NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1995 Geo Prizm. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
DANGEROUSLY POOR WINTER TRACTION ON A TIRE LABELED AS ALL-SEASON. *TR
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. IT RATTLES AND THE RIGHT WHEEL MAKES NOISE. FRONT AXLE BROKE AND I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT. PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT OR LOCK, AND FREQENTLY JAMS SO IT CAN'T BE PULLED OUT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 50- 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SUDDEN BANG. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT MOMENTARILY, AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE SIDEWALL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SPUN APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STOPPED MOVING SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE POLICE STORAGE COMPOUND. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED AXLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. REMAILED 05/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF AN INVESTIGATION WAS DONE. UPDATED06/09/08
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRISM. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 5 MPH. BECAUSE SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WHERE SOME PREVIOUS ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD SHE WAS TRAVELING ON. BUT THE NIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT THE ROAD WAS FAIRLY LEVELED. THE CONTACT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS ALREADY STOPPING. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT THAT SHE IS AWARE OF. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES,SUCH AS SEVERE BRUISING, HEAD INJURIES, BUSTED NOSE AND BLACK EYES. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE INSURANCE AGENCY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 96V070000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. SHE CONTACTED GM MANUFACTURER AND SHE WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THIS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 30, 2005. *AK
YOUR WEBSITE STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE: 95 GEO PRIZM FOR AIRBAGS FRONTAL SENSOR CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB
WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE TECHNICIAN AT THE GARAGE INDICATED THE PROBLEM SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER WITH THE RECALL INFORMATION BUT THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM
REPORTING ON BEHALF OF OUR INSURED. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER HIT POT HOLE. NO FRONTAL IMPACT. INJURY TO DRIVER. AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPAIRED. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE "ALMOST STALLS." THE LIGHT COMES ON AND A DECREASE IN RPM AND ENGINE HESTITATION OCCURS. LIGHT DID STAY ON FOR 1 HOUR, BUT WHEN DEALER CHECKED THERE WERE NO CODES RECORDED. DEALER CHECKED CAR 2 SEPARATE TIMES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DEFECTS. *LA
THREE RETRACTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY,ONE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BELT/ BELT RETRACTOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE ON ON PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR. SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, THEY WILL JUST HANG IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
WHILE DRIVING OVER A HILL FRONT TIRES STARTED TO WOBBLE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER FOUND SCREWS FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING ON THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
BOTH FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED UPON REAR END COLLISION IMPACT-IS THIS NORMAL. *AK
A BEVERAGE WAS SPILLED INTO CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING, AND AN HOUR LATER AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT RECALL 96 V 107 000, AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. DRIVER STATED THAT RECALL EXPLAINED EXACT PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT EFFECTED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WOULD BE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WHEN BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. PROBLEM WOULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. COULD SMELL BRAKES BURNING. HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT BRAKES, AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY OVERHAULED. HAD AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY WHEN BRAKES LOCKED UP. CURRENTLY, BRAKES BEING REPAIRED AGAIN AFTER BEING TEST DRIVEN & AND LOCKING UP ON MWCHANIC. *AK
BOTH SEAT BELTS IN MY CAR ARE CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE BY MY DEALER. GM AGREED TO PAY FOR THE NEW SEAT BELTS AFTER I ARGUED FOR AN HOUR WITH A REPRESENTATIVE ON THE PHONE AND THEN WENT DOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO ARGUE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. TO REPLACE TWO SEAT BELTS IN A 95 GEO PRISM THE COST IS UPWARDS OF $650. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM ACTUALY SIAD THAT I HAD BROKE THEM FROM "OVER-USAGE". I WONDER WHY IF IT IS A LAW THAT PEOPLE WEAR A SEAT BELT WHILE OPPERATING A CAR, WHY IT IS NOT A LAW THAT THE CAR MANUFACTURERS GUARANTEE THEIR SEAT BELTS FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR? MY SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACE FOR FREE IN PART BECAUSE I AM AGGRESSIVE, MOUTHY, AND I OUT-WIT BOTH THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT HALL CHEVROLET. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALY PAID TO GET THEIR DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS FIXED?*AK
INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON FRONT DRIVER AND BOTH REAR DOORS ARE BROKEN. WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE, WITHOUT PINCHING THE HANDLE FRAME TOGETHER AT BOTTOM. *AK
REAR WHEELS HAVE TILTED TOO FAR INWARD, AND CAUSED EXCESSIVE WEAR OF TIRES. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROCK WHEN MAKING A TURN. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT REA RWHEELS DID NOT MEET SPECIFICATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 APPLIED BRAKES PEDAL, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HEAD-ON, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSAGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
BRAKES WILL NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED BRAKES WERE NOT OPERABLE. SHE HEARD SOME TYPE OF NOISE, AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 36,800 MILES, CAUSING BRAKE PEDAL TO DEPRESS LOWER THAN IT USUALLY DOES, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK
THE RIGHT AND LEFT CV JOINT BROKE FAILED. NLM
WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT FORWARD,AT 70 MPH, ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT. I COUNTER STEERED AND THE VEHICLE WENT TO THE LEFT, SO I COUNTER STEERED AGAIN. THEN, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A SPIN AND ENDED UP ON THE CENTER DIVIDER. WHEN I CHECKED THE VEHICLE AFTERWARDS, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, RIM, BRAKE DRUM AND BEARING WERE GONE. THEY WERE NOT NEAR THE VEHICLE AT ALL AND THE SPINDLE WAS CLEANLY BROKEN IN HALF.
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY LESS THEN 5 MPH BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A SIDEWALK AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO OCCUPANT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY CAR ROLLED,AND UPON IMPACT MY SEAT BELTS,BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER POPPED,ALSO MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLY.I SLID ON ICE,WHEN TRY TO CORECT MY CAR SPUN AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AN EMBANKMENT AND TWO TREES AND A ROCK AND MY CAR FLIPPED.I HAD DAMAGE FROM THE FRONT LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO THE TAIL LIGHT ON DRIVER SIDE AND ALSO ROOF AND TRUNK DAMAGE THE TWO DOORS ON DRIVER SIDE WERE PUSHED IN AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLY AND WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ON ITS ROOF MY SEATBELTS POPPED AND ME AND MY SON DROPPED TO THE ROOF WHICH WAS ON THE GROUND.
DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT. PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT OR LOCK. THESE FAILURE BEGAN AFTER ONLY A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS NORMAL CUSTOMER COMMUTING USE OF VEHICLE . *AK
WHILE DRIVING NO MORE THAN 5 MPH AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT HITTING OR STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE IN 8 DAYS. RECENTLY THE ABS LIGHT FLASHES ON, DEALER PROVIDING NO HELP. *AK *ML
VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, HIT A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER WHEN PULLING OUT FROM THE STOP SIGN, FRONTAL IMPACT OCCURRED, APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DEALER CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, COULD NOT REPAIR. *AK *JB
VEHICLE VIBRATED DUE TO CUT IN TIRE, HORN FAILED.
WAS GOING ABOUT 30 MPH IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC. HAD REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER/PASSENGER SUFFERED WHIPLASH. TOOK TO DEALER TO CHECK VEHICLE. *AK
DURING COLLISION SEAT BACK COLLAPSED.
CIGARETTE LIGHTER/RADIO FUSE IS BLOWN, DISABLING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM COMPLETELY.
ABS BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *AK
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, LOCKED UP, CAUSING A COLLISION.
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION, NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER AIR BAG, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *YC
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLOSION, DRIVING ABOUTH 25 MPH , WHEN SHE HIT THE REAR SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT END OF HER VEHICLE, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND HIT A TREE, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK. THE DRIVER WAS HURT BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER IN THE SEAT. *AK
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 30MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
WHEN USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS , SPRAY MIST ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE INTAKE VALVE, CAUSING A TONIC SMELL IN VEHICLE AND CONSUMER CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, BROADSIDED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE DEPLOYMENT FROM THE AIR BAGS CAUSED DRIVER TO SUFFER BURNS ON RIGHT SIDE OF FACE/DAMAGE TO JAW JOINT AND LOSS OF HEARING. *AK
TURN SIGNALS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCE FAILURE, REPAIRS MADE HOWEVER CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE FAILURE.
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO COMPLETE CYCLE, LEAVING DRIVER UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH WINDSHIELD.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED. *DH
STEREO CONTROL KNOBS BROKEN.
VIOLENT DWPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG, RESULTING IN ARM INJURY PRIOR TO RECALL (96V-107). *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, WASN'T IN AND ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, GOT OFF WORK, VEHICLE STARTED JERKING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD, SOMEONE NOTICED FIRE AND TOLD DRIVER TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE, FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES.*AK
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.