IllustrationCONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *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
What owners actually said
77 reportsTHERE IS HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE CONSUMER HEAD-ON, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RELEASE EVEN WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE IN.
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).
TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILED.
INTAKE MANIFOLD/SUSPENSION FAILED.
WEATHER HAD BEEN COLD; VEHICLE WAS RUNNING; HAD NOTICED VEHICLE WAS LEAKING EXHAUST. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD & NOTICED THAT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. *AK
VEHICLE'S BRAKES LOCK UP CAUSING DAMAGE TO BRAKE SYSTEM, VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER AND SLOWS DOWN WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
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