1993 Geo PRIZM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
41 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
160,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 41 complaints (24.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 10 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 5; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 4; Air Bags: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 3; Seats: 2; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1996 | 10 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 10; 2000: 5; 2001: 6; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10043140 · 2003-10-18 (October 18, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED ENGINE NOISE GETTING LOUDER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING MORNING I FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED COMPLETELY INTO TWO SEPERATE PIECES.ALSO NOTICED ODOR FROM EXHAUST LEAKING INTO PASENGER COMPARTMENT.APARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD THINK THAT EXHAUST FUMES ARE A LARGE PROBLEM FOR MY EIGHTEEN MONTH OLD SON.I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS OR IS INVESTIGATING THIS AND WHAT IF ANYTHING WAS OR WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047466 · 2003-11-24 (November 24, 2003)
DANGEROUS LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED CRACKED MANIFOLD TWO TIMES, THE SECOND ONE LASTED 16 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE!! EXHAUST REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEO PRIZM AND TOYOTA COROLLA MODELS. AT OVER $300 TO REPLACE EACH TIME, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE THOUGH IS WITH THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE. IS THIS BEING INVESTIGATED? *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061505 · 2004-03-05 (March 5, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078311 · 2004-06-16 (June 16, 2004)
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 AD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145613 · 2005-12-19 (December 19, 2005)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145613 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10166960 · 2006-03-03 (March 3, 2006)
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10175398 · 2006-12-01 (December 1, 2006)
1993 PRIZM HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10175398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197554 · 2007-07-26 (July 26, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GEO PRIZM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LONGER THAN EXPECTED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 180,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197554 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V107000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 1996-06-20 (June 20, 1996)
IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Consequence: THIS LEAKAGE CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO PREVENT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE SPILLING OF LIQUID SUBSTANCES ON THE SENSOR. AIR BAG SENSORS DAMAGED BY PREVIOUS LIQUID SPILLAGE WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗