1993 Geo Prizm Problems & Complaints

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.

1993 PRIZM HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *JB

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

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.

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 ADDITION, THE 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA, WHICH THE GEO PRIZM IS ITS COUNTERPART, HAVE ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHAT MAKES CHEVROLET SO SURE THAT MY CAR'S AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE IS NOT DEFECTIVE? I HAVE NOT HAD A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN "MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH." *AK

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK

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

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

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I OWN A 1993 GEO PRIZM. TWICE, I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPAIRED BY A WELDER BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THE WELDER'S BEST EFFORTS, THE MANIFOLD KEEPS DEVELOPING MORE CRACKS. I WANTED TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED MANIFOLD. HOWEVER, A CALL TO SEVERAL SALVAGE YARDS REVEALED THAT IT'S VERY HARD TO OBTAIN A GOOD, USED MANIFOLD FOR THAT VEHICLE. THE REASON IS THAT SO MANY OF THE 1993 PRIZMS THAT ARE IN SALVAGE YARDS ALREADY HAVE CRACKED MANIFOLDS. IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON AMONG THAT MAKE AND MODEL. SHOULDN'T YOUR ORGANIZATION BE CONCERNED WITH WHAT MAY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THESE VEHICLES? I THOUGHT SO, AND THAT'S WHY I'M WRITING, TODAY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES SHE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER THE INCIDENT CONSUMER LEANED OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF LOOKING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHIN THREE INCHES OF CONSUMERS NECK, THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE TO EITHER VEHICLE, HOWEVER CONSUMERS AIR BAG DEPLOYED ABOUT SEVEN SECONDS AFTER THE INCIDENT, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. *JB

DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT,AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED WITHIN 12 MONTHS.*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS RECALL 96V107000 ON THIS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE, HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. SENSOR IN AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS , BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

RECALL 96 V 107 000/PASSIVE RESTRAINT AIR BAG: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINING ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND BOTH INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

REGULATORS FAILING, CAUSING POWER WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERATIVES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND SHARE IN HALF THE COST ON THE 1ST. INCIDENT(DRIVER SIDE); 2ND INCIDENT(PASSENGER SIDE); CONDITION REOCCUR AGAIN, AND INFORMED TO CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*AK

THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE SAME PLACE. I HAVE OWNED SEVEREAL VEHICLES DURING MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND TIME THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY. ESITMATED COST TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE PART OVER $300.00. *AK

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR . CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE CAME OUT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED IN, IT WAS BLACK. ALSO, CONSOLE WAS BURNED OUT. *AK

THE DRIVER INSIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE. OCCUPANT CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

A CRACK DEVELOPED WITHIN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AT 90,000 MILES. *AK

1ST COSCO CAR SEAT--ARM PIECES CRACKED AND ONE OF THE ARMS BROKE OFF---I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY RELUCTANTLY SENT A REPLACEMENT. THIS SEAT HAD ONLY BEEN USED FOR 1 YEAR...THE REPLACEMENT COSCO CAR SEAT WAS USED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BOTH ARM PIECES CRACKED COMPLETELY AND THEY ARE METAL PIECES STICKING OUT OF THEM.. I AGAIN CONTACTED COSCO VIA EMAIL THIS TIME REQUESTING MY MONEY BACK--NO WAS MY RESPONSE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND REPLACEMENT PIECES TO FIX THE ARMS...THE ARMS ARE NOT FIXABLE!!! I WANT SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS---THESE CAR SEATS WERE 2 DIFFERENT MODELS AND STILL APPEAR NEW, WHEN THE ARM PIECES HAD BROKEN. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND FOR THIS PRODUCT BUT IF NOTHING ELSE I WANT THEIR SEATS CHECKED INTO FOR SAFETY...I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN GETTING A REAL RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM--INSTEAD OF SORRY BUT TO BAD!!!! THANK YOU....

INTERMITTENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT BECOMES INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RESTRAINT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH ON WET ROAD. CONSUMER SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS TO DRIVER SIDE OF FACE AND CHIN. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP IS FACING THE WINDOW INSTEAD OF FACING THE BUCKET MECHANISM.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S HARNESS CLIP IS FACING THE WINDOW INSTEAD OF FACING THE BUCKET MECHANISM. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

DRIVER SIDE SEAL BELT WILL NOT RELEASE. IT WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO BUCKLE IN OR WILL LOCK DRIVER AGAINST SEAT. THE HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY, WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, INDICTING DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECAL, BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

THERE IS HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD-ON, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RELEASE EVEN WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE IN.

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED THE CONSUMER LEFT EYE TRAUMA WHICH RESULTED IN BLINDNESS.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILED.

INTAKE MANIFOLD/SUSPENSION FAILED.

WEATHER HAD BEEN COLD; VEHICLE WAS RUNNING; HAD NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING EXHAUST. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD & NOTICED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. *AK

VEHICLE'S BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEM, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, UNABLE TO EXIT FROM DRIVER'S SEAT.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 25 MPH IN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. THIS BRAKES PROBLEM HAPPEND IN ANY TYPE OF ROAD. *AK

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING A PROBELM WITH THE HORN ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER STATED WHEN DEPRESSING THE HORN THERE IS NO VOLUME, BECOMES A HAZARD IN AN EMERGENCY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.

RECALL REPAIR NOT DONE ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR BECAUSE VIN NOT PART OF RECALL. DUP OF 517339, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK

THE AIR BAG SENSOR SHORTED, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY.

ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES.

INTERMITTENT STALLING/JERKING DUE TO MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE. *AK

MASS AIR FLOW CONTROL FAILURE CAUSES VEHICLE TO STALL OUT OR JERK. VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHIFTED TO PARK IN ORDER TO RESTART.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE.

WHILE DRIVING THE OIL CAP EXPLODED AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING; ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS TH WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED, SENDING THE WINDOWS INTO THE DOORS AND ENGINE WOULD SEIZE INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

LEFT FRONT POWER WINDOW INOPERATIVE.

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING/WINDOW COULD NO LONGER BE CLOSED. *AK

SON WAS DRIVING, ROAD WAS WET AND SLIPPERY, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, HIT RAILROAD CROSSING TIER WHICH BROKE, VEHICLE LANDED IN DITCH, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SLC

FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED TWICE. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT LOCKS UP, PREVENTING DRIVER FROM BUCKLING UP AND MOVING. *AK

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLES, INSIDE THE VEHICLE, BROKE. *AK

DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR FIXING RECALL. TAKEN TO (2) DEALERSHIPS.* *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRO LOCK, ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND THE VEHICLE COULD GO FORWARD AT A STOP SIGN. *SLC

VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER SEAT BROKE IN THE MIDDLE. *AK

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS BROKEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

INSIDE DOOR HANDLES BROKE NOT ALLOWING PASSENGER TO EXIT VEHICLE.

BROKEN HEADLIGHT.

MULTI SWITCH INOPERATIVE.

AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH BROKEN.

DURING A REAR-END COLLISION BOTH FRONT SEATBACKS COLLAPSED INTO BACK SEAT, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTIN GIN AN INJURY. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE TWO FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED INTO THE REAR SEATS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

WHILE BEING REAR-ENDED, WAS FORCED INTO TRUCK IN FRONT, AT APPROX. 25MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE BEING REAR-ENDED, WAS FORCED INTO TRUCK IN FRONT, AT APPROX. 25MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY. *AK

POWER WINDOWS FAILED TWICE. *SD

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED INJECTING SOMETHING IN THE DRIVER EYES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF EYE SIGHT. *AK

DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED INJECTING SOMETHING IN THE DRIVER EYES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF EYE SIGHT. *AK

AFTER A FRONT END COLLISION THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

UPON HITTING A DEER AT 65MPH DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT *JB

DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER BELT EITHER WILL LOCK WHILE PULLING AROUND TO LATCH OR WILL PIN DRIVER IN SEAT. TT CONSUMER STATES SIDE SEAT BELT WILL LOCK WHILE TRYING TO FASTENED IT SO YOU CAN NOT PUT IT ON, ALSO WHE =N TRAVELING IT WILL PIN DRIVER TO THE SEAT.*JB

THE CAR WAS REAR ENDED. FIRST SHE WENT ALL THE WAY FORWARD AND THEN THE SEAT FULLY RECLINED AND SO DID THE DRIVER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

ON (2) OCCASIONS, MOTOR FOR ELECTRIC WINDOWS FAIL REPEATEDLY. PART ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *DSH

CONTINUOUS STALLING, JERKING AT HIGHER SPEED. TT

WINDSHIELD WASHER RESERVOIR BROKE. *AK

FLUTTER NOISE IN LEFT FRONT END WHEN TURNING LEFT *AK

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON CONTINUOUSLY. *AK

BATTERY FAILURE. *AK

DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW FELL DOWN DUE TO A SHORT. *AK

SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME LOOSE AFTER HOLDING PASSENGER FROM GOING FORWARD. TT

EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT REAR POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURE, WHEN THINK DOORS ARE LOCKED, LEFT/REAR DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED. TT

FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED 5 TIMES. *AK

FRONTAL COLLISION IMPACT 12:00 POSITION SPEED 35 MPH, DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

WHILE PUSHING BUTTON TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW, WINDOW CAME OFF REGULATOR AND FLIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE. *AK

TRANSMISSION HAS A HARMONIC DRONE WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AT 62/70 MPH IN FIFTH GEAR. *SD