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FaultScore report

1990 GEO Prizm problems

Owners have filed 54 complaints about the 1990 GEO Prizm with NHTSA between 1995 and 2006. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GEO Prizm
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

54

Complaints

5

Crashes reported

2

Fires reported

6

Injuries reported

How 1990 compares with every other GEO Prizm

Click any bar 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

What breaks on a 1990 GEO Prizm

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Seat Belts 7 13.0%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 125,500 mi

Body & Structure 7 13.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain 7 13.0%
Engine & Cooling 7 13.0%
Lights 5 9.3%

0 crashes, 2 fires

Suspension 5 9.3%
Brakes 3 5.6%
Electrical System 3 5.6%
Doors, Latches & Locks 2 3.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 3.7%
Seats 1 1.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Wheels 1 1.9%
Tires 1 1.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 1.9%
Steering 1 1.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Airbags 1 1.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Brake Lights 4 19.0%
Door 4 19.0%
Buckle Assembly 3 14.3%
Automatic Transmission 3 14.3%
Gasoline 2 9.5%
Foundation Components 2 9.5%
Windshield 2 9.5%
Lock 1 4.8%

When owners complained

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.

Jan 1995 peak 7 Jun 2006

Recalls on the 1990 GEO Prizm

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

10E002000

SUSPENSION

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.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

State College, PA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

REAR HATCH HYDRAULIC UNITS FAILED TO SUPPORT HATCH WHEN LIFTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #803758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE CAR SET ON FIRE FROM A SHORT IN LIGHT REAR BULB. TT

NHTSA complaint #977377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

THE CAR SET ON FIRE FROM A SHORT IN LIGHT REAR BULB. TT

NHTSA complaint #977377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antionio, TX Crash 1 injured

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED 28MPH, FLIP OVER. TT

NHTSA complaint #974139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manchester, MO Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DRIVER LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #968346 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manchester, MO Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE UPON REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. TT

NHTSA complaint #966972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 125,500 miles LAS Vegas, NV

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE SEAT BELT IS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED; THE SEAT BELT COULD NO LONGER BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARTS. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER DID FIND A PART, NO ONE WAS WILLING TO INSTALL THE LAP BELT FOR FEAR OF LIABILITY. UPDATED 05/30/06.

NHTSA complaint #10158868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Howell, NJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #760518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gainesville, FL

TIRES

GENERAL TIRES UPC 20111G165-80R18, SIZE 165-80-13. CONSUMER PURCHASED TIRES ON 02/29/96. WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, TIRES FELL APART. WIRES/ RUBBER CAME OUT. DAMAGE DONE TO FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AT OWN EXPENSE. AK

NHTSA complaint #836371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FELL OUT DUE TO CORROSION OF THE BOLTS.

NHTSA complaint #536032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOORS MISALIGNED AND NOT FITTING PROPERLY CAUSING THE SENSOR TO LIGHT (NOT CLOSING PROPERLY).

NHTSA complaint #536032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FRAME MISALIGNED CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #536032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

STRUTS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION AND PULLING.

NHTSA complaint #536032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #536032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Penfield, NY

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

STRUTS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION AND PULLING.

NHTSA complaint #536032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Medford, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

NONE

NHTSA complaint #700073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Medford, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NONE

NHTSA complaint #700073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Olathe, KS

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

SEAT BELTS COME APART.

NHTSA complaint #541576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Miami Spri, FL

SUSPENSION

DOOR HANDLES MALFUNCTIONED. GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE. REAR STRUTS WE WORN IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER REFUSED TO STAND BY WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #540282 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brownsville, TX

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

CV JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #826525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Rochell, NY

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LURCHED INTO A STOP. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #825132 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

SUSPENSION:REAR

AXLE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #524432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Birmingham, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #524432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Littleton, CO

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ALL OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN VEHICLE HAVE BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #528864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rochester, MI

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP, LIKE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AFTER THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE VEHICLE WILL STARTS BUT WILL NOT MOVE.

NHTSA complaint #527563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salem, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #513361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

State College, PA 1 injured

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

REAR HATCH HYDRAULIC UNITS FAILED TO SUPPORT HATCH WHEN LIFTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #803758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glastonbury, CT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PLASTIC COVER FEMALE PORTION WHICH HOLDS BUCKLE IN PLACE HAS DETACHED FROM SEAT BELT, RENDERING PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA complaint #800679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

FAILURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #800432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Irving, TX

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

FAILURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #800432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bowie, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #506823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.