The 1990 Geo Prizm has 1 safety recall and 37 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (7 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints37filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 1reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Suspension
NHTSA recall 10E002000 · Feb 11, 2010 · 12,657 vehicles
Problem: 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 RATE PLATE.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
1990 Geo Prizm 4-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Prizm
27mpg combined
City / highway
24 / 31 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Prizm
25mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel
Prizm
24mpg combined
City / highway
22 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
Prizm
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly
7
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Door; Body › Hood
7
0
0
1
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Cooling system › Radiator assembly
7
0
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Buckle assembly; Front › Webbing
7
2
0
2
—
Exterior lighting Brake lights
5
0
2
0
—
Suspension Front › Wheel bearing; Rear
5
0
0
0
—
Electrical system Horn; Starter assembly
3
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
3
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Hood › Latch; Trunk lid › Lock
2
0
0
0
—
Visibility Windshield
2
0
0
0
—
Wheels
1
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
1
1
0
1
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 2, 2006 · 125,500 milesSeat belts › Front › Retractor DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE SEAT BELT IS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED; THE SEAT BELT COULD NO LONGER BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARTS. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER DID FIND A PART, NO ONE WAS WILLING TO INSTALL THE LAP BELT FOR FEAR OF LIABILITY. UPDATED 05/30/06. *JB
Jun 14, 1998Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Feb 24, 1999Tires GENERAL TIRES UPC 20111G165-80R18, SIZE 165-80-13. CONSUMER PURCHASED TIRES ON 02/29/96. WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, TIRES FELL APART. WIRES/ RUBBER CAME OUT. DAMAGE DONE TO FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED, AND COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES AT OWN EXPENSE. AK
Oct 25, 1998Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system NONE
Sep 22, 1998Seat belts › Front SEAT BELTS COME APART.
Jun 1, 1992Suspension DOOR HANDLES MALFUNCTIONED. GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE. REAR STRUTS WE WORN IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. DEALER REFUSED TO STAND BY WARRANTY.
Jun 20, 1998Power train › Driveline › Constant velocity joint CV JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. *AK
Jun 3, 1998Power train › Automatic transmission WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LURCHED INTO A STOP. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.