FaultScore

Worst years for a Chevrolet Prizm

Owners have filed 195 complaints about the Chevrolet Prizm with NHTSA across model years 1990 to 2002. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

2001 Chevrolet Prizm

59 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.

Cleanest on record

2002 Chevrolet Prizm

20 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Chevrolet Prizm year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2002 B 20 2 0 67,000 Engine & Cooling
2001 D 59 8 1 63,500 Engine & Cooling
2000 D 32 6 3 50,000 Engine & Cooling
1999 D 47 13 5 78,000 Airbags
1998 D 33 7 0 Airbags
1996 1 0 0 Tires
1991 2 0 1 Engine & Cooling
1990 1 0 1 Electrical System

What breaks on a Chevrolet Prizm

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 39 20.0%

Worst in 2001

Airbags 28 14.4%

Worst in 1999

Electrical System 18 9.2%

Worst in 1999

Tires 13 6.7%

Worst in 2001

Doors, Latches & Locks 11 5.6%

Worst in 2000

Lights 10 5.1%

Worst in 1999

Seat Belts 10 5.1%

Worst in 1998

Brakes 9 4.6%

Worst in 2000

Body & Structure 9 4.6%

Worst in 2001

Steering 7 3.6%

Worst in 1998

Acceleration & Cruise Control 7 3.6%

Worst in 1998

Seats 7 3.6%

Worst in 2000

Transmission & Drivetrain 6 3.1%

Worst in 2001

Suspension 6 3.1%

Worst in 1998

Exactly what failed on a Chevrolet Prizm

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Frontal 12 24.0%
Engine 7 14.0%
Gasoline 5 10.0%
Latch 5 10.0%
Body 4 8.0%
Exhaust System 4 8.0%
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 4 8.0%
Latch 3 6.0%
Recliner 3 6.0%
Headlights 3 6.0%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Chevrolet Prizm, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Apr 1998 peak 7 Jul 2020

Compare the Chevrolet Prizm

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.