NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1990 Geo Prizm. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
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
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
CV JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LURCHED INTO A STOP. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
FRAME MISALIGNED CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES.
ENGINE FAILED.
VEHICLE COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP, LIKE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AFTER THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE VEHICLE WILL STARTS BUT WILL NOT MOVE.
ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES. *AK
FAILURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE.*AK
FAILURE OFTHE BRAKE UNIT, WHEN YOU APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SHAKES. *AK
HEADLIGHT GLARE FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC REFLECTS IN WINDSHIELD, BLINDING DRIVER. *SD
REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTER TWICE. *AK
SEAT BELT BUCKLE PLASTIC LATCH PLATE BROKE. *DH
STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED 28MPH, FLIP OVER. TT
VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW OPEN AND DAMAGE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HOOD ITSELF, IT HAPPENDED TWICE. TT
REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT, CONTINUES TO FAIL, AFTER REPLACEMENT OF 6 TIMES. *AK
WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE CAR SET ON FIRE FROM A SHORT IN LIGHT REAR BULB. TT *JB
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. *AW
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE UPON REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. TT
DRIVER LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSE UPON REAR IMPACT. TT
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKED THE OCCUPANT IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND IT IS A TAKATA SEAT BELT. TT
BRAKES VIBRATED WHEN APPLIED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. *DSH
AUTO-TRAN: WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, TRANSMISSION FROZE; WHEELS LOCKED UP; STARTED MAKING UNFAMILIAR SOUND; SEVERAL LOUD THUMPS, THEN FROZE. TT
RADIATOR REPLACED DUE TO CORD LEAKING. *SKD
WIRING NEXT TO FUSE BOX MELTED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO FAIL, ALSO PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM RESTARTING. *AW
DURING HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
DOOR HANDLES ON INSIDE BROKE. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO EXIT VEHICLE. TT
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.
ALL OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN VEHICLE HAVE BROKEN.
THE DESIGN OF THE HORN IS HARD TO FIND WHEN DRIVING. TT
WHEN DRIVING AND PARKED CAR THE HOOD LATCH CAME LOOSE . TT
PLASTIC COVER FEMALE PORTION WHICH HOLDS BUCKLE IN PLACE HAS DETACHED FROM SEAT BELT, RENDERING PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.*AK
REAR HATCH HYDRAULIC UNITS FAILED TO SUPPORT HATCH WHEN LIFTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
SEAT BELTS COME APART.
NONE
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Sep 11, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.