2000 Chevrolet Prizm

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 11/29/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE IGNITION BECAME INOPERABLE. KEY WOULD NOT TURN, THE KEY CYLINDER AND SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR 2003. IN BOTH OCCURANCES THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED.*AK

• 10/28/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE BACK PLATE FAILED ON THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND THE BRAKE FAILED. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BACKER PLATE RUSTED OUT, RESULTING IN THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM WAS A COMBINATION OF BOTH DISC AND DRUM BRAKES. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BACK PLATE. THE BACK PLATE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. EARLIER THERE WAS A FAILURE OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BRAKING SYSTEM. ALL FOUR BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED, RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. THE WHEEL CYLINDER SEPARATED FROM THE CALIPERS. THE ONLY WARNING LIGHT CAME AFTER THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE LEFT ROTOR. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AND THE CALIPERS WERE REBUILT. THE BRAKE PADS HAD LESS THAN 50 % WEAR BUT THEY WERE REPLACED AS WELL. *AK

• 10/12/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING A QUART OF OIL PER MONTH AND CURRENTLY USES THREE QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. WHEN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE INITIALLY PERFORMED, THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LINES WERE TESTED AND THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND THE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. CURRENTLY, A MECHANIC HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL RING IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST $2,000 - $3,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

• 09/21/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE A 2000 MALIBU AND IT HAS 129K MILES ON IT. THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR MONTHS AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE REASON FOR THIS WAS, BUT IT NEVER SEEMED TO AFFECT MY CAR IN ANY WAY. TODAY THE CAR TURNED ON FINE TWICE, ONCE COMING OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THE SECOND TIME COMING OUT OF THE GAS STATION. WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT ON AFTER LEAVING FROM A JOB INTERVIEW, IT CRANKS AS IF IT WANTS TO TURN ON BUT DOESN'T. IT SOUNDS LIKE IF THE GAS TANK IS ON EMPTY BUT IT'S ALMOST FULL. I CHECKED ALL CONNECTIONS AND EVEN TRIED A JUMP START AND IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. FINALLY I GOT IT TOWED HOME AND FIND OUT ON THE INTERNET THAT CHEVY MALIBUS ARE FULL OF DEFECTS.(HTTP://WWW.AUTOSITE.COM/CONTENT/RESEARCH/FORUMS/INDEX.CFM/ACTION/POSTS/FID/1601) (INCLUDING MY AC THAT ONLY WORKS ON 3, 4, AND 5). MY ANTI THEFT DEVICE WON'T LET ME DRIVE MY OWN CAR, AND I ALREADY MISSED AN IMPORTANT CLASS. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LEAVE THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION FOR A WHILE UNTIL THE ANTI THEFT LIGHT TURNS OFF, BUT IT NEVER TURNS OFF. IT HAS BARELY STARTED WITH THIS PROBLEM TODAY, BUT AFTER READING ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS, MORE LIKE HORROR STORIES, I'M SCARED OF MY MALIBU AND I DON'T TRUST IT ANYMORE BECAUSE I KNOW IT WILL GET WORSE. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY THE DEALER TO FIX AN OBVIOUS PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW EXISTS BUT WON'T ADMIT TO; THERE NEEDS TO BE A SERIOUS RECALL. *TR

• 09/17/2002· SEATSCrash

  THE DRIVER (MYSELF) WAS REAR ENDED BY A HONDA CIVIC TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH. UPON IMPACT THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED AND PROCEEDED TO CHANGE FROM 90 DEGREES IN SHAPE TO 150 DEGREES IN SHAPE. I THEREBY LOST SIGHT OF THE ROAD AND ONLY HAD THE STEERING WHEEL TO HOLD ON TO. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I WAS THROWN FORWARD AND EITHER SMACKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW, A-POST OR WINDSHIELD WITH MY HEAD.*AK

• 08/16/2005· SEAT BELTS

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. THE SERVICE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CHEVROLET CONSUMER HOTLINE; THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN BEFORE THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM THE WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC SEATING POSITION THAT KEPT THE SEAT BELT FROM LATCHING. *AK

• 08/10/2007· VISIBILITY

  2000 TAHOE: REAR HATCH WINDOW HINGE BROKE. IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC...PRETTY SHODDY FOR A 4W DRIVE VEHICLE. I HAVE ONLY OPENED THAT WINDOW 5-6 TIMES SINCE 2002, SO IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT ABUSED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW...WOULD LIKE GM TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE $600 WINDOW PLUS HINGES (THE CHEVY DEALER QUOTED $1300.) *JB

• 08/08/2005· TIRES

  WE HAD PURCHASED UNIROYAL TIRES IN OCTOBER 2002 FROM FARM AND FLEET IN LA CROSSE. AS OF AUGUST 4, 2005, ALL THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE TIRES CRACKING AND PEELING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO SEARS WHERE THEY TOLD US THEY WOULD NOT LET US DRIVE THE CAR DUE THE SEVERITY OF THE PEELING OF THE TIRES. DRIVING OUR CAR WITH THE TIRES IN THE POOR CONDITION COULD CAUSE AND ACCIDENT AND INJURY. I STARTED HAVING A PANIC ATTACK AFTER HEARING THIS NEWS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR TIRES TO SHRED, CRACK, AND PEEL AT ONLY 40,000 MILES. I CALLED FARM AND FLEET WHERE WE BOUGHT THE TIRES AND HE TOLD ME "TOO BAD" AND HUNG UP ON ME. I CALLED UNIROYAL AND SHE SAID IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM IF OUR TIRES CRACKED, THAT'S WHAT TIRES DO. THESE TIRES THAT CRACKED, PEELED, AND SHREDDED HAVE A 75,000 MILES WARRANTY, NOONE WILL HONOR THIS WARRANTY AND WE HAD TO SPEND OVER $400 BUYING NEW TIRES. *NM

• 08/05/2004· SEAT BELTS

  AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS, BOUGHT NEW, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF AS IT PLEASED. SOMETIMES WITH BEING BELTED IN, IT WOULD SHOW UP, AND OTHERTIMES IT WOULD BE OFF. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR THIS JOB AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS OVER $300.00, SAYING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEATBELT. A BIT OFF TO ME.*AK

• 08/03/2001· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED CONSIDERABLE FRONT END DAMAGE, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CERVICAL (NECK) STRAIN. *YH

• 07/29/2002· TIRES

  ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES BLEW WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES SINCE ALL WERE IN BAD SHAPE. *YH

• 07/27/2012· ENGINE

  THE PISTON SKIRTS ON THE 2000 MODEL WERE TOO SHORT (THEY WERE REPLACED WITH APPROPRIATE SKIRTS IN A LATER YEAR MODEL). THE VERY SHORT SKIRT ALLOWS THE PISTON TO TILT IN THE CYLINDER MUCH SOONER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN NORMAL ENGINES. THIS CAUSES THE RINGS TO FAIL TO SEAT PROPERLY MUCH EARLIER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ENGINE WITH NORMAL SKIRT LENGTHS. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE THE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMED RISES EXPONENTIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN. AT SOME POINT, THE ENGINE COULD MALFUNCTION WHILE THE DRIVER IS DRIVING. *TR

• 07/26/2005· VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT

  AT 15K MILES, MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING. AT 35K MILES, MY DRIVER INDOOR "PLASTIC" DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. AT 75K MILES, MY DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING (I NOW HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE). AND AT 85K, MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO CRACK. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ALMOST $40 A PIECE FOR THE HANDLES, EACH, AND THEN 140.00 EACH TO INSTALL. THIS IS A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC, AND SHOULD NOT BE SO MUCH. THE MOTORS ARE ROUGHLY $100 EACH TO REPLACE, PLUS THE LABOR. THE SEATBELT SIGN FLASHES ALL THE TIME, WHETHER I AM BUCKLED IN OR NOT, AND I AM TOLD THE WHOLE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACES, AT ANOTHER $235. NOW MY SPARK PLUG COILS ARE SUPPOSEDLY BAD, AND I AM LOOSING OIL. THE CAR HAS 82 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 1 TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON THE CAR, BUT DOUBT I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET.

• 07/20/2006· TIRES

  2000 PRIZM LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/20/06 *JB

• 07/13/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HAVE DAMAGED LIFTERS IN 2000 CHEVY PRIZM ENGINE MADE BY TOYOTA, DUE TO A MFG. DEFECT, ACCORDING TO MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPAIMAN. HE SAYS UPPER ENGINE DRAIN HOLES FOR OIL WERE DRILLED SMALLER THAN AMERICAN MADE MOTORS WHICH WILL GUM UP AND RESTRICT FLOW OF OIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO HYDRAULIC LIFTERS. EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNTIL ENGINE IS TORN DOWN IS UNDETERMINABLE. AT THE LEAST, TRADE IN VALUE IS MUCH DIMISHED DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE. MILEAGE-39,000. *LA

• 07/12/2004· EQUIPMENT

  AIR CONDITIONER FAILS TO COOL, FAILS TO COOL, WARMER AIR COMING OUT. COULDN'T FIND ANY LEAK, ADDED COOLANT, THIRD VISIT REPLACED PART OF AIR CONDITIONER, 1 YEAR LATER FAILING TO COOL AGAIN, SOME VALVE WAS STUCK, $70 NOW THAT WARRANTY IS UP, RESISTER NOT WORKING CORREXCTLY, ONLY WORKS ON HIGHEST TWO OPTIONS, WANTED TO CHARGE ANOTHER $100 FOR REPLACEMENT, CAN'T AFFORD. 2000 GEO METRO, ROGER DEAN CHEVROLET IS NOT EXACTLY A GOOD AIR CONDITIONER ANYWAY, NOT VERY COOL WHEN WORKING RIGHT. *LA

• 06/23/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  AFTER PARKING VEHICLE FOR ONLY FIVE MINUTES CONSUMER RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

• 06/17/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrashFire

  I OWN A 2000 CHEVROLET ASTRO VAN WHICH I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE FOR OVER A YEAR BECAUSE OF MALFUNCTIONING ANTILOCK BRAKES. I BROUGHT IT TO BE REPAIRED LAST YEAR AND PAID OVER $800 FOR ONE SET OF BRAKES, THE OTHER SET STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THE ANTILOCK BRAKES PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM STOPPING WHEN TRAVELING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2002. THERE IS CURRENTLY AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS VERY PROBLEM ON SIMILAR CHEVY SUVS AND TRUCKS, BUT NOT INCLUDING THE ASTRO VAN.

• 06/05/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  AT 50MPH, BRAKES ENGAGE AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPPLY THE BRAKES, THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CONSUMERS DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AGAIN, BUT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THEN RELEASED, UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE HAD NO FRONT BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES WERE CRACKED, THERE WAS A STRANGE FLUID IN THE BRAKE LINES AND ALSO THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED 8,000 MILES EARLIER DUE TO THE BRAKES ENGAGING ON THEIR OWN.*JB

• 05/19/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  SPRING 2004, OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTICED EXCESSIVE SLUDGE (APPX 65000 MILES ON CAR). CLEANED ENGINE OUT, CHANGED OIL (CAR HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-4K MILES). AFTER THAT CAR WAS NOTED TO BE USING TOO MUCH OIL (TOPPING OFF AT EACH 1500 MILES THEY HAD TO ADD 2 AND A HALF QUARTS). TOOK TO DEALER AT ABOUT 67000 NOTING OIL PROBLEM AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED OUT TO BE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. REPLACED. NOTHING DONE ON OIL PROBLEM. AT 70000 MILES ENGINE WAS HESITATING AND CONTINUING TO BURN OIL. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. CHARGED ME FOR NEW SPARK PLUGS FIRST THEN FOUND OTHER PROBLEMS (BELIEVE IT WAS AIR FLOW SENSOR.) AT 72,000, TOOK BACK TO DEALER FOR EXCESSIVE OIL USE. CHANGED OIL AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK WHEN IT HAD BURNED A QUART. ON THE WAY HOME FROM DEALER, ENGINE BLEW UP. UNDER GM EXTENDED WARRANTY, LOWER HALF OF ENGINE REPLACED. THREE WEEKS AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED (WHICH TOOK A MONTH) TRANSMISSION DIED. REPLACED TRANNY UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY I'M LUCKY IT WAS UNDER THE CHEVY NAME AND NOT TOYOTA, BUT SAME PROBLEM IS NOTED ON A NUMBER OF THOSE.

• 05/10/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  I PURCHASED MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 8,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH IT UNTIL RECENTLY. EVEN THOUGH I FAITHFULLY CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES I AM NOW EXPERIENCING MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH 65,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHICH I AM STILL PAYING OFF. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT GMC HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE THAT IS IN MY VEHICLE. IT NOW HAS AN INTAKE VALUE FAILURE AND PISTON PROBLEMS. I HAVE OWNED MANY OTHER VECHILES AND AS LONG AS I MAINTAINED THEM THEY RAN GREAT UNTIL 100,000 PLUS MILES. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM AND WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE? NOT IMPRESSED. I THOUGHT GOING GMC WOULD GIVE ME A RELIABLE VEHICLE. I NOW HAVE TO PUT IN OVER $1,000 OR REPLACE THE ENGINE FOR $3,000 TO $4,000. WHEN I GO TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHILE I WILL KEEP THIS IN MIND!!!!!

• 05/01/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  MY ENGINE STALLS AT LEAST 2 TO 3 TIMES A MONTH, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE PROBLEM... AND IT IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.... *TR

• 04/18/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND HEADED TOWARDS LEFT SIDE WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE LANE CHANGE. THERE WERE NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS, NO UNUSUAL TRAFFIC PATTERNS, AND I WAS NOT GOING ABOVE THE SPEED LIMIT. I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED VEERING LEFT, I TRIED EVERYTHING IN MY CONTROL TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE MEDIAN, BUT TO NO AVAIL, MY VEHICLE SIDESWIPED THE MEDIAN, AND THE LEFT REAR WHEEL FELL OFF. SINCE I WAS TRYING TO STEER RIGHT, THE WHEEL FINALLY RESPONDED AFTER SIDESWIPING THE MEDIAN, AND I HAD TO STEER LEFT AGAIN TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AT WHICH POINT, IT SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE SECOND FARTHEST LEFT LANE FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAITED FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC, AND QUICKLY PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT SHOULDER WITH ONLY THREE WHEELS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG, AS I HAD NOT DONE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY OTHER THAN PERFORMING A LANE CHANGE TO THE NEXT LANE. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS EVERYTHING LOOKS "CONNECTED" BUT I BELIEVE DEFECTIVE PART OR PARTS CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION TO POSSIBLE CAUSES. THE VEHICLE WAS BRAND NEW, AND I WAS VERY CAREFUL WITH IT, I DON'T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE OF SOMETHING I DID. I HAVE FILED A REPORT WITH CHEVROLET, AND AM AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE. THANK YOU.

• 04/16/2014· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 11/14/14*CN UPDATED 7/28/2015*JS

• 03/26/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  CONSUMER REPORTS BRAKE PROBLEMS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES, BRAKES STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IT SOUNDS LIKE A SPRING IS BEING RELEASED, AND BRAKING DISTANCE IS TOO LONG. *AK ABS ENGAGES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *YH

• 02/27/2001· STRUCTURE

  POWER SLIDING DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES WHILE PARKED AND AT SPEEDS OF 5MPH. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE NOTIFIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS NONE OF WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. A LEATHER TRIM ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS COMING UNDONE AND THE DEALERSHIP FOOLISHLY TRIED TO FIX IT WITH SILICON. I SHOULD OF STUCK WITH JAPANESE CARS.

• 02/11/2004· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  SAFETY LATCH ON HOOD MALFUNCTIONED SO HOOD NOT SECURE. HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE CAR TRAVELING AT APPROX 50MPH. LATCH IS SPRING LOADED BUT SPRING DID NOT WORK. LATCH DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CORRODED. WINDSHIELD CRACKED. HOOD DAMAGED TOATL COST $1700. *AK

• 02/10/2003· VISIBILITY

  THE DEFROSTER WAS INOPERATIVE, WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING.*JB

• 02/08/2011· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD LOCK, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW TO ENGAGE THE EXTERIOR DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

• 02/08/2000· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, GEAR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. YH

• 02/06/2004· SEATSCrash

  I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT ON 9/1/2002 IN WHICH MY SEAT BACK FAILED. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN MY 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM LSI. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A HONDA CIVIC TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT WAS SUCH THAT WHEN I WAS THROWN TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT IT BROKE AND CHANGED THE POSITION OF THE ENTIRE SEAT FROM APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES TO 150 DEGREES. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I WAS THROWN FORWARD AND TORQUE-TWISTED AROUND THE THREE POINT HARNESS. I THEN HAD TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE ALSO USING THE STEERING WHEEL AS A SUPPORT TO KEEP MYSELF UPRIGHT WHEN THE SEATBELT WANTED TO PULL ME BACK INTO THE SEAT BACK WHICH WAS NOT THERE. THE SEAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED; I'VE BEEN TOLD THE HARDWARE HAS BEEN REPLACED. HOWEVER, A NEW PROBLEM HAS MANIFESTED ITSELF. THE METAL FRAME OF THE HEADREST (A U-SHAPED PIECE OF METAL) HAS BECOME EXPOSED (AS OF 2/1/2004) AND NOW COMES IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE FABRIC SIDE WHICH THE DRIVER'S HEAD SITS AGAINST. I REMOVED THE HEADREST AND GAVE IT TO MY MOM, THE UPHOLSTERER, FOR REPAIR AS I HAD ASSUMED THE FOAM BUN HAD BECOME LOOSE AND MISADJUSTED. INSTEAD, SHE INFORMED ME THAT THE FOAM BUN ITSELF HAD SHATTERED INTO AT LEAST TWO PIECES AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO REARRANGE THE FOAM AND STILL HAVE IT FULFILL ITS SAFETY FUNCTION; I.E. IF I GOT REAR-ENDED AGAIN, THE BASE OF MY SKULL WAS GOING TO BE SLAMMED INTO A HORIZONTAL ROD. AS A RESULT, WE INSPECTED THE OTHER THREE HEADRESTS OF THE CAR AND FOUND THEM TO BE ABSENT OF THIS PROBLEM: I WAS THE ONLY PERSON IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THEREFORE, I'M MAKING THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE FOAM BUN HAD BEEN SHATTERED, NOT REPAIRED (IT'S NOT VISIBLE) AND THE SUPPORT FRAME EVENTUALLY WORKED ITS WAY TO THE SURFACE. BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE THE INTERIOR OF MY SEAT, MY CONCERN IS THAT THE FOAM UNDER THE FABRIC HAS ALSO BEEN COMPROMISED IN A MANNER WHICH RENDERS THE SEAT LESS CAPABLE OF PROTECTING ME IN ANY FUTURE COLLISIONS.*AK

• 02/02/2005· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  I WAS DRIVING OF A HIGHWAY AND MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD OPENED AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A HUGE ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS AS I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. LUCKLY I DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR AND I PULLED IT ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. LATCH WAS WORKING FINE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. NOW HAVE LOT OF DENTS ON THE FRONT OF THE ROOF. HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS ABOUT $1500.00. *AK

• 01/15/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CHEVROLET PRIZM...COROLLA IN DISGUISE. CAR DRINKS OIL BAD. HAVE OWNED A 2000 MODEL BOUGHT IN 2008 WITH 44,000 MILES CAR LOOKED AND DROVE LIKE NEW SO I THOUGHT CAR IS MADE BY TOYOTA NO NEED TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. WRONG!!! GOT HOME WITH THE CAR AND MY DAD WANTED TO DRIVE IT,HE'S A MECHANIC.GETS BACK HOME MAD. HE HEARD A TICKING NOISE,( I DIDN'T NOTICE CAUSE LAST CAR WAS WORE OUT AND NOISY...THIS WAS QUITE FOR ME) CHECKED OIL AND THERE WAS LESS THAN A QUART IN THE OIL PAN IT ONLY HOLDS A LITTLE OVER 3QTS. HE PUT OIL IN IT AND IT WAS SUPER QUITE MOTOR. DROVE THE CAR TIL BOUT 94000. AT FIRST THE CAR NEEDED ONLY 1 QT EVERY 600-800 MILES. THAT WAS OK I WAS USED TO THAT. THEN IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. 1 QT EVERY 50 TO 100 MILES. MY DAD TORE IT APART LOOKED EVERY WHERE FOR A LEAK. NONE NOTHING!!! IT WAS BURNING OIL HE FOUND OUT BUT COULD NOT TELL WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THIS IS VERY BAD BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH BEFORE IT CLOGGED AND BURNT SLAP OUT!!! ALMOST 7000$ I PAID FOR THAT CAR SUPPOSEDLY OF TOYOTA QUALITY, NOT COUNTING ALL OF THE OIL NOW IN OUR O-ZONE. BESIDES THE OIL PROBLEM THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE FACES WHEN OWNING THESE VEHICLES INCLUDING COROLLAS SAME MOTOR, BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. I JUST BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE HOPING IT WOULD BE CLEAR OF ENGINE ISSUES. WRONG... MY DAD HAS LOOKED IT ALL OVER CAN'T FIND OUT STILL WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS REALLY GOOD AND HELP US PRISM OWNERS HAVE RESTITUTION TO SEE THAT RECALL ENVELOPE IN THE MAIL. LOOK AT EVERY CAR REVIEW SITE AND YALL WILL SEE THAT 9 OUT OF 10 COMPLAINTS ARE OIL USAGE. MAYBE THAT'S THE REASON YOU DON'T SEE THEM MUCH ANYMORE. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY US PRISM OWNERS( THAT ARE LEFT LOL) NEED OUR CARS FIXED WHERE THE EARTH DOES NOT HAVE SUFFER ANY MORE NETHER THE LESS OUR WALLETS. OIL, DIAGNOSTICS. CATALYTIC CONVERTERS..ETC.YOU HAVE TO CHECK OIL CONSTANT. OIL LIGHT NEVER WORKS FOR ANYONE THAT'S WHY THEIR ALL GONE. YOU WILL SEE ON ALL REVIEW SITES. *TR

• 01/13/2015· SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINEFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 01/05/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  CAR HAS 54,000 MILES WITH LIMITED NIGHTTIME USE. HAD TO REPLACE RIGHT HEADLIGHT MOTOR. 100 MILES LATER THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB