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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

Suspension complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
167,000 miles · Aug 8, 2011
Seat BeltsSuspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT CONNECTING TO THEIR APPROPRIATE BUCKLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VI…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TOWARDS THE LEFT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT CONNECTING TO THEIR APPROPRIATE BUCKLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURE STATED THAT THE VIN DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ODI #10417921

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1999
SteeringSuspension

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 25MPH & WOULD BE TURNING CORNERS OR CURBS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JUST GO OUT. WOULD HAVE NO STEERING CONTROL. FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON ICE. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. BEEN TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. MECHANICE REPLACED THE STEERING SENSORS AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ALSO…

Read full complaint

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 25MPH & WOULD BE TURNING CORNERS OR CURBS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JUST GO OUT. WOULD HAVE NO STEERING CONTROL. FELT AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS ON ICE. WOULD HAVE NO WARNING WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. BEEN TO DEALER 3-4 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. MECHANICE REPLACED THE STEERING SENSORS AT LEAST 4 TIMES. ALSO HAD THE STEERING PUMP REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851096

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 1998
Suspension

VEHICLE DOES NOT CONTAIN A FRONT STABILIZER BAR, RESULTING IS LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING.

NHTSA ODI #534951

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.