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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 →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

What owners actually said

134 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Air BagsCrash

BE ADVISED THAT THIS IS A FATALITY. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD VEERED INTO HER AND SHE RAN INTO THE GUARDRAIL. UPON IMPACT, PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND KILLED HER INSTANTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #855443

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 1999
Air BagsCrash

WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A INTERSECTIONAL CRASH, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THIS HAPPENED WILL TRAVELING ABOUT 45 OR 50 MPH. NOT SURE IF VEHICLE WILL BE TOTALLED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ODI #854603

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 1999
Air BagsInjury

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853975

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TWO TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. YH

NHTSA ODI #549763

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 1999
Seat Belts

LEFT/REAR SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE-WILL NOT RETRACT OR PULL OUT. DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT AND RETRACTOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851484

Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 1999
Steering

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL CAUSED VEHICLE TO VEER OFF ROAD ROLLOVER SEVERAL TIMES, GREATEST IMPACT TO THE ROOF,NEITHER DRIVER WHO HAD ON SHOULDER STRAP NOR DOG WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED. *ET

NHTSA ODI #784315

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 1999
Exterior Lighting

TURN SIGNALS ARE FAILING TO WORK. ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI #713885

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. IF WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK, THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNT AS WELL. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT FLAMES WERE COMING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR AN…

Read full complaint

CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE. IF WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL IT OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK, THE HOUSE WOULD HAVE BURNT AS WELL. WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT FLAMES WERE COMING UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND THE HOOD WAS BUCKLING BECAUSE IT WAS SO HOT. IT WAS VERY SCARY!

NHTSA ODI #711388

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST VALVE IS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF COMPRESSION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN COMING TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847350

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages

SOMETHING INSIDE OF THE LATCHES ON THE 2 REAR DOORS PREVENTS DOORS FROM BEING COMPLETELY SHUT. DEALER HAS TO REPLACE THE LATCHES ON THE DOOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846921

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