18 of the
63 complaints about the 1997 GEO Prizm are about the
seat belts — 29% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
104,325 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT CONNECTING TO THEIR APPROPRIATE BUCKLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
NHTSA complaint #10417921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 112,650 milesMcneill, MSCrash4 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
ON 4/19/05 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 97 GEO PRISM. THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY CAUSING ME TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASH CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO MYSELF AND MINOR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE. I ORIGINALLY FILED COMPLAINT THROUGH MY ATTORNEY KENNETH MILLER, JR. BATON ROUGE, LA. I WANT TO SETTLE THIS CASE ASAP.
NHTSA complaint #10161797 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesBaton Rouge, LACrash4 injured
SEAT BELTS
DURING AN ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT EQUIPMENT FAILED TO LOCK.*MR EVERYONE INSIDE THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SOME TYPE OF INJURY (GEO PRIZM). *NM UPDATED 12/22/05
NHTSA complaint #10124706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parma Heights, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE SEAT BELTS LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION THEY ARE UNABLE TO BE USED. THIS USUALLY STARTS WITH THEM STICKING WHEN YOU TRY TO PULL THEM DOWN TO BUCKLE. I HAVE TWO GEO PRIZMS A 1996 AND A 1997 THEY BOTH HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10074627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesAltoona, PA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELTS ARE INOPERATIVE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO INSTALL ANY TYPE OF CHILD SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10046169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 96,000 milesConcord, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
I HAVE A 1997 GEO PRIZM. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT FULLY EXTEND AND LOCKS UP MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN TRYING TO PULL IT OUT TO LOCK IN PLACE FOR SAFE DRIVING. THIS IS MY SECOND GEO PRIZM THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A VOLUNTARY RECALL BY THE MANUFACTURER TO GET THIS FIXED ON ALL THEIR CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10028651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,611 milesStockton, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED AT 12,611 MI (3/29/99) AND AGAIN AT 24,000 MI. (OUT OF WARRANTY TIME BY A FEW MONTHS). CENTRAL CHEVROLET IN FREMONT, CA FIXED BOTH TIMES. 2ND TIME COST $200+ AND RENTAL CAR CHARGE. CENTRAL ADVISED THEY WOULDN'T REDUCE THE COST OF 2ND FAILURE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY MAINTENANCE SERVICE WORK DONE BY THEM. BACK SEAT, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS ALSO FAILED (WON'T RETRACT). CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE FIXED. ONLY HAVE 2 USEABLE SEAT BELTS IN BACK SEAT. ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10025486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,611 milesStockton, CA
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED AT 12,611 MI (3/29/99) AND AGAIN AT 24,000 MI. (OUT OF WARRANTY TIME BY A FEW MONTHS). CENTRAL CHEVROLET IN FREMONT, CA FIXED BOTH TIMES. 2ND TIME COST $200+ AND RENTAL CAR CHARGE. CENTRAL ADVISED THEY WOULDN'T REDUCE THE COST OF 2ND FAILURE BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY MAINTENANCE SERVICE WORK DONE BY THEM. BACK SEAT, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS ALSO FAILED (WON'T RETRACT). CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE FIXED. ONLY HAVE 2 USEABLE SEAT BELTS IN BACK SEAT. ISN'T THIS A SAFETY ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10025486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OAK Ridge, NJ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN THE RETRACTOR AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE. FIRST FAILURE AT 27000 MILES, AND SECOND FAILURE AT 88000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10021849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 115,000 milesGlendora, CA
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT LOCKED UP AND DID NOT RELEASE. (THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS BROKE) *TS. THE REAR SEAT BELT ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10004433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY. DT
NHTSA complaint #770309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fortworth, TX
SEAT BELTS
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LOCKS AND DOESN'T RETRACT AS NORMAL. CONSUMER HAS TO PULL, INCHING THE STRAP OUT SO THAT IT WON'T LOCK UP. THIS WAS SECOND TIME SEAT BELT WAS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #895872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Covina, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVER'S/ PASSENGER'S AND REAR SEAT BELTS HAVE ALL BECOME JAMMED IN RETRACTING MECHANISM, AND WILL NOT RELEASE, CAUSING SEAT BELTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #886267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albuquerque, NM
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKING UP.
NHTSA complaint #726061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mountain View, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT WON'T PULL OUT TO RESTRAIN DRIVER .
NHTSA complaint #854070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ponchatoula, LA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED UP AT THE RETRACTOR. THE BELT WILL NOT RELEASE ITSELF OUTWARD.
NHTSA complaint #827131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burmingham, AL
SEAT BELTS
CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH DRIVER'S SIDE SAFETY BELT. SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE, THEY TEND TO JAM UP IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #834398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DES Moines, IA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN LOCKING UP.
NHTSA complaint #542098 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.