Major Problems with Chevrolet Prizm Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Chevrolet Prizm to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Chevrolet Prizm

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Chevrolet Prizm.

Model Year	Complaints
2002 Prizm	19
2001 Prizm	44
2000 Prizm	24
1999 Prizm	36

Worst 3 Chevrolet Prizm complaints

2001 Chevrolet Prizm AIR BAGS Victims: 3 Mileage: 36000 miles

2000 Chevrolet Prizm HEAD RESTRAINT Victims: 1 Mileage: 48000 miles

1999 Chevrolet Prizm FRONT Victims: 1 Mileage: 51000 miles

Browse Chevrolet Prizm complaints by category

Problems with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS and TIRES are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Chevrolet Prizm owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING purchased car july '09 with 64 000 on engine. vehicle purchased with 90 day warranty. 2700 miles after purchase engine...	12 ~ 66890 miles
AIR BAGS my 2002 chevrolet prizm (same as a toyota corolla) has its cruse control horn and the drivers side airbag all...	10 ~ 47900 miles
TIRES i installed four kumho 795 tires (p185/65r14) on 10/03/2006 on my 2002 chevrolet prism lsi. in november 2008 without any...	9 ~ 24907 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS while driving at 45 mph consumer's vehicle was involved in a front end collision. upon impact air bags did not	9 ~ 11222 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM check engine light has come on permanently. this can be temporarily turned off by mechanics but always comes back on...	8 ~ 67678 miles
ENGINE engine absorbs oil. after purchasing engine seized. purchased 2nd engine at beechmont chevrolet...same flaw. engine seized at five mile road...	7 ~ 78762 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet prizm. two years ago the emissions control box failed at 41 000 miles and...	6 ~ 48681 miles
SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet prizm. while driving at 30 mph there was an abnormal noise coming from...	4 ~ 50000 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2001 chevy prism check engine light continues to be on. i have put two oxygen sensors on at a cost...	4 ~ 13750 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING third tail light in back window problem i noticed a smell of plastic thought it was turning because i turned...	4 ~ 100500 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING i was driving on the express way and experienced complete engine failure on my 2001 chevy prizm. as a result...	4 ~ 49875 miles
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING problems with fuel system on 2001 chevrolet prizm.*mr the vehicle's oxygen sensor fuel filter inside the tank and spark plugs	4 ~ 89346 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY dear madam/sir in today's (12/08/09) wall street journal in the article about toyota recalls it was mentioned that 2003 and...	3 ~ 72832 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES hood latch/safety latch failed and hood opened up and crashed against windshield at approximately 55 mph. damaged hood hinges cowling	3 ~ 116998 miles
LATCH > HOOD > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES tl*the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet prizm. while driving approximately 55 mph the hood automatically detached from the latch. the...	3 ~ 56715 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE i had a 180 degree turn accident caused on the morning of 5/16/05 at i-96 east livonia mi with my...	3 ~ 124177 miles
STEERING tilt steering did not lock during a tight right turn.*ak...	3 ~ 98500 miles
LATCH > DOORS > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES during cold weather conditions my 2001 prizm's front doors on both passenger and driver either wont latch stay latched for...	3 ~ 69200 miles
RECLINER > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS the driver (myself) was rear ended by a honda civic traveling at approximately 100 mph. upon impact the back of...	3 ~ 16000 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING headlights stay on allday and are very bright. which blinds other drivers.*ak...	3
TREAD/BELT > TIRES right front tire blew out unexpectedly while driving. had not yet anything. tire was split radially from bead to bead....	2 ~ 70315 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN leak from transaxle valve differential - plastic plug feel out. ruined transmission and engine. engine burning oil like mad. leaks	2 ~ 68543 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER i was driving on the express way and experienced complete engine failure on my 2001 chevy prizm. as a result...	2 ~ 85500 miles
CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM 1 . loss of normal vehicle power 2. check engine light on 3. diagnostic check done stating oxygen sensors/ catalytic...	2 ~ 55775 miles
BUCKLE ASSEMBLY > FRONT > SEAT BELTS dt: the contact stated the driver's side front seat belt will not latch. the service dealer referred the contact...	2 ~ 37500 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE problems with fuel system on 2001 chevrolet prizm.*mr the vehicle's oxygen sensor fuel filter inside the tank and spark plugs	2 ~ 124693 miles
SEATS i was involved in an auto accident on 9/1/2002 in which my seat back failed. i was traveling at...	2 ~ 24000 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle stalled at 35 mph. dealer determined that ignition coil had burned out. 2 cylinders had to be replaced as	2 ~ 39000 miles
WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES > FRONT > SEAT BELTS after owning the car for just a few months bought new i noticed that the seat belt warning light would...	2 ~ 13500 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC consumer reports brake problems. took vehicle to dealer 5 times brakes still not working properly. when applying brakes it sounds...	2
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS air bag warning light illuminated. nlm...	2
WHEELS hi i am writing to report a tire brand sold by walmart that could be illegal for sale in the...	1
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owned a 2000 chevrolet prizm. while driving approximately 35 mph the contact noticed smoke coming from the...	1 ~ 130000 miles
ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet prizm. while driving 65 mph with the cruise control activated the engine revved...	1 ~ 78000 miles
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet prizm. while driving 65 mph with the cruise control activated the engine revved...	1 ~ 78000 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet prizm. the contact stated that the service engine warning light illuminated and flashed...	1 ~ 140000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brake failure total lost all brakes - both brake lines to rear failed simultaneously. *tr...	1 ~ 68000 miles
HOOD > BODY > STRUCTURE hood on vehicle raised up as car was going about 55 mph shattering windshield and denting the roof. hood jammed	1 ~ 130000 miles
POWER TRAIN this concerns a 2001 chevy prism with 138k miles. the engine was irreparably damaged due to oil deprivation. there was...	1 ~ 138000 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES i installed four kumho 795 tires (p185/65r14) on 10/03/2006 on my 2002 chevrolet prism lsi. in november 2008 without any...	1
HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS > HOOD > BODY hood latch and safety catch failed hood flew open on expressway @ 50-55 mph causing damage to hood hinges cowling	1 ~ 130025 miles
GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM emission vapor canister failure. *tr...	1 ~ 61000 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the tie down strap on the muffler rusted out at 45 000 miles. the muffler is stainless steel and should	1 ~ 44870 miles
RIM > WHEELS the rims of the 1999 chevrolet prism bend and puncture the tires. they were brand new tires. i am afraid...	1 ~ 74000 miles
WHEEL CYLINDERS > DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS while driving the rear wheel cylinder leaked brake fluid which resulted in an accident.*ak rear wheel cylinder had to be	1 ~ 56900 miles
FUEL RAIL > FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE in approximately january 2005 i detected a gas smell when using the heater in my 1999 chevy prizm (70k miles)....	1 ~ 70000 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM after parking vehicle for only five minutes consumer returned to vehicle and noticed vehicle was on fire. dealer and manufacturer	1
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the 36 month old 2001 chevrolet prizm had an electrical fire in the dash area. my son was inside a...	1 ~ 48000 miles
BRAKE LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING brake light suddenly turns on when vehicle is in motion. this is especially more frequencly occuring when weather is cold	1 ~ 54000 miles
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY the defroster was inoperative which caused poor visibility while driving.*jb...	1 ~ 32000 miles
SEAT BELTS while driving at 50 mph the vehicle was involved in a collision and the airbags did not deploy also the...	1 ~ 36000 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS while driving on icy roads the vehicle was rear ended. the vehicle was pushed into a embankment and hit a...	1 ~ 51000 miles
FLOOR SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION in mid december while driving at highway speed the vehicle shifted into neutral. the vehicle shifted gears after the shifter...	1 ~ 42000 miles
HEAD RESTRAINT > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS i was involved in an auto accident on 9/1/2002 in which my seat back failed. i was traveling at...	1 ~ 48000 miles
SWITCH > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle stalled at 35 mph. dealer determined that ignition coil had burned out. 2 cylinders had to be replaced as	1
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC at 50mph brakes engage and consumer was unable to accelerate. cause unknown. dealer notified.*ak. while attempting to appply the brakes...	1
EQUIPMENT at 15k miles my rear passenger window motor quit working. at 35k miles my driver indoor "plastic" door handle completely...	1 ~ 25000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE at 15k miles my rear passenger window motor quit working. at 35k miles my driver indoor "plastic" door handle completely...	1 ~ 25000 miles
TAIL LIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING any time consumer starts vehicle headlights will come on automatically as day time running light will work. when headlights are...	1
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS car shook very hard and heard a distinct rubbing noise from the rear end after incident brakes were noisy and	1
RACK > RACK AND PINION > STEERING consumer hears a rubbing noise in steering rack when vehicle goes over rough pavement. dealer notified. *ak...	1
TURN SIGNAL > EXTERIOR LIGHTING turn signal indicator was not loud enough and was unable to hear turn signal when used in noisy traffic and	1
PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN transmission malfunctioned gear shifted into neutral while driving. yh ...	1

FAQ

What year Chevrolet Prizm is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 4 years, Chevrolet Prizm models of 2002, 2000, 1999 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Chevrolet Prizm?

Chevrolet Prizm models of 2001 and 1999 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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