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1996 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Geo Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
61Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
77
1993134
199496
199561
199650
199711
199824
1999
Compare all Prizm years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
22Seat Belts
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Power Train
3Steering
3
All reported categories
Structure
3Suspension
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Seats
2Tires
2Wheels
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
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: 3 of 61 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports2 fire reports14 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

22 reports
Clear category filter
228,194 miles · Apr 1, 2019
Air BagsInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES TO BOTH ARMS AND CHEST. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 228,194.

NHTSA ODI #11192847

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury

IN AN ACCIDENT VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018411

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2002
Air BagsCrash

WHILE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND IT HIT DRIVERS SIDE OF OTHER VEHICLE HEAD-ON. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8014485

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Air BagsCrash

FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A TREE AT 35 MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #887519

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

WAS TRAVING AT ABOUT45MILES PER HOUR,CAR CUT ME OFF, HIT REAR DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER, HIT MY BUMPER, WENT THROUGH MY GRILL AND HOOD, LOOKING AT FRONT OF CAR HOLE IS IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CONER OF DECRITIVE PLATE AND BUMPER,BUMPER IS DAMAGED ON TOP OF IT,AND BOWED DOWN, DONT UNDERSTAND WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725448

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725299

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHILE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS CONSUMER DIDN'T SEE THE STOP SIGN. THERE WAS A CURVE IN THE ROAD, AND VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND FLIPPED OVER. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #864689

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 1999
Air BagsStructureCrashInjury

DURING LOW IMPACT COLLISION (KNICKED OTHER VEHICLE) STUCTURE FOLDED DUE TO WEAK MATERIAL, POSSIBLE FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS (LOW MPH), INJURY TO CONSUMER (HEAD, RIBS, FACIAL) NLM

NHTSA ODI #547283

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 1999
Air BagsInjury

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG RESULTING IN ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO CONSUMER (FACE AND RIBS).MJS

NHTSA ODI #546213

Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING BETWEEN 35- 40 MPH WHEN SHE HIT A VEHCLE HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #838006

Official recalls

0

No 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

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