FaultScore report
Owners have filed 95 complaints about the 1993 GEO Prizm with NHTSA between 1995 and 2007. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 2 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 74/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GEO Prizm.
How this is worked out95
Complaints
25
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
19
Injuries reported
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.
1 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 2 fires
Median failure at 95,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 180,000 mi
4 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
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.
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.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
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.
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.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Risk: THIS LEAKAGE CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10166960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10166960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10061505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES SHE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER THE INCIDENT CONSUMER LEANED OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF LOOKING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHIN THREE INCHES OF CONSUMERS NECK, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS AFTER THE INCIDENT, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #561895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #716110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH ON WET ROAD. CONSUMER SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS TO DRIVER SIDE OF FACE AND CHIN. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #847733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GEO PRIZM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LONGER THAN EXPECTED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10197554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1993 PRIZM HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *TS
NHTSA complaint #10175398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10166960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK.
NHTSA complaint #10166960 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V107000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUTIT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #10145613 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
PURCHASED A 1993 GEO PRIZM FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, BEFORE THE PURCHASE WE NOTED THAT THE NHTSA DESCRIBED A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE DEFECTIVE SERIES OF CARS. HOWEVER, IN REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE I FIND THAT MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE, AND IN ADDITION, THE 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA, WHICH THE GEO PRIZM IS ITS COUNTERPART, HAVE ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHAT MAKES CHEVROLET SO SURE THAT MY CAR'S AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE IS NOT DEFECTIVE? I HAVE NOT HAD A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN "MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH."
NHTSA complaint #10078311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10061505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DANGEROUS LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED CRACKED MANIFOLD TWO TIMES, THE SECOND ONE LASTED 16 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE!! EXHAUST REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEO PRIZM AND TOYOTA COROLLA MODELS. AT OVER $300 TO REPLACE EACH TIME, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE THOUGH IS WITH THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE. IS THIS BEING INVESTIGATED?
NHTSA complaint #10047466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED ENGINE NOISE GETTING LOUDER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING MORNING I FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED COMPLETELY INTO TWO SEPERATE PIECES.ALSO NOTICED ODOR FROM EXHAUST LEAKING INTO PASENGER COMPARTMENT.APARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD THINK THAT EXHAUST FUMES ARE A LARGE PROBLEM FOR MY EIGHTEEN MONTH OLD SON.I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS OR IS INVESTIGATING THIS AND WHAT IF ANYTHING WAS OR WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10043140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I OWN A 1993 GEO PRIZM. TWICE, I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPAIRED BY A WELDER BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THE WELDER'S BEST EFFORTS, THE MANIFOLD KEEPS DEVELOPING MORE CRACKS. I WANTED TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED MANIFOLD. HOWEVER, A CALL TO SEVERAL SALVAGE YARDS REVEALED THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO OBTAIN A GOOD, USED MANIFOLD FOR THAT VEHICLE. THE REASON IS THAT SO MANY OF THE 1993 PRIZMS THAT ARE IN SALVAGE YARDS ALREADY HAVE CRACKED MANIFOLDS. IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON AMONG THAT MAKE AND MODEL. SHOULDN'T YOUR ORGANIZATION BE CONCERNED WITH WHAT MAY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES? I THOUGHT SO, AND THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING, TODAY.
NHTSA complaint #755450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES SHE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER THE INCIDENT CONSUMER LEANED OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF LOOKING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHIN THREE INCHES OF CONSUMERS NECK, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS AFTER THE INCIDENT, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #561895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT,AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED WITHIN 12 MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #888146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS RECALL 96V107000 ON THIS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE, HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. SENSOR IN AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.
NHTSA complaint #887490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS , BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #883671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
RECALL 96 V 107 000/PASSIVE RESTRAINT AIR BAG: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINING ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND BOTH INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #878389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REGULATORS FAILING, CAUSING POWER WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERATIVES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND SHARE IN HALF THE COST ON THE 1ST. INCIDENT(DRIVER SIDE); 2ND INCIDENT(PASSENGER SIDE); CONDITION REOCCUR AGAIN, AND INFORMED TO CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #864775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE SAME PLACE. I HAVE OWNED SEVEREAL VEHICLES DURING MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND TIME THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. ESITMATED COST TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE PART OVER $300.00.
NHTSA complaint #723566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR . CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #858258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
CONSUMER STATED THAT WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE CAME OUT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED IN, IT WAS BLACK. ALSO, CONSOLE WAS BURNED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #856521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CONSUMER STATED THAT WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE CAME OUT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED IN, IT WAS BLACK. ALSO, CONSOLE WAS BURNED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #856521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE DRIVER INSIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE. OCCUPANT CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #855309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #716110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
A CRACK DEVELOPED WITHIN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AT 90,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #850485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.