11 of the
173 complaints about the 1994 GEO Prizm are about the
electrical system — 6% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
65,135 miles.
A
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Alternator/Generator/Regulator
436.4%
Ignition
218.2%
12V/24V/48V Battery
19.1%
Fuses AND Circuit Breakers
19.1%
Interior/Under Dash
19.1%
Starter Assembly
19.1%
Electrical System
19.1%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 65,135 milesWarrenton, VA
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.
LOS Angeles, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THIS IS THE SECOND ALTERNATOR TO FAIL, THE PREVIOUS ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED AT 53,000 MILES, 4 YEARS AGO. THIS IS NOT A STANDARD MAINTENANCE ITEM AND SHOULD NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT EVERY 3 TO 4 YEARS.M
NHTSA complaint #741538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Doylestown, PA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
TOYOTA CAROLLA HAD A RECALL FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRES DUE TO SALT AND MOISTURE - HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON 94 PRIZM.
NHTSA complaint #739778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR BROKE DOWN. YH
NHTSA complaint #549763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY DIED WHEN ABS IS ACTIVATED. YH
NHTSA complaint #549763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Holly, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS,THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD COIL/CARBURATOR & STARTER REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #828862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Holly, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS,THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT FOR NO REASON. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. HAD COIL/CARBURATOR & STARTER REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #828862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grosse Pointe, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CANNOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #511006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boynton Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING MALFUNCTIONING OF THE TAIL LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVING THE LIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED.
NHTSA complaint #805342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boynton Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, CAUSING MALFUNCTIONING OF THE TAIL LIGHTS, DASH LIGHTS AND MARKER LIGHTS, WHEN DRIVING THE LIGHTS WILL NOT STAY ILLUMINATED.
NHTSA complaint #805342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fresno, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
PURCHASED CAR NEW, THE BRAKE LINE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BROKE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .
NHTSA complaint #802474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.