Loading vehicle data from NHTSA...
NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 1996 Geo Prizm.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4 cyl Automatic 3-spd | 23 | 27 | 25 | $2,400 |
| 1.8L 4 cyl Automatic 4-spd | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,300 |
| 1.6L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 26 | 32 | 29 | $2,050 |
| 1.8L 4 cyl Manual 5-spd | 25 | 31 | 27 | $2,200 |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
Component: SUSPENSION
RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,194.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO OR THREE TIMES PER DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, AT 40,000 MILES, THE TIRES BECAME WORN OUT WITHIN 10,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,140.
THREE OF MY DOORS ON MY 1996 GEO PRIZM LOCKS HAVE FAILED, SHUTTING THE DOORS PERMANENTLY. I HAVE ONLY ONE DOOR TO GET IN/OUT OF MY CAR. I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER GEO OWNERS AND THEY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I NOW HAVE TO SE IF I CAN FIND A SHOP TO GET THE DOORS UNLOCKED SO I NO LONGER HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE SEAT TO GET IN TO DRIVE. HEAVEN HELP ME IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
The 1996 Geo Prizm has 1 NHTSA recall and 64 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A PULL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC (DAYTON TIRE). *JB
REAR SEAT BELTS WOULD UNLOCK FROM THE BUCKLE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE SEAT BELTS LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION THEY ARE UNABLE TO BE USED. THIS USUALLY STARTS WITH THEM STICKING WHEN YOU TRY TO PULL THEM DOWN TO BUCKLE. I HAVE TWO GEO PRIZMS A 1996 AND A 1997 THEY BOTH HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME.*AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT BUCKLE. THE BELT DOES NOT COME OUT OF HOLDER. *AK
MY REAR WINDOW LITERALLY SHATTERED TODAY (JUNE 5, 2003) WHILE I WAS A WORK THE CAR WAS PARKED THE TWO FRONT SIDE WINDOWS WHERE ROLLED DOWN APPROXIMATELY 2 TO 3 INCHES THE TEMPERATURE HERE TODAY REACHED ONLY 71 DEGREES WITH A SLIGHT WIND AND IT WAS OVERCAST SO IT WAS NOT EXTREMELY HOT YET IT SHATTERED HAVE YOU HAD ANY SIMULAR REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE RAR SEAT BELTS.DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE CALL. PH
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *NLM
WHILE DRIVING REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF AXLE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL , RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. *AK
IN AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK
I GOT A REPORT FROM CARFAX AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR I BOUGHT TWO YEARS AGO HAD OVER 37,000 MORE MILES ON IT .THE DEALER SOLD ME THIS CAR KNOWING THAT THE ODOMETER HAD BEEN ROLLED BACK.BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN TWO YEARS AGO,DO I STILL HAVE ANY RIGHTS?. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND IT HIT DRIVERS SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE DRIVERS SEATBEALT COMPLETLY UNWOUND WHILE BUCKLED AND WILL NOT RETRACT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT WILL NOT PULL OUT EASILY. IN ORDER TO GET IT BUCKLED IT MUST BE TUGGED CONTINUOSLY MOVING A QUARTER INCH AT A TIME.*AK
Showing 15 of 64 complaints