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1990 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 Geo Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
199046
199150
199277
1993
Compare all Prizm years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
7Engine And Engine Cooling
6Power Train
6Structure
6Suspension
4
All reported categories
Electrical System
3Exterior Lighting
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Air Bags
1Seats
1Steering
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

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: 1 of 37 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.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
125,500 miles · Jun 2, 2006
Seat Belts

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE SEAT BELT IS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED; THE SEAT BELT COULD NO LONGER BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARTS. TH…

Read full complaint

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME THE SEAT BELT IS USED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED; THE SEAT BELT COULD NO LONGER BE REPLACED DUE TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARTS. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER DID FIND A PART, NO ONE WAS WILLING TO INSTALL THE LAP BELT FOR FEAR OF LIABILITY. UPDATED 05/30/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158868

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1998
Seat Belts

SEAT BELTS COME APART.

NHTSA ODI #541576

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 1996
Seat Belts

PLASTIC COVER FEMALE PORTION WHICH HOLDS BUCKLE IN PLACE HAS DETACHED FROM SEAT BELT, RENDERING PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800679

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 1996
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT BUCKLE PLASTIC LATCH PLATE BROKE. *DH

NHTSA ODI #506136

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVER LAP AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT LOCK UP DURING IMPACT, RESULTING IN INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #968346

Mileage unknown · Jun 22, 1995
Seat Belts

THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LOCKED THE OCCUPANT IN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE AND IT IS A TAKATA SEAT BELT. TT

NHTSA ODI #967535

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1995
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN PLACE UPON REAR ENDING ANOTHER CAR. TT

NHTSA ODI #966972

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.