1995 Geo PRIZM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
95,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 55 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.9% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 5.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.6% |
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 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 6 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 10; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 6; Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage: 4; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Seat Belts: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 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 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 51 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 | 9 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
1995: 10; 1996: 10; 2000: 9; 2001: 9; 2002: 6; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10002450 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THE HARMONIC BALANCER WENT OUT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043136 · 2003-10-18 (October 18, 2003)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE "ALMOST STALLS." THE LIGHT COMES ON AND A DECREASE IN RPM AND ENGINE HESTITATION OCCURS. LIGHT DID STAY ON FOR 1 HOUR, BUT WHEN DEALER CHECKED THERE WERE NO CODES RECORDED. DEALER CHECKED CAR 2 SEPARATE TIMES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DEFECTS. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082469 · 2004-07-22 (July 22, 2004)
YOUR WEBSITE STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE: 95 GEO PRIZM FOR AIRBAGS FRONTAL SENSOR CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083585 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE TECHNICIAN AT THE GARAGE INDICATED THE PROBLEM SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER WITH THE RECALL INFORMATION BUT THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089558 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH BLACK AND WHITE SPOTS DEVELOPING ON THE VEHICLE'S HOOD, ROOF AND ON TOP OF THE TRUNK. *MR *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093680 · 2004-10-06 (October 6, 2004)
REPORTING ON BEHALF OF OUR INSURED. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER HIT POT HOLE. NO FRONTAL IMPACT. INJURY TO DRIVER. AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPAIRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10093680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10135125 · 2005-09-01 (September 1, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRISM. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 5 MPH. BECAUSE SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WHERE SOME PREVIOUS ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD SHE WAS TRAVELING ON. BUT THE NIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT THE ROAD WAS FAIRLY LEVELED. THE CONTACT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS ALREADY STOPPING. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT THAT SHE IS AWARE OF. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES,SUCH AS SEVERE BRUISING, HEAD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10135125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220353 · 2008-03-07 (March 7, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 50- 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SUDDEN BANG. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT MOMENTARILY, AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE SIDEWALL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SPUN APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STOPPED MOVING SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE POLICE STORAGE COMPOUND. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED AXLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220353 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
95V195002 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Reported: 1995-10-11 (October 11, 1995)
THE BATTERY CAN HAVE A DEFECTIVE WELD INSIDE THE POSITIVE AND/OR NEGATIVE TERMINAL ALLOWING THE CONNECTION INSIDE OF THE TERMINAL TO SEPARATE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION, OR A BATTERY EXPLOSION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE BATTERIES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗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 ↗