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1997 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Geo Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
50Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
134
199496
199561
199650
199711
199824
19997
2000
Compare all Prizm years →

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

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
17Air Bags
15Steering
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Suspension
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Equipment
2Exterior Lighting
2Power Train
2Tires
2Child Seat
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Parking Brake
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: 11 of 50 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Parking Brake complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1998
Parking Brake

HAD APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKES ON SLIGHT GRADE; VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL; EMERGENCY GEAR WOULD POP LOOSE. HAPPENS WHEN CONSUMER IS IN/OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821456

Official recalls

1

97V043002 · Air Bags

Mar 20, 1997

IF THE AIR BAG COMPUTER IN A SUBJECT VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A MECHANICAL SHOCK (I.E., RAPIDLY MOVING THE FRONT SEAT BACK AGAINST THE STOPS OR A SUDDEN RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE) WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG CAN DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR BAG COMPUTER.

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.