1999 Chevrolet Prizm

THE THROTTLE ON MY CAR STUCK AT FULL OR NEARLY FULL WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE. I FIRMLY DEPRESSED AND HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN TOOK THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: CHECKED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVE; CHECKED THAT NOTHING WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR; PULLED BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR; WHILE CONTINUING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO ACC; PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE STATED THAT A PIN HAD COME OFF OF THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY, EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT CAUSED A DAISY CHAIN LINK TO JAM IN THE CORNER EDGE OF THE ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN. AN AFTERMARKET CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLED ON THE CAR IN 2000 BY THE DEALER WAS NOT WORKING FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC INSERTED A COTTER PIN ON THE END OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL ARM, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND REQUESTED THAT I DRIVE VERY LITTLE UNTIL I COULD RETURN FOR A BRAKE CHECK WHEN THE GARAGE REOPENED. *TR

THE RIMS OF THE 1999 CHEVROLET PRISM BEND AND PUNCTURE THE TIRES. THEY WERE BRAND NEW TIRES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH WHAT A MECHANIC HAS SAID ARE "SOFT RIMS." THE TIRES COULD FAIL WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE MANAGER SAID :"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET." MY MAIN CONCERN IS TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. I TRAVEL WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN. MY SON IN LAW SUGGESTED THAT THE RIMS BE EXCHANGED FOR A SAFER RIM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BENT RIMS IN THIS MODELS. I MAINLY AM SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *NM

IN APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2005 I DETECTED A GAS SMELL WHEN USING THE HEATER IN MY 1999 CHEVY PRIZM (70K MILES). THE SMELL WAS OVERWHELMING AND I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING OR I WOULD GET HEADACHES. I DETERMINED THAT THE SMELL ONLY OCCURRED WHEN USING OUTSIDE AIR FOR THE HEATER A/C UNIT AS I COULD NOT SMELL GAS WHEN THE INSIDE AIR SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. USING ONLY THE INSIDE AIR SWITCH, I FOOLISHLY WAITED NEARLY 12 MONTHS BEFORE TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC. IN JANUARY 2006 THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING AT A SIGNIFICANT RATE AND HE INDICATED THERE WAS HIGH RISK OF FIRE FROM THE LEAK. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT WHEN HE PURCHASED A NEW FUEL RAIL FROM A DENVER, CO DISTRIBUTOR HE WAS TOLD THAT MANY NEW FUEL RAILS WERE BEING PURCHASED BECAUSE OF THE SAME FAILURE. WITH THE NEW FUEL RAIL INSTALLED THERE IS NO MORE LEAKING GAS AND NO GAS SMELLS WHEN I AM USING EITHER OUTSIDE OR INSIDE AIR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE OTHER CHEVY PRIZM/TOYOTA COROLLAS TO SEE IF THERE IS A PATTERN IN FUEL RAIL FAILURE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON ICY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONSUMERS CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SPINAL/FACIAL, AND HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS NOTED THAT FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSORS HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN THE CRASH. *AK *SCC *JB