FaultScore

1995 GEO Prizm seat belt problems

22 of the 130 complaints about the 1995 GEO Prizm are about the seat belts — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 95,000 miles.

F

22

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Retractor 11 50.0%
Anchorage 6 27.3%
Buckle Assembly 3 13.6%
Seat Belts 2 9.1%

Seat Belts across every GEO Prizm year

1994 23 29.9%
1995 22 28.6%
1996 14 18.2%
1997 18 23.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 95,000 miles Baltimore, MD

SEAT BELTS

DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT. PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT OR LOCK, AND FREQENTLY JAMS SO IT CAN'T BE PULLED OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10547892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THREE RETRACTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY,ONE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BELT/ BELT RETRACTOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE ON ON PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR. SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, THEY WILL JUST HANG IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #8015910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Broomfield, CO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

WHILE BUCKLING DRIVER IN SEAT BEL SEAT BELT BOLT BECAME UNDONE, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT RESTRAINT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8001865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #753306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denham Springs, LA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

CAR PURCHASED NEW IN 1995(MAY OR JUNE, TOO LAZY TO GO TO THE CAR AND LOOK!) FIRST THE RIGHT REAR SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT ,SO WE PUT THE BABY IN THE MIDDLE OR LEFT REAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE SOME MINOR FLAWS CORRECTED AS WITH MOST NEW CARS(A "PUNCH" LIST). THE SEATBELT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY . SHORTLY THERE AFTER IT DID IT AGAIN. AS WELL AS THE LEFT REAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. THE RIGHT REAR HAS NEVER RETRACTED SINCE. I WAS ABLE TO FREE THE LEFT ONE OCCASIONALLY(2 OR 3) TIMES THEN IT PERMANENTLY LOCKED. WE HAD TO PUT THE CHILD'S SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ; THE BEST PLACE FOR IT .THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHEN THE CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO BUY NEW SEATBELTS AND PAY THE LABOR TO FIX THEM. SCREW THAT! WE JUST TRAVELLED 3 TO THE CAR OR REAR RIDING ADULTS HAD NO SEATBELTS. HAD ANOTHER CHILD IN 1998. BOUGHT A USED VOLVO!! END OF STORY. THANKS! HOYO (PAM'S HUSBAND).

NHTSA complaint #747477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denham Springs, LA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

CAR PURCHASED NEW IN 1995(MAY OR JUNE, TOO LAZY TO GO TO THE CAR AND LOOK!) FIRST THE RIGHT REAR SEATBELT WOULD NOT RETRACT ,SO WE PUT THE BABY IN THE MIDDLE OR LEFT REAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO HAVE SOME MINOR FLAWS CORRECTED AS WITH MOST NEW CARS(A "PUNCH" LIST). THE SEATBELT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY . SHORTLY THERE AFTER IT DID IT AGAIN. AS WELL AS THE LEFT REAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. THE RIGHT REAR HAS NEVER RETRACTED SINCE. I WAS ABLE TO FREE THE LEFT ONE OCCASIONALLY(2 OR 3) TIMES THEN IT PERMANENTLY LOCKED. WE HAD TO PUT THE CHILD'S SEAT IN THE MIDDLE ; THE BEST PLACE FOR IT .THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHEN THE CAR WENT IN FOR SERVICE AND I WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO BUY NEW SEATBELTS AND PAY THE LABOR TO FIX THEM. SCREW THAT! WE JUST TRAVELLED 3 TO THE CAR OR REAR RIDING ADULTS HAD NO SEATBELTS. HAD ANOTHER CHILD IN 1998. BOUGHT A USED VOLVO!! END OF STORY. THANKS! HOYO (PAM'S HUSBAND).

NHTSA complaint #747477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Blue EYE, MO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES STICK IN BUCKLE HOUSING. ALSO, REAR SEAT BELTS LOCKS IN RETRACTOR MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #879762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Blue EYE, MO

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES STICK IN BUCKLE HOUSING. ALSO, REAR SEAT BELTS LOCKS IN RETRACTOR MECHANISM. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #879762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Milwaukee, WI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

BOTH SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR ARE CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE BY MY DEALER. GM AGREED TO PAY FOR THE NEW SEAT BELTS AFTER I ARGUED FOR AN HOUR WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE AND THEN WENT DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ARGUE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. TO REPLACE TWO SEAT BELTS IN A 95 GEO PRISM THE COST IS UPWARDS OF $650. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM ACTUALY SIAD THAT I HAD BROKE THEM FROM "OVER-USAGE". I WONDER WHY IF IT IS A LAW THAT PEOPLE WEAR A SEAT BELT WHILE OPPERATING A CAR, WHY IT IS NOT A LAW THAT THE CAR MANUFACTURERS GUARANTEE THEIR SEAT BELTS FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR? MY SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACE FOR FREE IN PART BECAUSE I AM AGGRESSIVE, MOUTHY, AND I OUT-WIT BOTH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT HALL CHEVROLET. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALY PAID TO GET THEIR DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS FIXED?

NHTSA complaint #739766 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Framingham, MA

SEAT BELTS

REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR KEEPS GETTING JAMMED, AND DUE TO REPEATED UNJAMMING SEATBELT HAS PREMATURELY WORN OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. DEFECT HAS BEEN A REOCCURRING PROBLEM SINCE CONSUMER HAS OWNED VEHICLE. ALSO ,HAS A FILE WITH GM #C02879749.

NHTSA complaint #878283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chico, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

CONCERNED FOR THE LOOSE SEATBELTS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHICH BROKE BEFORE WARRANTY BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FULL WARRENTY. I WAS JUST CHECKING TO FIND OUT IF THERE WERE RECALLS FOR THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE THEY BROKE AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA complaint #734211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Phoenix, AZ

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

THE REAR RIGHT-SIDE PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK. IT IS FULLY EXTENDED AND WILL NOT RETRACT, THUS THE SEATBELT IS UNUUSEABLE AND I CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER RIDE IN THAT SEAT AREA. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX THE RETRACTOR WITHOUT COST. THE COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER $100. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT THAT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #719128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vancover, WA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

REAR SHOULDER SEATBELT BEHIND DRIVER SIDE FAILS TO RETRACT BACK, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION.

NHTSA complaint #853532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Midlothian, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT. PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT OR LOCK. THESE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER ONLY A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS NORMAL CUSTOMER COMMUTING USE OF VEHICLE .

NHTSA complaint #706930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Empire, CO Crash 2 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY CAR ROLLED,AND UPON IMPACT MY SEAT BELTS,BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER POPPED,ALSO MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLY.I SLID ON ICE,WHEN TRY TO CORECT MY CAR SPUN AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AN EMBANKMENT AND TWO TREES AND A ROCK AND MY CAR FLIPPED.I HAD DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO THE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE AND ALSO ROOF AND TRUNK DAMAGE THE TWO DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WERE PUSHED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLY AND WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS ROOF MY SEATBELTS POPPED AND ME AND MY SON DROPPED TO THE ROOF WHICH WAS ON THE GROUND.

NHTSA complaint #704448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Raynham, MA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELTS LOCK UP RESULTING IN FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #542362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Framingham, MA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR JAMS AND BELT CANNOT BE PULLED OUT FAR ENOUGH TO BE BUCKLED.

NHTSA complaint #531398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oxnard, CA Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SAFETY BELTS FAILED TO LOCK IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA complaint #524920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago Ridge, IL

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DIRVER'S SIDE AND BACK SEAT SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT. HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.

NHTSA complaint #817642 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gastonia, NC Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS HURT BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER IN THE SEAT.

NHTSA complaint #812647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mission VI, CA

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #601533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake CI, UT

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SPRING RETRACTOR LOCATED ON THE INSIDE WALL OF DRIVERS SEAT BELT BROKE.

NHTSA complaint #984428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1995 GEO Prizm problems

← Full 1995 GEO Prizm report