1993 GEO PRIZM

2 recalls, 95 complaints - 4 TSBs

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.

12,657 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: RIDE CONTROL, LLC

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

Defect Description

IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.

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.

627,858 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

Complaint Statistics

95 total complaints 25 crashes 2 fires 24 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	17
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS	8
AIR BAGS	7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE	6
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE	5
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	3
SEAT BELTS	3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION	2

Incident date: Feb 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GEO PRIZM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LONGER THAN EXPECTED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTL... Read more

Incident date: Oct 4, 2006

1993 PRIZM HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *JB

Incident date: Jan 23, 2006

1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK. ... Read more

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Jan 23, 2006

Crash 2 injured

Incident date: Nov 1, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V107000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUTIT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.

Incident date: Jun 16, 2004

PURCHASED A 1993 GEO PRIZM FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, BEFORE THE PURCHASE WE NOTED THAT THE NHTSA DESCRIBED A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPAR... Read more

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK

Fire

Incident date: Nov 22, 2003

DANGEROUS LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED CRACKED MANIFOLD TWO TIMES, THE SECOND ONE LASTED 16 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE!! EXHAUST REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEO P... Read more

Incident date: Oct 17, 2003

WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED ENGINE NOISE GETTING LOUDER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING MORNING I FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED COMPLETELY INTO TWO SEPERATE PIECES.ALSO NOTICED ODOR FROM EXHAUST LEAKING INTO PASENGER COMPARTMENT.APARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH... Read more

Incident date: Oct 17, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

Incident date: Oct 17, 2002

WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

DEAR SIR OR MADAM: I OWN A 1993 GEO PRIZM. TWICE, I HAVE HAD THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPAIRED BY A WELDER BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE. DESPITE THE WELDER'S BEST EFFORTS, THE MANIFOLD KEEPS DEVELOPING MORE CRACKS. I WANTED TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED MANIFOLD. H... Read more

CONSUMER STATES SHE HIT THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AFTER THE INCIDENT CONSUMER LEANED OVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE OTHER VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE, AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF LOOKING, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHIN THREE INCHES OF C... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Mar 30, 2000

DRIVER'S RESTRAINT DOES NOT RETRACT OUT. DEALER HAS REPLACED RETRACTOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT,AND PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED WITHIN 12 MONTHS.*AK

Incident date: Apr 25, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYED ON. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WAS RECALL 96V107000 ON THIS FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE, HOWEVER,THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. SENSOR IN AIR BAG WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMEN... Read more

Incident date: Nov 1, 2000

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS , BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

Incident date: Jan 25, 2000

RECALL 96 V 107 000/PASSIVE RESTRAINT AIR BAG: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINING ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND BOTH INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Incident date: Oct 15, 1999

REGULATORS FAILING, CAUSING POWER WINDOWS TO BECOME INOPERATIVES. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND SHARE IN HALF THE COST ON THE 1ST. INCIDENT(DRIVER SIDE); 2ND INCIDENT(PASSENGER SIDE); CONDITION REOCCUR AGAIN, AND INFORMED TO CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WA... Read more

Incident date: Jul 28, 1999

THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DESIGN DEFECT FOR THE SECOND TIME AT THE SAME PLACE. I HAVE OWNED SEVEREAL VEHICLES DURING MY LIFE AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD A CRACKED MANIFOLD. THE FIRST TIME IT BROKE IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE SECOND TIME THEY REFUSE... Read more

Incident date: Dec 21, 1999

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR . CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Incident date: Dec 12, 1999

CONSUMER STATED THAT WEIRD THINGS HAPPENED TO HER VEHICLE. SHE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. WHEN SHE CAME OUT, SHE NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS SMASHED IN, IT WAS BLACK. ALSO, CONSOLE WAS BURNED OUT. *AK

Incident date: Dec 12, 1999

Incident date: Jan 18, 2000

THE DRIVER INSIDE DOOR LATCH BROKE. OCCUPANT CANNOT OPEN DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Incident date: Dec 9, 1999

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Fire

A CRACK DEVELOPED WITHIN EXHAUST MANIFOLD AT 90,000 MILES. *AK

Incident date: Jul 1, 1998

1ST COSCO CAR SEAT--ARM PIECES CRACKED AND ONE OF THE ARMS BROKE OFF---I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY RELUCTANTLY SENT A REPLACEMENT. THIS SEAT HAD ONLY BEEN USED FOR 1 YEAR...THE REPLACEMENT COSCO CAR SEAT WAS USED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BOTH ARM PIECES CRACKED COMPLE... Read more

INTERMITTENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT BECOMES INOPERATIVE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE RESTRAINT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. *AK

Incident date: Sep 4, 1999

VEHICLE WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH ON WET ROAD. CONSUMER SLID INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG CAUSED CHEMICAL BURNS TO DRIVER SIDE OF FACE AND CHIN. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

Crash 1 injured

FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S HARNESS CLIP IS FACING THE WINDOW INSTEAD OF FACING THE BUCKET MECHANISM. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

Incident date: Jul 15, 1999

FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP IS FACING THE WINDOW INSTEAD OF FACING THE BUCKET MECHANISM.CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

DRIVER SIDE SEAL BELT WILL NOT RELEASE. IT WILL NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO BUCKLE IN OR WILL LOCK DRIVER AGAINST SEAT. THE HAPPENS QUITE FREQUENTLY, WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, INDICTING DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECAL, BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. *AK

Incident date: May 6, 1999

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Crash 1 injured

THERE IS HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Incident date: Jan 20, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD-ON, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Nov 1, 1998

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RELEASE EVEN WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE IN.

Incident date: May 13, 1998

TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILED.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1997

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED THE CONSUMER LEFT EYE TRAUMA WHICH RESULTED IN BLINDNESS.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Aug 5, 1998

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Aug 5, 1998

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Apr 1, 1998

INTAKE MANIFOLD/SUSPENSION FAILED.

Incident date: Apr 1, 1998

INTAKE MANIFOLD/SUSPENSION FAILED.

Incident date: Nov 28, 1997

WEATHER HAD BEEN COLD; VEHICLE WAS RUNNING; HAD NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING EXHAUST. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD & NOTICED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. *AK

Incident date: Jul 29, 1996

VEHICLE'S BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEM, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

Incident date: Oct 15, 1997

INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE, UNABLE TO EXIT FROM DRIVER'S SEAT.

Incident date: Oct 28, 1997

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 25 MPH IN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE, ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO STEP ON BRAKES PEDAL DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. THIS BRAKES PROBLEM HAPPEND IN ANY TYPE OF ROAD. *AK

1 injured

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING A PROBELM WITH THE HORN ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER STATED WHEN DEPRESSING THE HORN THERE IS NO VOLUME, BECOMES A HAZARD IN AN EMERGENCY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER.

Incident date: Apr 4, 1997

THE AIR BAG SENSOR SHORTED, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY.

RECALL REPAIR NOT DONE ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR BECAUSE VIN NOT PART OF RECALL. DUP OF 517339, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK

Incident date: Mar 14, 1997

ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES.

Showing 50 of 95 complaints.

EPA Fuel Economy, 1993 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, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	23.0	31.0	26.0	Regular	$2,350
1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	23.0	30.0	25.0	Regular	$2,450
1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd (Front-Wheel Drive)	24.0	31.0	27.0	Regular	$2,300

CO2 Emissions: -1.0 g/mile (Compact Cars)

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Actual fuel economy may vary based on driving conditions.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1993 GEO PRIZM

4 manufacturer communications from 4 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR	1
036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	1
060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1
061600 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)	1

061600 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)

Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AVOIDING OIL BAFFLE DAMAGE DURING OIL FILL PROCESS. *EH

036000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

COMMENT THAT THE ABS LIGHT IS ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) 46 AND 86 SET AS CURRENT OR HISTORY. *YC

011000 STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

SQUEAKING OR RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TW

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.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 1993

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.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2002	0	3	View
2001	0	9	View
2000	0	9	View
1999	0	33	View
1998	0	11	View
1997	2	63	View
1996	1	68	View
1995	3	130	View
1994	3	173	View
1993 (current)	2	95
1992	1	75	View
1991	2	72	View
1990	1	54	View
1989	1	0	View

Other GEO Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
TRACKER	12	453	View
METRO	10	810	View
STORM	6	347	View
GEO	0	4	View
SPECTRUM	0	12	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1993 GEO PRIZM

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

EPA Fuel Economy, 1993 GEO PRIZM

Technical Service Bulletins, 1993 GEO PRIZM

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, GEO PRIZM

GEO PRIZM - All Years Overview

GEO PRIZM - Year by Year

Other GEO Models