3 OUT OF 4 DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN WHERE PLASTIC HOUSING IS LOCATED, CAUSING DOOR HANDLES TO BE INOPERATIVE. DRIVER WILL HAVE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOW TO USE OUT DOOR HANLDE TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE.*AK
1992 Geo Prizm
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1992 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: 0 of 50 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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.
Structure complaints
17 reportsINSIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF. ALSO, FRONT WINDSHIELD DOES NOT BECOME CLEAN IN FOG.*AK
I CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE FAILURES. NO DEFECT(S) LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY. *AK
PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF.
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND POORLY DESIGNED. *AK
IMPROPER VENTILATION CAUSED HEAT SHIELDS TO OVERHEA/CRACK MANIFOLD, AND LEAK FUMES INTO CAR.
INSIDE DOOR HANDLES ARE COMPLETELY MADE OF PLASTIC AND ARE POORLY DESIGNED. *AK
OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BROKE OFF, CAUSING THE OCCUPANTS TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO RELEASE THE HANDLES FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. *AK
DOOR'S INSIDE HANDLE IS BROKEN. *AK
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