I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT DRIVING A 99 CHEVY PRIZM GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. I WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE REAR CORNER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AGAIN ON THE PASSENGER FRONT RIGHT CORNER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. IT WAS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THE ONLY INJURY I EXPERIENCED WAS WHIPLASH. *JB
1999 Chevrolet Prizm
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Prizm years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 13 of 36 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Seats complaints
2 reportsSEATS ARE DESIGNED POORLY/LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE SIDES OF THE CAR CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN REACHING SEAT BELTS/HEAD REST DESIGN PROTRUDE TOO FAR FORWARD/SEATS DO NOT ADJUST IN HEIGHT. MJS
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration