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1994 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Prizm years

Owner complaints for the 1994 Geo Prizm are substantially higher than the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
134Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
46
199150
199277
1993134
199496
199561
199650
1997
Compare all Prizm years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
50Seat Belts
22Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Visibility
12Electrical System
8
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
7Power Train
7Steering
6Structure
5Suspension
5Exterior Lighting
4Seats
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Tires
3Unknown Or Other
3Fuel System, Gasoline
2Equipment
1Interior Lighting
1Service Brakes, Air
1Trailer Hitches
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: 12 of 134 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 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

38 crash reports6 fire reports34 injury reports

Suspension complaints

5 reports
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120,000 miles · Sep 22, 2004
SuspensionCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH AROUND A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME SQUIRRELLY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE OF THE CAR WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE VEER TO THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO A UTILITY POLE. VISUAL EVALUATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND REMA…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH AROUND A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVE, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE BECAME SQUIRRELLY AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY BROKE FREE OF THE CAR WHICH CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE VEER TO THE RIGHT DIRECTLY INTO A UTILITY POLE. VISUAL EVALUATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND REMAINING SPINDLE SHAFT COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING LOOSENED/FAILED AND WHEN WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOBBLED THE SPINDLE SHAFT SHEARED AT THE OUTER BEARING'S INNER RACE SHOULDER (I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES).*AK MY DAUGHTER (OWNER & OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE) WAS INJURED AS A DIRECT RESULT OF CONTACT WITH THE UTILITY POLE. HER INJURIES INCLUDED A FRACTURED RIGHT FOREARM, LACERATIONS, FACIAL BURNS FROM CONTACT WITH THE AIR BAG AND BRUISING FROM THE SEATBELT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND HAS SINCE BEEN JUNKED. IT HAD APPROX. 120,000 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ODI #10093050

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 2000
Suspension

WHEEL BEARING FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #784717

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2000
Suspension

WHEN DRIVING OVER 55 MPH WHEELS WILL START TO SHAKE AND SWERVE, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER HAS DONE FRONT END ALIGNMENT 4 TIMES, ROTATED, AND BALANCED TIRES. ALSO, CONSUMER HAS BOUGHT NEW TIRES, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #860863

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
SteeringSuspension

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 65 SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING AN ICEBALL, VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE, CONSUMER HAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING, THERE WAS NO STABILIZER BAR MADE FOR 1994 MODEL, THEY WERE ONLY MADE FOR NEWER MODELS. CONSUMER DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #859616

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

TWO TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. YH

NHTSA ODI #549763

Official recalls

1

96V107000 · 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

1

EA97015 · 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