1997 Geo Prizm
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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These records cover every 1997 Geo Prizm. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1997 Geo Prizm. Newest first.
Ride control IS recalling certain front strut mounts branded as gabriel ride control or arvinmeritor, p/nos. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, sold as replacement equipment for the vehicles listed above. the affected front strut mounts did not contain a weld joint between the bearing housing and the rate plate.
Risk and remedy
Risk
The absence of the weld can allow the strut to come out of its mounting position under certain extreme driving conditions which could cause damage to surrounding vehicle components increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ride control will notify owners of record and replace the affected parts free of charge. the safety recall began on march 15, 2010. owners may contact ride control at 1-248-458-1396.
If the air bag computer in a subject vehicle experiences a mechanical shock (i.e., rapidly moving the front seat back against the stops or a sudden release of the parking brake) within a very short time after the engine IS started, the air bag can deploy inadvertently.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
Remedy
Dealers will repair the air bag computer.
Owner complaints
50 complaints13 involved a crash2 involved a fire11 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Seat belts · Suspension
TL* the contact owns a 1997 geo prizm. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle veered towards the left. The contact also stated that the seat belts were not connecting to their appropriate buckles. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, however the manufacturer was notified. The…
TL* the contact owns a 1997 geo prizm. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle veered towards the left. The contact also stated that the seat belts were not connecting to their appropriate buckles. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, however the manufacturer was notified. The manufacture stated that the vin did not qualify for the recall under nhtsa campaign ID number 10e002000 (suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 167,000 and the current mileage was 169,000.
- Air bags › Frontal · Equipment · Seat belts › Front
On 4/19/05 I was in an accident with my 97 geo prism. the vehicle air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to operate correctly causing me to hit the steering wheel and dash causing severe injury to myself and minor passengers in the vehicle. I originally filed complaint through my attorney kenneth miller, jr. Baton rouge, la. I want to settle this case asap. *nm
- Air bags › Frontal
Dt: the contact stated while traveling at 60 mph the contact's vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle. It was a frontal impact. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer has not been contacted. The vehicle was totaled.*ak
- Air bags · Seat belts
During an accident the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt equipment failed to lock.*mr everyone inside the vehicle sustained some type of injury (geo prizm). *nm updated 12/22/05 *jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
The exhast manifold IS cracked. I went to an used auto parts dealer and found that there where 4 vehicles from the same production line that had cracked exaust mainifolds in the same location. When the vehicle IS not in motion exaust fumes enter the inside of the car. Toyota corollas come from the same production line.
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
The seat belts lock in the retracted position they are unable to be used. This usually starts with them sticking when you try to pull them down to buckle. I have two geo prizms a 1996 and a 1997 they both have had this problem for a long time. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition · Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
A few minutes after I started my 1997' geo prizm on the evening of 3/7/04, it began to make a strange noise. I drove the car about six blocks to a service station; by the time I pulled in and popped the hood, it started to smell hot- although temp gauge was still normal. I popped the hood, saw…
A few minutes after I started my 1997' geo prizm on the evening of 3/7/04, it began to make a strange noise. I drove the car about six blocks to a service station; by the time I pulled in and popped the hood, it started to smell hot- although temp gauge was still normal. I popped the hood, saw smoke coming from fuel injection system, and tried to turn vehicle off. I removed the key from the ignition, but the car kept running, and trying to continuously restart itself. I searched the trunk for tools to disconnect the battery; at this point the engine ignited, and there was so much smoke that I could not get close to the vehicle safely any longer. I called 911 on my cell phone, and less than ten minutes later, a fire truck came and put the fire out. I am told that there IS about a thousand dollars worth of damage in parts alone: my starter, ignition system, two out of four fuel injectors, the entire wire harness, computer, positive cable to the battery, and possibly the battery itself will all need to be replaced. prior to this incident, there was no indication that anything was wrong with my car. All maintenance was current. *Ak
- Seat belts › Rear/other
Rear seat belts are inoperative, making it impossible for consumer to install any type of child seat. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
I have a 1997 geo prizm. The driver side seat belt will not fully extend and locks up multiple times when trying to pull it out to lock in place for safe driving. This IS my second geo prizm that has had this problem. I feel there should be a voluntary recall by the manufacturer to get this fixed on all their cars. *Ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor · Seat belts › Rear/other
Driver's side seat belt retractor failed at 12,611 mi (3/29/99) and again at 24,000 mi. (Out of warranty time by a few months). central chevrolet in fremont, ca fixed both times. 2ND time cost $200+ and rental car charge. central advised they wouldn't reduce the cost of 2ND failure because I…
Driver's side seat belt retractor failed at 12,611 mi (3/29/99) and again at 24,000 mi. (Out of warranty time by a few months). central chevrolet in fremont, ca fixed both times. 2ND time cost $200+ and rental car charge. central advised they wouldn't reduce the cost of 2ND failure because I didn't have my maintenance service work done by them. back seat, passenger side seat belt retractor has also failed (won't retract). can't afford to have fixed. only have 2 useable seat belts in back seat. isn't this a safety issue?*ak
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Driver's seat belt has gotten stuck in the retractor and had to be replaced twice since vehicle purchase. first failure at 27000 miles, and second failure at 88000 miles.*ak
- Seat belts
The driver seat belt locked up and did not release. (the lock mechanism was broke) *ts. the rear seat belt also experienced the same problem. *jb
- Air bags › Frontal
While driving down major highway, rearended another vehicle at about 25mph. Resulting in major damage to front end, and no airbags deployed!
- Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
No summary. dt
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
The brakes engaged would engage and then disengage while driving, and at one pint would not release, the dealer then replaced the master cylinder, on the second occasion consumer's daught was in an accident when she tried to stop, she pressed the brakes but they went to the floor and then the brakes locked up,
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
At 40mph, brakes engage and consumer IS unable to accelerate. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.*ak consumer adds brake line, front and back brakes failed 8,000 miles later resulting in an accident. Brake pedal pushed to floor in order to stop. master cylinder replaced. *tt
- Seat belts
Driver's seat belt locks and doesn't retract as normal. consumer has to pull, inching the strap out so that it won't lock up. This was second time seat belt was repaired.*ak
- Tires
I purchased firestone tires from sears, after I had driven 70 miles, one of the tires failed, I heard a loud pop, an explosion. I went back to the store where I purchased the tires. sears' salesperson, at first, insisted that I probably hit something before failure. I know that I did not hit…
I purchased firestone tires from sears, after I had driven 70 miles, one of the tires failed, I heard a loud pop, an explosion. I went back to the store where I purchased the tires. sears' salesperson, at first, insisted that I probably hit something before failure. I know that I did not hit anything. I was driving about 35-40 miles per hour at the time failure occurred. I requested that the new firestone's tires that I purchased from sear be replace with tires of different manufacturer and sear's salesperson complied.*ak (tiresize: p17565s14)
- Air bags › Frontal
Consumer was driving at approximately 35 mph when it was broadsided by another vehicle that had run a stop sign with front end. Dual airbags did not deploy. Driver sustained muscle injuires.*ak
- Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle was in a head-on collision and air bags did not depoly . Contacted dealer, and dealer did not do anything. also, owns a 1996, geo, prizm, and same thing happened to that vehicle. *Ak *jb
- Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
Owners manual states top tether hardware IS available for forward facing child restraint, however both dealer and manufacture denies knowledge of such hardware. we are concerned that without top tether if a crash occurs this may cause needless head movement to our child and likely cause needless injury.*ak
- Air bags › Frontal
A frontal collision with a pontiac vehicle in which both air bags did not deploy. Dealer / manufacturer were notified, and unwilling to assist in this matter. *ak *jb
- Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Driver's/ passenger's and rear seat belts have all become jammed in retracting mechanism, and will not release, causing seat belts to become inoperable. please give any further details. *Ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Under hood fire due to an electrical short. manufacturernotified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of its warranty, and nothing could be done. please provide any further details on this matter. *ak
- Air bags › Frontal
An inadvertent air bag deployment upon starting vehicle. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer of a representative being sent to inspect vehicle. Please feel free to provide any further details. *ak
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10248444Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10171318This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10168979This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
- 10166638This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10165876This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
- 10157018This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10154641This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10141381This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10138060This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy transportation policy.
- 10137901This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85 vehicle.
- 10114947This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10114924This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
- 10113443This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
- 10082506This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest calibrations to correct a condition of the rear entertainment system not operating as intended in colder ambient temperature areas due to calibration concerns.
- 10012558Avoiding oil baffle damage during oil fill process.
- 54419Comment that the ABS light IS on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) 46 and 86 set as current or history.
- 52551Steering column squeak when turning steering wheel during high ambient interior temperatures (lubricate lower steering column bushing).
Every Geo Prizm model year
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