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1994 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Prizm years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Geo Prizm are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
134Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
46
199150
199277
1993134
199496
199561
199650
1997
Compare all Prizm years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
50Seat Belts
22Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Visibility
12Electrical System
8
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
7Power Train
7Steering
6Structure
5Suspension
5Exterior Lighting
4Seats
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
3Unknown Or Other
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Equipment
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Air
1Trailer Hitches
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: 12 of 134 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

38 crash reports6 fire reports34 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1997
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

DRIVING ALONG APPROXIMATELY 40MPH AND THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING THEN THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. APPLIED HER FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK, VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE BACK OF A PICKUP, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808988

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1996
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

PURCHASED CAR NEW, THE BRAKE LINE WAS OVERHEATING AND THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BROKE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA ODI #802474

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 1995
Air BagsSeat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILED AND PASSENGERS AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN . TT

NHTSA ODI #973546

Official recalls

1

96V107000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Jun 20, 1996

IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS LEAKAGE CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO PREVENT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE SPILLING OF LIQUID SUBSTANCES ON THE SENSOR. AIR BAG SENSORS DAMAGED BY PREVIOUS LIQUID SPILLAGE WILL BE REPLACED.

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

1

EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures

Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

There is no summary currently available