Safety ratings
1990 Geo Prizm 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (1)
- SUSPENSIONCampaign 10E002000 · 11/02/2010
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.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- SEAT BELTS7
- STRUCTURE6
- POWER TRAIN4
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
- SUSPENSION2
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES2
Read individual complaints (38 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/28/1997· POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP, LIKE SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. AFTER THE SECOND INSTANCE, THE VEHICLE WILL STARTS BUT WILL NOT MOVE.
- 11/28/1994· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WIRING NEXT TO FUSE BOX MELTED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES TO FAIL, ALSO PREVENTED VEHICLE FROM RESTARTING. *AW
- 11/07/1997· SUSPENSION
AXLE FAILED.
- 10/31/1995· STRUCTURE
VEHICLE'S HOOD FLEW OPEN AND DAMAGE THE WINDSHIELD AND THE HOOD ITSELF, IT HAPPENDED TWICE. TT
- 10/30/1995· STEERINGCrash
STEERING WHEEL LOCKUP, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL VEHICLE, IMPACT 12:00 SPEED 28MPH, FLIP OVER. TT
- 10/25/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NONE
- 10/21/1996· STRUCTURE
REAR HATCH HYDRAULIC UNITS FAILED TO SUPPORT HATCH WHEN LIFTED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
- 09/22/1998· SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS COME APART.
- 08/23/1998· SUSPENSION
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.
- 08/11/1998· POWER TRAIN
CV JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE WHEN VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE. *AK
- 08/08/1996· SEAT BELTS
PLASTIC COVER FEMALE PORTION WHICH HOLDS BUCKLE IN PLACE HAS DETACHED FROM SEAT BELT, RENDERING PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.*AK
- 08/05/1996· STRUCTURE,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
FAILURE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE.*AK
- 07/31/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
REPLACED ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
- 07/08/1998· POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LURCHED INTO A STOP. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP. MECHANIC INFORMED OWNER THAT THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- 07/08/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN DRIVING WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THE RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
- 07/06/1995· SEAT BELTSCrash
DRIVER LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK
- 06/29/1996· SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT BUCKLE PLASTIC LATCH PLATE BROKE. *DH
- 06/22/1995· SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKED THE OCCUPANT IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND IT IS A TAKATA SEAT BELT. TT
- 06/15/1995· SEAT BELTSCrash
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE UPON REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. TT
- 06/09/1995· SEATSCrash
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT COLLAPSE UPON REAR IMPACT. TT
- 06/02/2006· SEAT BELTS
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
- 05/26/1998· STRUCTURE
DOORS MISALIGNED AND NOT FITTING PROPERLY CAUSING THE SENSOR TO LIGHT (NOT CLOSING PROPERLY).
- 05/26/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. *AW
- 05/26/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DESIGN OF THE HORN IS HARD TO FIND WHEN DRIVING. TT
- 04/29/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT, CONTINUES TO FAIL, AFTER REPLACEMENT OF 6 TIMES. *AK
- 04/26/1999· TIRES
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
- 04/25/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES VIBRATED WHEN APPLIED AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. *DSH
- 04/10/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
- 04/02/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FAILURE OFTHE BRAKE UNIT, WHEN YOU APPLY FORCE TO THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE SHAKES. *AK
- 01/30/1996· VISIBILITY
HEADLIGHT GLARE FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC REFLECTS IN WINDSHIELD, BLINDING DRIVER. *SD
- 01/30/1995· STRUCTURE
DOOR HANDLES ON INSIDE BROKE. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO EXIT VEHICLE. TT
- 01/30/1995· AIR BAGSCrash
DURING HEAD ON COLLISION AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
- 01/16/1996· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHEN DRIVING AND PARKED CAR THE HOOD LATCH CAME LOOSE . TT
- 01/14/1998· STRUCTURE
ALL OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE IN VEHICLE HAVE BROKEN.
- 01/11/1995· POWER TRAIN
FLUID DRAINED FROM TRANSAXLE, CAUSING TRANSAXLE TO BECOME DAMAGED, FREEZE AND CRACK HOUSING. *AK
- 01/06/1995· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
RADIATOR REPLACED DUE TO CORD LEAKING. *SKD
- 01/04/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFire
THE CAR SET ON FIRE FROM A SHORT IN LIGHT REAR BULB. TT *JB
- 01/02/1997· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR FAILED THREE TIMES. *AK