1994 Geo PRIZM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
107,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 81 complaints (28.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 12.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.7% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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 | 23 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 9 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 23; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 9; Air Bags: 7; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 69 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 | 22 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 22; 1996: 8; 2000: 18; 2001: 13; 2002: 5; 2003: 6; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10000905 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007743 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017136 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024012 · 2003-06-13 (June 13, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE AIR BAG HAD A DELAY DEPLOYMENT UPON IMPACT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10024012 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025614 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
NEVER INFORMED OF RECALLS FOR AIR BAG LIGHT AND DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM. FOUND RECALLS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. NOTIFIED GM, WAITING ON RESPONSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025615 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
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.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043976 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH ON FLAT SURFACE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. DRIVER SUSTAINED BURN ING FACE INJURIES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043976 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075684 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075684 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 ↗