FaultScore

1993 GEO Prizm airbag problems

29 of the 95 complaints about the 1993 GEO Prizm are about the airbag system — 31% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 160,000 miles.

F

29

Complaints

17

Crashes

0

Fires

12

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 17 58.6%
AIR Bags 7 24.1%
Sensor/Control Module 5 17.2%

Airbags across every GEO Prizm year

1993 29 16.9%
1994 56 32.6%
1995 34 19.8%
1996 22 12.8%
1997 16 9.3%
1999 15 8.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 160,000 miles Ravenswood, WV

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.

SAN Dimas, CA

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.

Laytion, UT

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Layton, UT

AIR BAGS

WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

NHTSA complaint #8022839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maurepas, LA Crash 1 injured

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.

Buffalo, NY

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.

Wheat Ridge, CO

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.

SAN Francisco, CA

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.

Streetsboro, OH

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.

Baltimore, MD Crash 1 injured

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.

Greenville, SC

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, INDICTING DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECAL, BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #838323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lilleton, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #838114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Barbourville, KY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD-ON, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #834026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Greeley, CO Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

NHTSA complaint #540872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Wayne, IN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED THE CONSUMER LEFT EYE TRAUMA WHICH RESULTED IN BLINDNESS.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

NHTSA complaint #527093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arcadia, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

THE AIR BAG SENSOR SHORTED, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #517339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arcadia, CA

AIR BAGS

RECALL REPAIR NOT DONE ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR BECAUSE VIN NOT PART OF RECALL. DUP OF 517339, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98.

NHTSA complaint #518419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Plymouth, CA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #807839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boaz, AL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

SON WAS DRIVING, ROAD WAS WET AND SLIPPERY, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, HIT RAILROAD CROSSING TIER WHICH BROKE, VEHICLE LANDED IN DITCH, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #804246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Peelskill, NY

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR FIXING RECALL. TAKEN TO (2) DEALERSHIPS.* *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRO LOCK, ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND THE VEHICLE COULD GO FORWARD AT A STOP SIGN. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #801478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Loui, MO Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #483608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE BEING REAR-ENDED, WAS FORCED INTO TRUCK IN FRONT, AT APPROX. 25MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #983028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE BEING REAR-ENDED, WAS FORCED INTO TRUCK IN FRONT, AT APPROX. 25MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #983028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manning, SC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED INJECTING SOMETHING IN THE DRIVER EYES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF EYE SIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #979651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manning, SC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED INJECTING SOMETHING IN THE DRIVER EYES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF EYE SIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #979651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East N Port, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AFTER A FRONT END COLLISION THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA complaint #978195 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cassadaga, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

UPON HITTING A DEER AT 65MPH DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA complaint #975524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Griffin, GA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #481942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Billings, MT Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 35 MPH, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NHTSA complaint #962186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1993 GEO Prizm problems

← Full 1993 GEO Prizm report