1991 GEO PRIZM
2 recalls, 72 complaints - 1 TSBs
10E002000 Feb 11, 2010
SUSPENSION
Defect Description
RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE ... Read more
Consequence
THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
90V191000 Nov 9, 1990
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Defect Description
LUG NUTS THAT RETAIN WHEELS AND WHEEL COVERS MAY HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO LOWER THAN RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence
INSUFFICIENT CLAMPING OF LUG NUTS RETAINING THE WHEELCOVER AND WHEEL COULD RESULT IN A LOOSE WHEEL THAT COULD FALL OFF WITH POTENTIALFOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
REMOVE ORIGINAL WHEEL COVER, TORQUE LUG TO SPECIFICATION, AND INSTALL FULL WHEEL COVERS THAT ARE RETAINED BY SPRING CLIPS.
Complaint Statistics
72 total complaints
3 crashes 3 fires 2 injuries
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 14 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 10 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Dec 13, 2010
Incident date: Dec 13, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE WIRING AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO ... Read more
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Nov 17, 2010
Incident date: Nov 1, 1997
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC USED FOR DOOR KNOBS DISINTEGRATED AND WERE INOPERABLE FOR THE PASSENGER DOORS. THE GEAR SHIFT ALSO FRACTURED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE PARTS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT ... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Nov 17, 2010
Incident date: Oct 17, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CARBON MONOXIDE WAS PRESENT BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.
TIRES
Sep 17, 2009
Incident date: Aug 16, 2009
1991 GEO PRISM HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, BEFORE HITTING THE MEDIAN WALL. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0738-90.
Crash
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Jan 21, 2005
Incident date: Jan 1, 2005
TIRES HAVE BELT SEPARATIONS AND AS WELL AIR BUBBLES WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO BLOW. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED, SHORTLY AFTER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *NM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Nov 30, 2001
Incident date: Oct 1, 1998
I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLES /BRAKELIGHT BURNING OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS OF REPLACEMENT. EVERY GEO PRIZM I SEE ON THE ROADS TODAY HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HATE THE FEAR OF WONDERING WETHER OR NOT THEY BLEW WHILE I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE RISK OF GETTING A TICKET FOR SOMETHING THAT... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
May 29, 2001
Incident date: Feb 14, 2001
JAN/01 - DISCOVERED CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD BY SALVAGE YARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEOS AND THEY CAN'T KEEP MANIFOLDS IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY. NEW MANIFOLD INSTALLED TO REPLACE CRACKED ONE. THE NEW ONE CRACKED APPROX. 1-2 MONTHS LATER.*AK
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Mar 21, 2001
DOOR HANDLES CONTINUOUSLY BREAK OFF, THUS FAR CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT DOOR HANDLES REPLACED.*AK *JB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Nov 8, 2000
EXHUAST MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
SUSPENSION:FRONT
Sep 8, 2000
MISALIGNMENT OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES. YH
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Sep 8, 2000
RIGHT REAR WINDOW IS VERY HARD TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. YH
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
Sep 8, 2000
AIR CONDITIONER ODOR DOES NOT GO AWAY. YH
SUSPENSION:FRONT
Sep 8, 2000
FRONT SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH MISALIGNMENT THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, REPLACE FRONT TIRES ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. YH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Sep 8, 2000
TAIL AND HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. YH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Sep 8, 2000
TAIL AND HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. YH
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
Sep 8, 2000
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. YH
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
Sep 8, 2000
WINDSHIELD WASHER SPAYERS GOT CLOGGED. YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Sep 8, 2000
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Sep 8, 2000
BATTERY FAILED. YH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Sep 8, 2000
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. YH
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Sep 8, 2000
ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES BROKE. YH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Apr 18, 2000
DRIVER SIDE LAP SAFETY BELT WILL NOT LATCH/ I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE VEHICAL AND I CAN CONTACT THE ORIGINAL OWNER TO FIND OUT THE EXACT DATE OF AND MILEAGE OF FAILURE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT IS PERTINATE. *AK
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Feb 9, 2000
Incident date: Aug 18, 1999
TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, AND VEHICLE HESITATES AND MAKES LOUD NOISES. *AK
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Oct 27, 1999
Incident date: Sep 24, 1999
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH HEARD A SOUND & WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER VEHICLE. THE WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT FELT LIKE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE & HIT A POLE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THERE WAS A RECALL #90V191000. HOWEVER, VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. ... Read more
Crash
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
Sep 25, 1999
Incident date: Jul 1, 1996
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED-2 PLACES REPLACEMENT WAS OF DIFFERENT DESIGN.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Sep 24, 1999
Incident date: Jun 1, 1992
NO SUMMARY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Jul 3, 1999
Incident date: Jun 15, 1996
THELEFT REAR SEATBELT WILL NOT UNFASTEN. *AK
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Mar 8, 1999
TAIL AND HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. YH
SUSPENSION:FRONT
Mar 8, 1999
MISALIGNMENT OCCURRED EIGHT TIMES. YH
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Mar 8, 1999
ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES BROKE. YH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Mar 8, 1999
EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Mar 8, 1999
BATTERY FAILED. YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Mar 8, 1999
ALTERNATOR FAILED.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
Mar 8, 1999
WINDSHIELD WASHER SPAYERS GOT CLOGGED. YH
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
Mar 8, 1999
FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. YH
SUSPENSION:FRONT
Mar 8, 1999
FRONT SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH MISALIGNMENT THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, REPLACE FRONT TIRES ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. YH
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Mar 8, 1999
TAIL AND HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. YH
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
Mar 8, 1999
AIR CONDITIONER ODOR DOES NOT GO AWAY. YH
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Mar 8, 1999
RIGHT REAR WINDOW IS VERY HARD TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. YH
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
Mar 3, 1999
Incident date: Feb 23, 1999
AS I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND ATTEMPTED TO FILL UP WITH GAS, MY JACKET SLEEVE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE TANK. THE TANK NEVER EXPLODED, ADN WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER.
Fire
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Oct 5, 1998
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BROKE. QCAW
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Jul 16, 1998
Incident date: Jul 1, 1993
THE DEFECTIVE INTERIOR PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLE AND BOTH REAR DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF, MAKING THE DOORS NOT OPERABLE FROM THE INSIDE. *AK
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
May 15, 1998
Incident date: May 14, 1998
SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK DURING A REAREND COLLISION.
1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Apr 20, 1998
Incident date: Oct 30, 1995
EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Jan 29, 1998
Incident date: Jun 1, 1995
EHAUST FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE RESULTED FROM A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Jul 3, 1997
Incident date: Jun 27, 1997
UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A VERY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH HAS A CRACK, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE MANIFOLD. PLASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
Mar 25, 1997
Incident date: Nov 7, 1996
RING GEAR ON DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
TIRES
Oct 29, 1996
ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR, ALSO ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS; FOUL ODOR ENTERED VEHICLE FROM AIR CONDITIONER AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH BROKE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Oct 29, 1996
ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR, ALSO ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS; FOUL ODOR ENTERED VEHICLE FROM AIR CONDITIONER AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH BROKE. *AK
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
Oct 29, 1996
ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR, ALSO ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS; FOUL ODOR ENTERED VEHICLE FROM AIR CONDITIONER AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH BROKE. *AK
Showing 50 of 72 complaints.
EPA Fuel Economy, 1991 GEO PRIZM
| Trim / Engine | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined MPG | Fuel Type | Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 3-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) | 23.0 | 26.0 | 24.0 | Regular | $2,550 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) | 20.0 | 27.0 | 23.0 | Premium | $3,300 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) | 24.0 | 31.0 | 27.0 | Regular | $2,300 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive) | 22.0 | 28.0 | 24.0 | Premium | $3,150 |
CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Subcompact Cars)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.
Technical Service Bulletins, 1991 GEO PRIZM
1 manufacturer communications from 1 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 061600 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM) | 1 |
130089009
Sep 1, 2013
061600 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
NHTSA Safety Investigations, GEO PRIZM
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
EA97015
Opened: Jul 22, 1997 , Closed: Sep 21, 1998
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
There is no summary currently available
GEO PRIZM - All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the GEO PRIZM across all model years (1989, 1997).
16
Total Recalls
800
Total Complaints
1
Investigations
197
Reported Crashes
25
Reported Fires
2
Reported Deaths
GEO PRIZM - Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.