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1999 Geo Prizm

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Geo Prizm do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 46.

About this comparison →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 46

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
61
199650
199711
199824
19997
20006
20013
2002
Compare all Prizm years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
14Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Electrical System
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Exterior Lighting
1
All reported categories
Power Train
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Steering
1Suspension
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
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: 1 of 24 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
125,000 miles · Jan 9, 2014
Air BagsSeatsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS PUSHED BACKWARD, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN INJURIES TO THE BACK. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE SEAT FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAIL…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS PUSHED BACKWARD, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN INJURIES TO THE BACK. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING THE SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE SEAT FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10559215

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2005
Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO ADJUST THE HEADLAMP ALONG THE HORIZONTAL AXIS(HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT) OR VERTICAL AXIS (VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT) IF THE HEADLAMP DEVIATES FROM THE NOMINAL ADJUSTED POSITION OR THE CORRECT AIMED POSITION. THIS MAY PROVE TO BE FATAL IF THE VEHICLE OWNER DRIVES T…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE OWNERS MANUAL DOES NOT PROVIDE SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AS TO HOW TO ADJUST THE HEADLAMP ALONG THE HORIZONTAL AXIS(HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT) OR VERTICAL AXIS (VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT) IF THE HEADLAMP DEVIATES FROM THE NOMINAL ADJUSTED POSITION OR THE CORRECT AIMED POSITION. THIS MAY PROVE TO BE FATAL IF THE VEHICLE OWNER DRIVES THE VEHICLE WITH HEADLAMPS UNADJUSTED ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

NHTSA ODI #10121649

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2002
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING 25-35 MPH IN RESULT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #8023420

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2002
Electrical SystemPower Train

SOMETIMES KEY WON'T TURN IN IGNITION, AND STEERING WHEEL WONT MOVE AND GEAR SHIFT WON'T MOVE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8018845

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT. ALSO, WHEN TRAVELING AROUND CURVES ENGINE WOULD STALL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8003525

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKING LIGHT COMES ON DASHBOARD WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WILL SLIDE WHEN BRAKING AND PULSATING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002630

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2001
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON A RAINY DAY THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #895098

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES WITH GM. THIS TIME, I MANAGED TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL AROUND AND A LARGE LOG TRUCKL MISSED ME BY INCHES. GM CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, I HAVE A VEHICLE I DON'T DARE TO DRIVE ANYMORE.

NHTSA ODI #749887

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. DEALER CHECKED FLASH CODES. FLASH CODE 44 CONFIRMED. NEW ABS HARNESS ON ORDER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #747762

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Suspension

DRIVER'S SIDE BALL JOINT COMPLETELY DRY. DEALER REPLACED. STILL CREAKING WHEN GO OVER BUMPS OR REVERSE AND TURN WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #747675

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.