IllustrationTHE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, INDICTING DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER RECAL, BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECT. *AK
1993 Geo Prizm
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1993 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 77 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports2 fire reports15 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
27 reportsCONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD-ON, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG CAUSED THE CONSUMER LEFT EYE TRAUMA WHICH RESULTED IN BLINDNESS.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN COLLISION, VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN FACIAL INJURIES.(OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT).
RECALL REPAIR NOT DONE ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR BECAUSE VIN NOT PART OF RECALL. DUP OF 517339, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK
THE AIR BAG SENSOR SHORTED, CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO STAY ON CONTINUOUSLY.
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 20-30 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SON WAS DRIVING, ROAD WAS WET AND SLIPPERY, VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, HIT RAILROAD CROSSING TIER WHICH BROKE, VEHICLE LANDED IN DITCH, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SLC
DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR FIXING RECALL. TAKEN TO (2) DEALERSHIPS.* *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRO LOCK, ANTI THEFT SYSTEM WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD AND THE VEHICLE COULD GO FORWARD AT A STOP SIGN. *SLC
Official recalls
196V107000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
Jun 20, 1996
IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS LEAKAGE CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG TO INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO PREVENT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE SPILLING OF LIQUID SUBSTANCES ON THE SENSOR. AIR BAG SENSORS DAMAGED BY PREVIOUS LIQUID SPILLAGE WILL BE REPLACED.
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
1EA97015 · Turn Signal Failures
Opened Jul 22, 1997 · Closed Sep 21, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available