1996 Geo Prizm Problems & Complaints

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.

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

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR SHOULDER BELT WOULD TIGTHEN DOWN ON USERS WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED SEAT BELT SYSTEM. AT PRESENT MILEAGE OF 71,000 MILES PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

REAR LAP SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE, BELT WILL NOT LATCH. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE COLLISION. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE, AND CONSUMER ENDED UP IN BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE.*AK

WINSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THIS RESULTS IN INOPERATIVEWINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH REDUCE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASES RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST BECAUSE PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

REAR BUCKLE WOULDN'T UNLOCK WHEN CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO TAKE CAR SEAT OUT. CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER , AND DEALER COULDN'T COVER IT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK UP AND NOT RELEASE PROHIBITING ONE FROM PUTTING IT ON, IT WOULD ALSO LOCK UP WHILE WEARING IT RESTRICTING MOVEMENT. *JB

FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *JB

BOTH SEATBELTS WERE IN USE THE DRIVERS FAILED AS WELL, BY BREAKING FREE AT THE RETRACTOR.*AK

A FIRE HAD DEVELOPED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, BUT FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF BEFORE THEY ARRIVED. VEHICLE AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC BELIEVED THAT FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHEELS WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ONTO THE CENTER SHOULDER OF THE HUB, THE WHEEL CENTER CAPS WERE ALSO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED CAUSING THE TABS ON THE INSIDE TO BEND OR BREAK, CONSUMER REQUESTS A PAYMENT IN FULL FOR THE REPAIRS THAT WERE DONE DUE TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS. *SLC

STRUTS CAUSE TIRE TO FAIL AND ROAD HANDLING IN DRY OR RAIN ,RAIN IS WORSE( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P175/65R14 )

WAS TRAVING AT ABOUT45MILES PER HOUR,CAR CUT ME OFF, HIT REAR DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER, HIT MY BUMPER, WENT THROUGH MY GRILL AND HOOD, LOOKING AT FRONT OF CAR HOLE IS IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CONER OF DECRITIVE PLATE AND BUMPER,BUMPER IS DAMAGED ON TOP OF IT,AND BOWED DOWN, DONT UNDERSTAND WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS CONSUMER DIDN'T SEE THE STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

REAR LAP SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH AND REAR DRIVER SIDE SHOULDER BELT WOULD NOT RETURN TO RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL, AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ON GEO PRIZMS AND TOYOTA COROLLAS FROM AT LEAST 1986-1996, THE LEVER THAT ALLOWS THE SEAT TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH IS HAZARDOUS. IT CAN CATCH EITHER THE DRIVER'S PANT LEG OR, IN MY CASE, THE LOOP ON THE BACK OF MY SNEAKERS. IN SUCH INSTANCES, IT TAKES ME. *AK

THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTDOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML

SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY KEEPS BREAKING. *AK

ABS BRAKE MODULE ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING ABS BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE, SB ISSUED CONCERNING ABS LIGHT. YH

CLUTCH FAILED DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE PUSHROD DURING MANUFACTURING, CAUSING PRESSURE ON THE PLATE. YH

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

DURING LOW IMPACT COLLISION (KNICKED OTHER VEHICLE) STUCTURE FOLDED DUE TO WEAK MATERIAL, POSSIBLE FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS (LOW MPH), INJURY TO CONSUMER (HEAD, RIBS, FACIAL) NLM

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO CONSUMER (FACE AND RIBS).MJS

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35- 40 MPH WHEN SHE HIT A VEHCLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED INJURIES TO CONSUMER. MJS

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON NATIONAL BACKORDER PER GM. UNABLE TO FIND ONE ANYWHERE. *AKY

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY WERE HARD. REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, AND AS COMING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A FUEL SPILL IN THE ROAD, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK, DRIVER'S SIDE/PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

AT 7:30AM CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60MPH WHEN SHE BEGAN TO MERGE RIGHT. CONSUMER FELT LIKE SHE HAD HIT SOMETHING, SHE SAW NOTHING. THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AND SHE SAW HER WHEEL ROLLING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE HIT THE WALL AND SKIDDED DOWN THE SIDE. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

ON COLD DAYS THE RIGHT AND LEFT TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERABLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS WARM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK ON IMPACT.

DRIVERS AIRBAG FAILED, NO DEPLOYMENT.

FAULTY STABILIZERS CAUSED CAR TO FISHTAIL.

STEERING COLUMN FAILED.

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED.

WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, A VEHICLE BEHIND PRIZM HIT IT, CAUSING A FRONTAL COLLISION. OCCURRED AT LEAST 3 TIMES, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGES TO THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS ACCIDENT AND THEY SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

DRIVER SIDE RESTRAINT BELT LOCKS UP. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL REPAIR. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 20MPH, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

VEHICLE'S ROOF CAVED IN DUE TO WEAK AND DEFECTIVE METAL. ONLY ABOUT 2 FEET OF SNOW WAS ON TOP. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK

OWNER STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHE HIT THE CURB AT NO MORE THAT 8-10MPH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. OWNER QUESTIONS THE SAFETY OF VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE VERY LOW SPEED DEPLOYMENT AND THEIR WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, SOMETIMES BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL LOCKS UP. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL LOCK UP, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL COMPUTER DIAGNOISTICS ARE COMPLETED. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TRUNK RELEASE MECHANISM OPENS TRUNK, BUT IT DOESN'T SPRING BACK TO ALLOW THE TRUNK TO CLOSE PROPERLY.

REAR SPINDLE SHEARED OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, RESULTIN GIN A COLLISION. *AK

DRIVING AT SPEED OF 70MPH, VEHICLE IMPACTED AT A 1:00 POSITION, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FROM UTAH TO BOSTON; ROAD & WEATHER WAS GOOD & CLEAR; AXLE BROKE & LEFT REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE; ROLLED OVER TWICE ONTO MEDIAN, ALSO NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK