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
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
Compare all Prizm years →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.
What owners actually said
134 reportsWHEN 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.
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK
TWO TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. YH
LEFT/REAR SEAT BELT IS INOPERATIVE-WILL NOT RETRACT OR PULL OUT. DEALER REPLACED SEAT BELT AND RETRACTOR. *AK
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
TURN SIGNALS ARE FAILING TO WORK. ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.
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!
EXHAUST VALVE IS EXPERIENCING A LOSS OF COMPRESSION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL WHEN COMING TO STOP. *AK
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
Official recalls
196V107000 · 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
1EA97015 · 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
Illustration