*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Service brakesFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Jan 12, 2015 · 130,000 milesAir bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 11/14/14*CN UPDATED 7/28/2015*JS
Apr 1, 2008 · 56,000 milesEngine
THE PISTON SKIRTS ON THE 2000 MODEL WERE TOO SHORT (THEY WERE REPLACED WITH APPROPRIATE SKIRTS IN A LATER YEAR MODEL). THE VERY SHORT SKIRT ALLOWS THE PISTON TO TILT IN THE CYLINDER MUCH SOONER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN NORMAL ENGINES. THIS CAUSES THE RINGS TO FAIL TO SEAT PROPERLY MUCH EARLIER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ENGINE WITH NORMAL SKIRT LENGTHS. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE THE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMED RISES EXPONENTIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN. AT SOME POINT, THE ENGINE COULD MALFUNCTION WHILE THE DRIVER IS DRIVING. *TR
May 3, 2010 · 90,000 milesLatches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD LOCK, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW TO ENGAGE THE EXTERIOR DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.
Feb 8, 2011 · 99,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine
CHEVROLET PRIZM...COROLLA IN DISGUISE. CAR DRINKS OIL BAD. HAVE OWNED A 2000 MODEL BOUGHT IN 2008 WITH 44,000 MILES CAR LOOKED AND DROVE LIKE NEW SO I THOUGHT CAR IS MADE BY TOYOTA NO NEED TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. WRONG!!! GOT HOME WITH THE CAR AND MY DAD WANTED TO DRIVE IT,HE'S A MECHANIC.GETS BACK HOME MAD. HE HEARD A TICKING NOISE,( I DIDN'T NOTICE CAUSE LAST CAR WAS WORE OUT AND NOISY...THIS WAS QUITE FOR ME) CHECKED OIL AND THERE WAS LESS THAN A QUART IN THE OIL PAN IT ONLY HOLDS A LITTLE OVER 3QTS. HE PUT OIL IN IT AND IT WAS SUPER QUITE MOTOR. DROVE THE CAR TIL BOUT 94000. AT FIRST THE CAR NEEDED ONLY 1 QT EVERY 600-800 MILES. THAT WAS OK I WAS USED TO THAT. THEN IT GOT WORSE AND…
Mar 1, 2008 · 94,000 milesEngine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING A QUART OF OIL PER MONTH AND CURRENTLY USES THREE QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. WHEN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE INITIALLY PERFORMED, THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LINES WERE TESTED AND THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND THE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. CURRENTLY, A MECHANIC HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL RING IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST $2,000 - $3,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.
Oct 1, 2004 · 74,000 milesTires
2000 PRIZM LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/20/06 *JB
May 29, 2006Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. THE SERVICE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CHEVROLET CONSUMER HOTLINE; THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN BEFORE THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM THE WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC SEATING POSITION THAT KEPT THE SEAT BELT FROM LATCHING. *AK
Dec 2, 2004
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.