2001 Chevrolet Prizm

I HAVE HAD A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM AND NOW SOMEONE THREATENED MY LIFE TO FORCE ME TO BUY A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE WINDOWS OF THESE CARS FOG UP TOO SEVERE TO DRIVE IN MINOR OR MAJOR RAIN AND FREEZING RAIN. WHEN IT RAINS WE HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON HIGHWAYS AND IN CITIES AND TOWNS AND WAIT FOR IT TO STOP RAINING FOR THE CAR TO BE SAFE TO DRIVE. MOST ALL OTHER CARS HAVE WINDOWS THAT ARE SAFE TO DIVE WITH BUT THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE FOR DRIVING IN THE RAIN.

THE DRIVER'S POWER WINDOW WILL NOT RAISE IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT HAS BEEN FULLY RETRACTED (SUCH AS AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW, OR WHEN THE "AUTO" FEATURE FULLY RETRACTS IT BEFORE I CAN STOP IT). IT WILL EVENTUALLY RAISE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF INOPERATION; SOMETIMES ONLY PARTIALLY AT A TIME. IF I HAVE INTENTIONALLY HAD THE WINDOW DOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THERE IS NO PROBLEM - YET. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE WINDOW IS FULLY RETRACTED, AND REGARDLESS OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AXLE WAS FRACTURED AND BOTH WHEELS WERE POINTED IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

GOT THE CAR IN 2004. IN 2009 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, WENT TO THREE MECHANICS TO TRY AND FIND THE PROBLEM. NONE OF THEM HAD A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT WAS WRONG BUT THEY TRIED VARIOUS THINGS. IT STILL NEVER WENT OFF FOR MORE THAN 5 MILES DIRECTLY AFTER SERVICING. FOR A WHILE IT WAS DRIVING FINE EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WAS ON (OVER A YEAR) BUT THEN IT STARTED DETERIORATING. IT WAS VERY SLUGGISH, DID NOT DRIVE WELL (SHAKING) WHEN GOING OVER 35 MPH, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING FOR 5-15 SECONDS WHEN I ACCELERATED. MPG TANKED, WENT FROM 35+ TO 23-25. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND FUEL INJECTORS AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ($1300 FIX ON MY THEN 10 YEAR OLD CAR). CAR STARTED RUNNING BETTER, MPG SLOWLY GOT HIGHER, BUT AFTER ABOUT THREE DAYS OUT OF THE SHOP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MECHANIC WAS STUMPED, HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG, BUT HE OK'D IT FOR ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING, SO I HAVE BEEN DOING SO. IT'S STILL DRIVING WELL, MORE OR LESS, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ALWAYS ON. AROUND THE SAME TIME AS THE 2009 ENGINE LIGHT, I NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS DRINKING MORE AND MORE MOTOR OIL. NOW (2012) I HAVE TO PUT IN A QUART EVERY FULL TANK OF GAS, JUST ABOUT. *JB

ENGINE IS EATING OIL!! -- I PURCHASED AN 18-MONTH OLD CHEVY PRIZM LSI WITH A 1ZZ-FE 1.8L ENGINE BACK IN NOVEMBER 2002 WITH ABOUT 27K MILES. THIS CAR IS STILL IN MINT CONDITION. IT'S GARAGED AND I DO ALL THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND USE PURE SYNTHETIC ENGINE OIL SINCE I PURCHASED IT. UNFORTUNATELY AT ABOUT 50K MILES, MY ENGINE STARTED EATING UP OIL AT ABOUT 1 QUART PER 200 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING THE 1ZZ FE 1.8L ENGINE BLOCK SERIES, IT APPEARS THIS ENGINE HAS PISTON AND RING PROBLEMS LEADING IT TO CONSUME OIL AT A RAPID PACE. I KEEP A CASE OF OIL IN THE TRUNK FOR LONG TRIPS AND PUT IN AT LEAST ONE QUART EACH TIME I REFILL THE TANK. THIS ENGINE CAN BE FOUND IN AT LEAST 10 TOYOTA AND ONE CHEVY MODEL (PRIZM). THIS IS AN EXCELLENT CAR, HOWEVER I CAN'T BELIEVE GMC HASN'T ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) REGARDING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEMS. THESE CARS CAN RUN FOR AT LEAST 250K MILES IF YOU MAKE SURE THE ENGINE HAS ENOUGH OIL. BUYER BEWARE -- 1998-2002 CHEVY PRIZMS AND THEIR SIAMESE TWIN, TOYOTA COROLLAS WITH THE IZZ FE 18.L ENGINE WITH MORE THAN 50K MILES WILL CONSUME MUCH MORE OIL AND IT IS THEREFORE IMPERATIVE TO ENSURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH OIL IN THE ENGINE BLOCK TO PREVENT ENGINE SEIZURE. GMC SHOULD ISSUE A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM. I REALIZE THIS CAR IS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD, BUT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF 1998-2002 PRIZMS AND COROLLAS ON THE ROAD. IF YOU BUY ONE, MAKE SURE THE PREVIOUS OWNER IS HONEST WITH YOU REGARDING OIL CONSUMPTION, OTHERWISE YOU MAY BE BUYING A CAR WITH LOTS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. YOUR ENGINE MAY SEIZE UP ON YOU AND LEAVE YOU STRANDED IN TIMBUKTU... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR STRUTS WOULD EXHIBIT A RATTLING NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE FAILURE HAD NOT CAUSED ANY BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE MOVING AT A NORMAL PACE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.