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Geo PrizmYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 602 NHTSA owner complaints across 13 model years, the Geo Prizm years to avoid are 1994, and the strongest years are 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1997. The Prizm has 4 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoid'94Use caution: 1995Best years'90 '91 '92 '97Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints602Top: Air bagsSafety recalls41990–2002 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Geo Prizm years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Prizm median. Tap a year for its full report.

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2002Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/10024 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1997Solid56/10050 complaints · 1 recall1996Solid45/10061 complaints · 0 recalls1995Caution36/10096 complaints · 2 recalls1994Avoid28/100134 complaints · 1 recall1993Solid42/10077 complaints · 1 recall1992Solid64/10050 complaints · 0 recalls1991Solid64/10046 complaints · 1 recall1990Solid65/10037 complaints · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Geo Prizm problems

All model years combined: 602 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags164124
Seat belts10315
Structure625
Engine and engine cooling595
Service brakes, hydraulic5217
Electrical system419
Visibility371
Power train322
Suspension297
15 other systems13836
4 recalls

Geo Prizm recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Air bags97V-043 · 1997 · Mar 20, 1997 · 17,094 vehicles–Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive96V-107 · 1993–1995 · Jun 20, 1996 · 627,858 vehicles–Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery95V-195 · 1995 · Oct 11, 1995 · 4,481 vehicles–Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs90V-191 · 1991 · Nov 9, 1990 · 654 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the Prizm

  1. TURN SIGNAL FAILURESEA97015 · 1993–1996 · closed Sep 21, 1998
    No recall