FaultScore report
Owners have filed 20 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm with NHTSA between 2002 and 2018. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 5 worst.
FaultScore 29/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Prizm.
How this is worked out20
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
67,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 69,500 miles
Median failure at 118,144 miles
Median failure at 50,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 55,500 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 73,000 mi
Median failure at 43,495 miles
Median failure at 60,000 miles
Median failure at 130,025 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING
TILT STEERING DID NOT LOCK DURING A TIGHT RIGHT TURN.
NHTSA complaint #10114725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS RESULT, MAJOR DAMAGE OCCURRED. NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10092732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE
ENGINE ABSORBS OIL. AFTER PURCHASING; ENGINE SEIZED. PURCHASED 2ND ENGINE AT BEECHMONT CHEVROLET...SAME FLAW. ENGINE SEIZED AT FIVE MILE ROAD EXIT OFF OF I-275. TO THIS DAY IF I DO NOT CHECK OIL ON REGULAR BASIS. I POSE A RISK OF ENGINE SEIZING AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11103606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM (SAME AS A TOYOTA COROLLA) HAS ITS CRUSE CONTROL, HORN, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ALL MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE CAR THROUGH AN INFLATABLE RESTRAINT STEERING WHEEL MODULE COIL (AKA CLOCK SPRING) MECHANISM. BOTH THE CRUSE CONTROL AND THE HORN DO NOT NOW OPERATE AND HAVEN'T FOR YEARS, DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE AIRBAG IS ALSO INOPERATABLE (TWO OUT OF THREE FAILURES SOUNDS LIKE A BAD OMEN; CONVENTIONAL WISDOM TELLS ME THAT THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM IS ALSO FAULTY)? IS THIS CAR SAFE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT?
NHTSA complaint #10726851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10679952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP *TGW
NHTSA complaint #10348768 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED CAR JULY '09 WITH 64,000 ON ENGINE. VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 90 DAY WARRANTY. 2700 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ENGINE EMITTED BLUE SMOKE AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PISTONS HOLD NO COMPRESSION, ONE VALVE SHOT, REPAIR SHOP AND WARRANTY COMPANY STATE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT ENGINE, POTENTIAL VALVE DAMAGE., ENGINE COULD CEASE IF DRIVEN. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER SLUDGE DAMAGE DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF PREVIOUS OWNER. CAR BURNS OIL VARIABLY RANGING FROM 1QT PER 500 MILES TO 3QT PER 200 MILES. OWNERS MANUAL STATES CAR BURNS 1 LITER PER 800 MILES FROM NEW. NOT WORTH PAYING 3K TO 6K FOR NEW ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE VALUED AT 5K. OIL BURNING WORSE AFTER CHANGING OIL, SLUDGE CLOGGED OIL PUMP AFTER 5K OF DRIVING. TW*
NHTSA complaint #10303094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DEAR MADAM/SIR, IN TODAY'S (12/08/09) WALL STREET JOURNAL, IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT TOYOTA RECALLS, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT 2003 AND 2004 COROLLAS AND MATRIXES WERE RECALLED TO FIX A FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS TO STOP WORKING. I OWN A 2002 PRIZM, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A COROLLA WITH A PRIZM BADGE. I HAD TO HAVE ONE POWER WINDOW FIXED AT 43,495 MILES, ANOTHER AT 56,236 MILES AND NOW THE OTHER TWO ARE GIVING ME PROBLEMS AT 77,000 MILES. TOYOTA AND CHEVROLET NEED TO STUDY THIS PROBLEM AND EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 2002 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10294959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
PURCHASED CAR JULY '09 WITH 64,000 ON ENGINE. VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 90 DAY WARRANTY. 2700 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ENGINE EMITTED BLUE SMOKE AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PISTONS HOLD NO COMPRESSION, ONE VALVE SHOT, REPAIR SHOP AND WARRANTY COMPANY STATE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT ENGINE, POTENTIAL VALVE DAMAGE., ENGINE COULD CEASE IF DRIVEN.
NHTSA complaint #10284716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON PERMANENTLY. THIS CAN BE TEMPORARILY TURNED OFF BY MECHANICS BUT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON AGAIN. SINCE THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, THIS WARNING LIGHT IS USELESS IF I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10258185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
HOOD LATCH COMPLETELY BROKE SO THAT EITHER IT COULD NOT BE CLOSED COMPLETELY, OR, WHEN FINALLY CLOSED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THIS, COUPLED WITH OTHER HOOD LATCH PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHERS SEEMS TO INDICATE A DEFINITE HOOD LATCH PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10258183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
HOOD LATCH/SAFETY LATCH FAILED AND HOOD OPENED UP AND CRASHED AGAINST WINDSHIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. DAMAGED HOOD, HINGES, COWLING, AND CRACKED WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10257753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
I INSTALLED FOUR KUMHO 795 TIRES (P185/65R14) ON 10/03/2006 ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET PRISM LSI. IN NOVEMBER 2008, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ONE TIRE (FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) RUPTURED ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL. I WAS LUCKY NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WENT TO THE DEALER (EXECUTIVE WHOLESALE TIRE, ROCKVILLE, MD) AND THE DEALER INSISTED I MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A KUMHO KR-21 FREE, SINCE KUMHO OFFERED THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY ON THE 795 TIRES. AFTER THIS TIRE WAS INSTALLED, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. ANOTHER KUMHO 795 WAS ROTATED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, I NOTICED THAT TIRE IS LEAKING AIR SLOWLY. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO EXECUTIVE WHOLESALE TIRE. THEY FOUND A BULGE ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL, EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION ON THE OTHER TIRE. THE DEALER STILL INSISTED THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING AND THIS TIME I KNOW FOR SURE I DID NOT. BOTH TIRES HAVE LOW MILEAGE AND THE TREAD LOOKS BRAND NEW. FOR SAFETY CONCERNS, I REFUSED AN OFFER TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FREE KUMHO TIRE. INSTEAD, I HAVE ALL FOUR KUMHO TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10257122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY CATCH FAILED; HOOD FLEW OPEN ON EXPRESSWAY @ 50-55 MPH CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOOD, HINGES, COWLING, FENDERS AND WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #10239799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD AUTOMATICALLY DETACHED FROM THE LATCH. THE HOOD SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH SHATTERED THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GLASS. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE MALFUNCTIONING AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,144 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,244. UPDATED 1/9/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09.
NHTSA complaint #10232496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. TWO YEARS AGO, THE EMISSIONS CONTROL BOX FAILED AT 41,000 MILES AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. AT 72,000 MILES, THE ENGINE HAS A PISTON KNOCK. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE KNOCKING HAS WORSENED. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000.
NHTSA complaint #10202989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE TIE DOWN STRAP ON THE MUFFLER RUSTED OUT AT 45,000 MILES. THE MUFFLER IS STAINLESS STEEL AND SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10181758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
TILT STEERING DID NOT LOCK DURING A TIGHT RIGHT TURN.
NHTSA complaint #10114725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS RESULT, MAJOR DAMAGE OCCURRED. NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10092732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT IGNITION COIL HAD BURNED OUT. 2 CYLINDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #8012680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT IGNITION COIL HAD BURNED OUT. 2 CYLINDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #8012680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS STAY ON ALLDAY AND ARE VERY BRIGHT. WHICH BLINDS OTHER DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #8010686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.