGED ON TOP OF IT,AND BOWED DOWN, DONT UNDERSTAND WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash4 injured
Filed Jul 11, 2000PA

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 3, 2000OR

WHILE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS CONSUMER DIDN'T SEE THE STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jun 29, 2000CA

REAR LAP SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH AND REAR DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETURN TO RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Apr 10, 2000NM

ON GEO PRIZMS AND TOYOTA COROLLAS FROM AT LEAST 1986-1996, THE LEVER THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH IS HAZARDOUS. IT CAN CATCH EITHER THE DRIVER'S PANT LEG OR, IN MY CASE, THE LOOP ON THE BACK OF MY SNEAKERS. IN SUCH INSTANCES, IT TAKES ME. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 15, 2000NY

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTDOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Mar 6, 2000KA

SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY KEEPS BREAKING. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 29, 1999MD

ABS BRAKE MODULE ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING ABS BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, SB ISSUED CONCERNING ABS LIGHT. YH

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Nov 29, 1999PA

CLUTCH FAILED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE PUSHROD DURING MANUFACTURING, CAUSING PRESSURE ON THE PLATE. YH

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Jul 27, 1999NY

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

StructureCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 15, 1999NJ

DURING LOW IMPACT COLLISION (KNICKED OTHER VEHICLE) STUCTURE FOLDED DUE TO WEAK MATERIAL, POSSIBLE FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS (LOW MPH), INJURY TO CONSUMER (HEAD, RIBS, FACIAL) NLM

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Jun 18, 1999NJ

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO CONSUMER (FACE AND RIBS).MJS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 17, 1999WI

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35- 40 MPH WHEN SHE HIT A VEHCLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 1999NJ

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED INJURIES TO CONSUMER. MJS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 7, 1999MN

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON NATIONAL BACKORDER PER GM. UNABLE TO FIND ONE ANYWHERE. *AKY

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jan 20, 1999UN

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE HARD. REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 23, 1998SC

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, AND AS COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A FUEL SPILL IN THE ROAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 4, 1998IN

AT 7:30AM CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO MERGE RIGHT. CONSUMER FELT LIKE SHE HAD HIT SOMETHING, SHE SAW NOTHING. THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND SHE SAW HER WHEEL ROLLING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE HIT THE WALL AND SKIDDED DOWN THE SIDE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal
Filed Apr 27, 1998CO

ON COLD DAYS THE RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS WARM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Seat BeltsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 14, 1998FL

SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK ON IMPACT.

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Oct 27, 1997CA

STEERING COLUMN FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder
Filed Sep 8, 1997CA

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 25, 1997MD

WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, A VEHICLE BEHIND PRIZM HIT IT, CAUSING A FRONTAL COLLISION. OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS ACCIDENT AND THEY SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 22, 1997CA

DRIVER SIDE RESTRAINT BELT LOCKS UP. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL REPAIR. *AK

Complaints 1-50 of 61, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20023000Routine
20016000Routine
20007000Routine
199924010Routine
199811000Routine
199750220Routine
1996 — this page61120Routine
199596310Routine
1994134362Fatalities reported
199377220Routine
199250100Routine
199146230Routine
199037110Routine

Compare every Prizm year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 11, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.