2002 Chevrolet Prizm

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

• 12/23/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  LOW COOLANT LIGHT ON MY 2002 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN COMING ON. THE CHEVY DEALER CHECKED THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT COMING ON, CHECKED FOR LOW COOLANT. FOUND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING INTERNALLY. COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL. *NM

• 12/13/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  2002 MALIBU. TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE. *NM

• 12/08/2009· 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 2004 COROLLAS AND MATRIXES WERE RECALLED TO FIX A FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS TO STOP WORKING. I OWN A 2002 PRIZM, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A COROLLA WITH A PRIZM BADGE. I HAD TO HAVE ONE POWER WINDOW FIXED AT 43,495 MILES, ANOTHER AT 56,236 MILES AND NOW THE OTHER TWO ARE GIVING ME PROBLEMS AT 77,000 MILES. TOYOTA AND CHEVROLET NEED TO STUDY THIS PROBLEM AND EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 2002 MODELS. *TR

• 11/29/2002· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,AIR BAGS,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  I WAS IN A WRECK LAST MONDAY NIGHT WHILE DRIVING A COMPANY VAN. THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN YOU SET IT AT A SPEED THEN GO DOWN A HILL IT WOULD GET 15-20 MILES FASTER. ANY HOW THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT DOWN AND I HIT A GUARD RAIL WITH THE FRONT OF THE VAN A FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY BY MY LEFT FOOT AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UNTIL THE FIRE GOT TO THEM. THE VAN ROLLED OVER ONCE AND LANDED ON ITS WHEELS THE DOORS WOULDN'T OPEN I ROLLED DOWN THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND GOT OUT THAT WAY AND THE ABS BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WHEN YOU HAVE TO GET ON THEM REAL HARD. DT

• 11/27/2007· POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED MY 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS IN DECEMBER, 2004. GREAT LOOKING VEHICLE WITH NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT AND SEVERE HAS COME OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. WHILE ACCELERATING ON AN ENTRANCE RAMP, THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY; VERY ROUGH AND THE RPM'S GO TO 4000 OR ABOVE BEFORE SHIFTING OR IF I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I AM TERRIFIED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO COME OUT COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE; I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAVE ALSO BEEN RESEARCHING OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR, AND TO MY HORROR, I AM EXPERIENCING MUCH OF THE SAME AS OTHER CONSUMERS. HOW CAN SO MANY COMPLAINTS BE ISSUED ABOUT THE SAME VEHICLE AND GENERAL MOTORS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEMS?? *TR

• 10/19/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS RESULT, MAJOR DAMAGE OCCURRED. NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TC

• 09/28/2005· POWER TRAIN

  RE 2002 CHEVY TAHOE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS: UP UNTIL THE 34,000 MILE RANGE THE VEHICLE DID JUST THAT, RUN FLAWLESSLY. HOWEVER, AT 34,000 MILES (NOVEMBER OF 2004) THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND NEEDED TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND INSTANTLY THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO WHINE AND STOPPED OPERATING WHICH PLACED HER INTO THE PATH OF A LARGE TRUCK BEARING DOWN ON HER RATHER QUICKLY. THANKFULLY SHE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE OUT OF THE PATH OF THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD THE TAHOE TOWED BACK TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND WE DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION "SUN SHELL" HAD FAILED AND WOULD BE REPLACED. OUR DEALER ASSURED US THAT THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE NEW PARTS WERE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. OUR DEALER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRING A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THESE FAILURES. OUR TAHOE WENT OFF OF IT'S NEW CAR WARRANTY ON MILEAGE NOT NUMBER OF MONTHS SOMETIME IN APRIL OF 2005 (36 MONTHS WOULD HAVE ENDED THIS AUGUST). JUST THIS PAST MONDAY (SEPTEMBER 19, 2005) MY WIFE WAS AGAIN ON HER WAY TO WORK WHEN AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN OUR 2002 TAHOE. THE MILEAGE WAS APPROX: 41,000 ( TOTAL PERIOD OF MILES AND THE LENGTH OF TIME FROM THE PREVIOUS FAILURE WAS APPROX: 7 MONTHS). THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE THE SAME, SHE WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO WHINE AND SLIP. THIS TIME SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RELATIVE SAFETY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO OUR DEALERSHIP AND AGAIN THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE "SUN SHELL" HAD FAILED. I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2005 AND WHILE I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE DAMAGED PART AND A BENCH THAT CONTAINED SEVERAL DAMAGED "SUN SHELL". IT OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT TAKE MUCH EFFORT TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AND SPECIFICALLY THIS PART. *JB

• 09/26/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. THE CONSUMER STATED CAR DEVELOPED A SPORADIC FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. INVOLVED LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE DEALER, IMPERIAL CHEVROLET. HOWEVER, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $46.00 JUST TO LOOK AT CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AN ARTICLE IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER STATED THERE HAS BEEN A TREND OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED IMPERIAL CHEVROLET THEY STATED THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. *AK

• 09/21/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASED CAR JULY '09 WITH 64,000 ON ENGINE. VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 90 DAY WARRANTY. 2700 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ENGINE EMITTED BLUE SMOKE AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PISTONS HOLD NO COMPRESSION, ONE VALVE SHOT, REPAIR SHOP AND WARRANTY COMPANY STATE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT ENGINE, POTENTIAL VALVE DAMAGE., ENGINE COULD CEASE IF DRIVEN. *TR

• 09/14/2007· 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 CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. AT 72,000 MILES, THE ENGINE HAS A PISTON KNOCK. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE KNOCKING HAS WORSENED. THE REPAIR HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC AND HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE PURCHASE DATE AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72,000.

• 09/05/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE A 02'CHEVY IMPALA WHEN I TURN IT ON ALL ELECTRIC COMES ON AND THE ENGINE RUNS FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND DIES THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM COMES ON I GOT THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED STILL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MILES AFTER READING THE MANUAL AND PUSHING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR WHILE HOLDING THE KEYS ON FOR THREE SECONDS BUT EVENTUALLY IT DIED AGAIN. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR

• 08/26/2008· STRUCTURE

  HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY CATCH FAILED; HOOD FLEW OPEN ON EXPRESSWAY @ 50-55 MPH CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOOD, HINGES, COWLING, FENDERS AND WINDSHIELD. *TR

• 08/10/2010· STEERING

  2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP *TGW

• 06/27/2008· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD AUTOMATICALLY DETACHED FROM THE LATCH. THE HOOD SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH SHATTERED THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GLASS. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE MALFUNCTIONING AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP FOR THE WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT. RECENTLY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HOOD LATCH WAS NOT MALFUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,144 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,244. UPDATED 1/9/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB

• 06/26/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT IGNITION COIL HAD BURNED OUT. 2 CYLINDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.*AK

• 06/24/2007· PARKING BRAKE

  THE 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENCY BRAKE.. IT WAS COMPLETELY USELESS. IT DIDN'T WORK. WHY I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE INSPECTION PLACE STATED THAT THEY HAD FAILED NUMEROUS TAHOES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FELT THAT IT WAS UNSAFE AND CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL THE FEW THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE AN INNOCENT PARTY CONCERNING SEVERAL DEATHS OR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE REPORTING IT BEFORE IT IS RECALLED. I DIDN''T EVEN USE THE BRAKE HOW COULD IT NOT WORK ANYMORE.

• 06/23/2018· ENGINE

  ENGINE ABSORBS OIL. AFTER PURCHASING; ENGINE SEIZED. PURCHASED 2ND ENGINE AT BEECHMONT CHEVROLET...SAME FLAW. ENGINE SEIZED AT FIVE MILE ROAD EXIT OFF OF I-275. TO THIS DAY IF I DO NOT CHECK OIL ON REGULAR BASIS. I POSE A RISK OF ENGINE SEIZING AGAIN.

• 06/23/2015· AIR BAGS

  MY 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM (SAME AS A TOYOTA COROLLA) HAS ITS CRUSE CONTROL, HORN, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ALL MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE CAR THROUGH AN INFLATABLE RESTRAINT STEERING WHEEL MODULE COIL (AKA CLOCK SPRING) MECHANISM. BOTH THE CRUSE CONTROL AND THE HORN DO NOT NOW OPERATE AND HAVEN'T FOR YEARS, DOES THIS MEAN THAT THE AIRBAG IS ALSO INOPERATABLE (TWO OUT OF THREE FAILURES SOUNDS LIKE A BAD OMEN; CONVENTIONAL WISDOM TELLS ME THAT THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM IS ALSO FAULTY)? IS THIS CAR SAFE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT?

• 06/06/2005· STEERING

  A VERY UNNERVING CONDITION IS PRESENT IN OUR 2002 TAHOE. THERE IS A LOOSE/ UNSTABLE FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEN TURNING. MY MECHANIC SAID WE HAVE A WARPED CENTER STEERING SHAFT AND HE CAN NOT REPAIR AS THE PART IS BACK ORDERED BY TENS OF THOUSANDS NATIONWIDE (INDICATING A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE) I HAVE BEEN EXPECTING A RECALL BUT HAVE NOT SEEN ONE. GM HAS NOT REPLIED TO MY INQUIRY.

• 05/29/2002· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS STAY ON ALLDAY AND ARE VERY BRIGHT. WHICH BLINDS OTHER DRIVERS.*AK

• 05/20/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THIS IS A GENERAL POINT OF INFORMATION MESSAGE: FOR THE LAST DECADE OR MORE, GM VEHICLES HAVE A PROPENSITY TO BURN OUT THEIR LAMPS DUE TO AN OVERCHARGE CONDITION (CAUSE UNKNOWN TO ME); THIS CONDITION CAN AFFECT ANY OF THE LAMPS OR BULBS, MOST NOTICABLY HEADLAMPS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND RUNNING (PARKING) LAMPS. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN ALL GM VEHICLES.*TR

• 05/06/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DC: HIS BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. WHEN YOU STOP THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN, THE PEDAL JERKS BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO STOP CORRECTLY. *AK

• 04/26/2005· STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,INTERIOR LIGHTING

  WE BOUGHT OUR ASTRO VAN IN 2001, IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT 22 OR 23 TIMES. MOST OF THEM MAJOR THINGS NEEDING TO BE FIXED OR REPLACED.*AK

• 03/25/2005· STEERINGCrash

  TILT STEERING DID NOT LOCK DURING A TIGHT RIGHT TURN.*AK

• 02/10/2009· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON PERMANENTLY. THIS CAN BE TEMPORARILY TURNED OFF BY MECHANICS BUT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON AGAIN. SINCE THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, THIS WARNING LIGHT IS USELESS IF I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. *TR

• 02/10/2009· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  HOOD LATCH COMPLETELY BROKE SO THAT EITHER IT COULD NOT BE CLOSED COMPLETELY, OR, WHEN FINALLY CLOSED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THIS, COUPLED WITH OTHER HOOD LATCH PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHERS SEEMS TO INDICATE A DEFINITE HOOD LATCH PROBLEM. *TR

• 02/07/2003· AIR BAGSCrash

  VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, BUT NONE OF THE AIR DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. DRIVER SUSTAIN SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. PLEASE PUT THE CORRECT MODEL. PH

• 02/06/2009· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  HOOD LATCH/SAFETY LATCH FAILED AND HOOD OPENED UP AND CRASHED AGAINST WINDSHIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. DAMAGED HOOD, HINGES, COWLING, AND CRACKED WINDSHIELD. *TR

• 02/06/2007· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE TIE DOWN STRAP ON THE MUFFLER RUSTED OUT AT 45,000 MILES. THE MUFFLER IS STAINLESS STEEL AND SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES. *NM

• 02/01/2009· TIRES

  I INSTALLED FOUR KUMHO 795 TIRES (P185/65R14) ON 10/03/2006 ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET PRISM LSI. IN NOVEMBER 2008, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ONE TIRE (FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) RUPTURED ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL. I WAS LUCKY NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WENT TO THE DEALER (EXECUTIVE WHOLESALE TIRE, ROCKVILLE, MD) AND THE DEALER INSISTED I MUST HAVE HIT A POTHOLE. THIS TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A KUMHO KR-21 FREE, SINCE KUMHO OFFERED THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY ON THE 795 TIRES. AFTER THIS TIRE WAS INSTALLED, THE TIRES WERE ROTATED. ANOTHER KUMHO 795 WAS ROTATED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, I NOTICED THAT TIRE IS LEAKING AIR SLOWLY. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO EXECUTIVE WHOLESALE TIRE. THEY FOUND A BULGE ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL, EXACTLY THE SAME LOCATION ON THE OTHER TIRE. THE DEALER STILL INSISTED THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING AND THIS TIME I KNOW FOR SURE I DID NOT. BOTH TIRES HAVE LOW MILEAGE AND THE TREAD LOOKS BRAND NEW. FOR SAFETY CONCERNS, I REFUSED AN OFFER TO HAVE IT REPLACED WITH ANOTHER FREE KUMHO TIRE. INSTEAD, I HAVE ALL FOUR KUMHO TIRES REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *TR

• 01/30/2015· SUSPENSION

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

• 01/28/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  PURCHASED CAR JULY '09 WITH 64,000 ON ENGINE. VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 90 DAY WARRANTY. 2700 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ENGINE EMITTED BLUE SMOKE AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PISTONS HOLD NO COMPRESSION, ONE VALVE SHOT, REPAIR SHOP AND WARRANTY COMPANY STATE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, NEEDS REPLACEMENT ENGINE, POTENTIAL VALVE DAMAGE., ENGINE COULD CEASE IF DRIVEN. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER SLUDGE DAMAGE DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF PREVIOUS OWNER. CAR BURNS OIL VARIABLY RANGING FROM 1QT PER 500 MILES TO 3QT PER 200 MILES. OWNERS MANUAL STATES CAR BURNS 1 LITER PER 800 MILES FROM NEW. NOT WORTH PAYING 3K TO 6K FOR NEW ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE VALUED AT 5K. OIL BURNING WORSE AFTER CHANGING OIL, SLUDGE CLOGGED OIL PUMP AFTER 5K OF DRIVING. TW*