IllustrationEXHAUST MANIFOLD.
1991 Geo Prizm
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1991 Geo Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.
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: 3 of 46 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.
- Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. 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.
3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
46 reportsEHAUST FUMES IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE RESULTED FROM A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.
UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE THERE IS A VERY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH HAS A CRACK, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE MANIFOLD. PLASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
RING GEAR ON DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
ALL FOUR TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN WEAR, ALSO ALTERNATOR FAILED, CAUSING STARTING PROBLEMS; FOUL ODOR ENTERED VEHICLE FROM AIR CONDITIONER AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH BROKE. *AK
SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM UNDER THE DASH BOARD, CAUSED WIRING TO MELT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD WHILE DRIVING, ALL WIRES UNDERHOOD BURNED OUT, ALL WIRING HARNESS TO BE REPLACED, SPEED 30 MPH, NO WARNING. *AK
HOOD; FAILURE ON THE HOOD, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE HOOD LATCH FAILED, CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK
WK 316 264-0500; INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES BREAK PREVENTING EXIT. FIVE DEALERS IN AREA HAVE RECEIVED INQUIRIES. MANUFACTURER DECLINED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TT
PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THE HOOD LATCHES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
190V191000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Nov 9, 1990
LUG NUTS THAT RETAIN WHEELS AND WHEEL COVERS MAY HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO LOWER THAN RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INSUFFICIENT CLAMPING OF LUG NUTS RETAINING THE WHEELCOVER AND WHEEL COULD RESULT IN A LOOSE WHEEL THAT COULD FALL OFF WITH POTENTIALFOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REMOVE ORIGINAL WHEEL COVER, TORQUE LUG TO SPECIFICATION, AND INSTALL FULL WHEEL COVERS THAT ARE RETAINED BY SPRING CLIPS.
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.