FaultScore report
Owners have filed 173 complaints about the 1994 GEO Prizm with NHTSA between 1995 and 2014. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 86/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the GEO Prizm.
How this is worked out173
Complaints
50
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
40
Injuries reported
2 complaints report a death.
107,500 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
17%
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.
0 crashes, 2 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 120,000 mi
2 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 129,351 mi
1 crashes, 1 fires
Median failure at 96,000 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires
0 crashes, 1 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.
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.
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
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO PRIZM. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2009, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON HER NECK, CHEST, AND FACE. IN ADDITION, HER NOSE AND FINGER WERE SWOLLEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE THE ISSUE INVESTIGATED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,902.
NHTSA complaint #10262377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO PRIZM. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND CUTS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE. HER FACE WAS SWOLLEN AND SHE COMPLAINED OF A SEVERE BURN-LIKE INJURY TO HER CHEST AREA. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 238,975.
NHTSA complaint #10259235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH AROUND A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME SQUIRRELLY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE OF THE CAR WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE VEER TO THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO A UTILITY POLE. VISUAL EVALUATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND REMAINING SPINDLE SHAFT COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING LOOSENED/FAILED AND WHEN WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOBBLED THE SPINDLE SHAFT SHEARED AT THE OUTER BEARING'S INNER RACE SHOULDER (I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES).*AK MY DAUGHTER (OWNER & OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE) WAS INJURED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF CONTACT WITH THE UTILITY POLE. HER INJURIES INCLUDED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOREARM, LACERATIONS, FACIAL BURNS FROM CONTACT WITH THE AIR BAG AND BRUISING FROM THE SEATBELT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND HAS SINCE BEEN JUNKED. IT HAD APPROX. 120,000 MILES ON IT
NHTSA complaint #10093050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK LACERATIONS, AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING IN THE LEFT EAR.
NHTSA complaint #10075684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER SUSTAINED BURN ING FACE INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10043976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE AIR BAG HAD A DELAY DEPLOYMENT UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #10024012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY HOOD BLOW OFF THE CAR AT 35/40 MPH -- THERE IS NOTHING LEFT OF THE HOOD RELEASE OR THE HOOD HINGES MY HOOD WAS THERE BUT ALSO FEEL OFF -
NHTSA complaint #10664055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO PRIZM. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2009, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TURNING THE VEHICLE. SHE SUFFERED SECOND DEGREE BURNS ON HER NECK, CHEST, AND FACE. IN ADDITION, HER NOSE AND FINGER WERE SWOLLEN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE THE ISSUE INVESTIGATED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,902.
NHTSA complaint #10262377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 GEO PRIZM. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY INTO THE IGNITION, THE AIR BAGS IMMEDIATELY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. SHE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND CUTS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HER FACE. HER FACE WAS SWOLLEN AND SHE COMPLAINED OF A SEVERE BURN-LIKE INJURY TO HER CHEST AREA. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 238,975.
NHTSA complaint #10259235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 65 MPH, I BEGAN TO NOTICE A VIBRATION THAT WAS GETTING WORSE AS I DROVE ALONG. THE ROAD APPEARED TO BE IN VERY GOOD (SMOOTH) CONDITION SO, AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES, I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND EXAMINED THE TIRES BY FEEL TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING NOTICEABLE. THE LEFT REAR (DRIVERS SIDE) TIRE HAD A LARGE BULGE IN THE TREAD AREA. THE FAILURE OCCURRED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: * CAR IS A 1994 GEO PRISM LSI WITH 2 PASSENGERS AND A LIGHT LUGGAGE LOAD * TIRE WAS A WYNSTAR PHASER R23 SIZE 185/65R14 86T M&S * HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS AT 65 MPH * TIRE PRESSURE HAD BEEN PRESET AT 32 PSI * WEATHER CONDITIONS CLEAR AND DRY - TEMPERATURE APPROX. 85 DEG.
NHTSA complaint #10243178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
DURING LIGHT TO MEDIUM BRAKING, THE ABS ACTIVE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BEGIN UN-LOCKING THE BRAKES. THIS WOULD BE DESIRABLE IN THE WINTER, ON ICE, IN A PANIC SITUATION. IT WAS HOWEVER DRY AND SUNNY ON THE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. NOBODY WAS INJURED DURING THESE MALFUNCTIONS, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF OTHER TRAFFIC AT THE INTERSECTIONS INVOLVED. I TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE MAIN ABS RELAY. THE ABS IS DISENGAGED BUT THE VEHICLE CAN NOW STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10243135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DT: THE CONTACT TRIED TO ORDER A NEW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FROM A DEALER FOR 1994 GEO PRIZM. THE GM DEALER DID NOT HAVE IT AND COULD NOT GET ONE. THE CONSUMER ORDERED IT FROM TOYOTA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS COMPATIBLE WITH A TOYOTA COROLLA. THE CONTACT WANTED TO COMPLAIN THAT HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET A SEAT BELT FOR HIS CAR FROM GENERAL MOTORS. ALSO, HE WAS CONCERNED THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL NOT KNOW THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10135441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH AROUND A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME SQUIRRELLY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE OF THE CAR WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE VEER TO THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO A UTILITY POLE. VISUAL EVALUATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND REMAINING SPINDLE SHAFT COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING LOOSENED/FAILED AND WHEN WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOBBLED THE SPINDLE SHAFT SHEARED AT THE OUTER BEARING'S INNER RACE SHOULDER (I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES).*AK MY DAUGHTER (OWNER & OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE) WAS INJURED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF CONTACT WITH THE UTILITY POLE. HER INJURIES INCLUDED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOREARM, LACERATIONS, FACIAL BURNS FROM CONTACT WITH THE AIR BAG AND BRUISING FROM THE SEATBELT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND HAS SINCE BEEN JUNKED. IT HAD APPROX. 120,000 MILES ON IT
NHTSA complaint #10093050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK LACERATIONS, AND TEMPORARY LOSS OF HEARING IN THE LEFT EAR.
NHTSA complaint #10075684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER SUSTAINED BURN ING FACE INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #10043976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
NEVER INFORMED OF RECALLS FOR AIR BAG LIGHT AND DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FOUND RECALLS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. NOTIFIED GM, WAITING ON RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #10025614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
NEVER INFORMED OF RECALLS FOR AIR BAG LIGHT AND DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FOUND RECALLS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. NOTIFIED GM, WAITING ON RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #10025614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
FRONT LEFT BRAKE WEARS UNUSUALLY FAST. HAD BRAKES REPLACED 2 TIMES IN AS MANY YEARS. ABS NOT WORKING. HAD MY GEO FOR 9 YEARS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH BRAKING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10025615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE AIR BAG HAD A DELAY DEPLOYMENT UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #10024012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ON 5/1/03 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT LOW SPEEDS AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER AND WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. I APPLIED THE GAS AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN. I DROVE TO MY HOME AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT START. ON 05/02/03, THE CAR STARTED BUT NOT AS QUICKLY AS NORMAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND DESCRIBED THE ABOVE SITUATION. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. ON 5/6/03, I HAD THE SAME INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO ANOTHER SHOP. THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD ALTERNATOR. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 65,170 MILES ON IT. PRIOR TO THAT ON 07/31/00, THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT 47,662 MILES. PRIOR TO THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 08/06/98 AT 28,515. THIS SEEMS EXCESSIVE. *NLM THE CONSUMER IS HAVING ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS WITH HER VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10017136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY CONCERN ARISES FROM HAVING PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAG SENSOR. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD DAMAGED DUE TO A SPILL ON THE CONSOLE BOX AREA WHERE THE SENSOR IS LOCATED. I THEN LOOKED INTO THIS FURTHER BY GOING ON LINE TO NHTSA AND WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON MY 1994 GEO PRISM VIN#1Y1SK5364RZ0763 FOR THE SAME SENSOR. IT ALSO LISTED HOW THE DAMAGED WOULD BE CAUSED WORD BY WORD TO WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER WAS THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THE RECALL LISTED CAMPAIGN #96V107000; I THEN CONTACTED CHEVROLET IN ORDER TO GET MORE INFORMATION. I WAS TOLD BY A REPRESENTATIVE, THAT MY CAR VIN# DID NOT COME UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. I FIND IT VERY ODD THAT THIS WOULD BE THE CASE. SINCE WHAT DEALER DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR SENSOR TO MATCHING WORD TO WORD WITH THE SUMMARY LISTED IN NHTSA RECALL NOTICE SUMMARY. I HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE INVESTIGATION OF THIS SITUATION. SINCERELY, NORA
NHTSA complaint #10007743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON THE 4-DOOR MODEL OF THE GEO PRIZM LSI, THE REAR DOOR LATCH/LOCK MECHANISMS FAIL, MAKING THE DOOR UN-OPERABLE FROM INSIDE, OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHOULD THIS FAILURE OCCUR AS A RESULT OF A CRASH, THE OCCUPANTS OF THE BACKSEATS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT HAVING TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS (WHICH MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE, BASED ON THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH...). IN MY CASE, THE TWO, SEPARATE FAILURES WERE NOT THE RESULT OF ACCIDENTS, BUT BOTH REAR DOOR MECHANISMS DID FAIL (AT DIFFERENT OCCASIONS...), WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ABILITY TO USE THE BACK SEATS FOR OCCUPANT USAGE IN THE METHOD DESIGNED/INTENDED. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE CENTER (SUPERSTITION SPRINGS TOYOTA, MESA, AZ), THE ELECTRICAL SOLONOID THAT CONTROLS THE LOCK MECHANISM CAN FAIL, CAUSING THE LOSS OF OPERABILITY (AT A COST OF $300 TO REPLACE), AND REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM. THE SAME MECHANISM IS ALSO USED ON THE FRONT DOORS, AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10000905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAILER HITCHES
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25MPH UNDER RAINING CONDITIONS CONSUMER STATES' LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
NHTSA complaint #8023465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELT ANCHORS ON CONSUMERS VEHICLE BROKE. CONSUMER RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RECALLS DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE BELTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER SPOKE TO A GEO REPRESENTIVE WHO EXPLAINED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE ANCHOR STRAPS. THE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT CONFIRM IN WRITING WHAT WAS TOLD TO THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #567684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
AT APPROXIMATELY 120,000 MILES DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT FAILED TO RETRACT AND WAS REPLACED BY OWNER. AT 170,000 MILES BOTH REAR RETRACTABLE SEATBELT'S STARTED JAMING BECAUSE THE BELT ITSELF FOLDS IN HALF WHILE RETRACTING, CAUSING SEATBELT TO "LOCK" UP. SEATBELT CAN BE REMOVED AND UN AMMED, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES TO REPEAT ITSELF.
NHTSA complaint #765970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES WHEN PULLING OFF FROM A STOP THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. CONSUMERS FACE WAS INJURED BY THE AIRBAG. *JB.
NHTSA complaint #8010775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE HIT A CONCRETE DIVIDER ON HIGHWAY AT 80 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED BRUISED RIBS. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8009886 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS: AT FIRST, THE LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RUN, AND A SENSOR WAS REPLACED (ALL THAT WAS OVER $400). NOW THE LIGHT COMES ON (AND STAYS ON) AT 49 MPH. ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. AS FOR THE WINDOW: ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING WITH THE WINDOW HALFWAY DOWN. WHEN I TRIED TO ROLL IT BACK UP, IT WOULDN'T GO. IT JUST STAYED THERE, THEN STARTED SLIDING DOWN. A REPAIR SHOP FIXED IT.
NHTSA complaint #754992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ABS: AT FIRST, THE LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RUN, AND A SENSOR WAS REPLACED (ALL THAT WAS OVER $400). NOW THE LIGHT COMES ON (AND STAYS ON) AT 49 MPH. ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG. AS FOR THE WINDOW: ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING WITH THE WINDOW HALFWAY DOWN. WHEN I TRIED TO ROLL IT BACK UP, IT WOULDN'T GO. IT JUST STAYED THERE, THEN STARTED SLIDING DOWN. A REPAIR SHOP FIXED IT.
NHTSA complaint #754992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON LEFT AND THERE WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED IN ENIGNE.E VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #896919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOORS HINGES AND LATCHES ARE INOPERABLE, CAUSING DOORS TO SWING OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND CANNOT BE CLOSED. DEALER HAS REPAIRED DOORS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #893825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.