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1990 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Geo Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
199046
199150
199277
1993
Compare all Prizm years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
7Engine And Engine Cooling
6Power Train
6Structure
6Suspension
4
All reported categories
Electrical System
3Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Air Bags
1Seats
1Steering
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 37 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

37 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES VIBRATED WHEN APPLIED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #503819

Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

FAILURE OFTHE BRAKE UNIT, WHEN YOU APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SHAKES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982221

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1996
Visibility

HEADLIGHT GLARE FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC REFLECTS IN WINDSHIELD, BLINDING DRIVER. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501127

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 1996
Latches/locks/linkages

WHEN DRIVING AND PARKED CAR THE HOOD LATCH CAME LOOSE . TT

NHTSA ODI #977592

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1996
Exterior LightingFire

THE CAR SET ON FIRE FROM A SHORT IN LIGHT REAR BULB. TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #977377

Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 1995
Structure

VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW OPEN AND DAMAGE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HOOD ITSELF, IT HAPPENDED TWICE. TT

NHTSA ODI #974273

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1995
SteeringCrashInjury

STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED 28MPH, FLIP OVER. TT

NHTSA ODI #974139

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVER LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #968346

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1995
Seat Belts

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKED THE OCCUPANT IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND IT IS A TAKATA SEAT BELT. TT

NHTSA ODI #967535

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE UPON REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. TT

NHTSA ODI #966972

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.