1993 Geo Prizm Problems and Recalls (77 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1993 Geo Prizm is Airbags (34% of 77 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Airbags — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 77 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 1993 Geo Prizm?

26 of 77 filings named Airbags (34% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Seat belts (9 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 1992 has 48 reports on file; this year has 77. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1993 Geo Prizm

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Airbags. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed.
  3. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  4. Glass / wipers / cameras. Check windshield, wipers and any camera or sensor the listing claims is there.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Airbags. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Airbags 26 complaints · 33.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 21
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 19
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 1992 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Airbags (AIR BAGS) appears in 26 of 77 owner complaints (33.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Airbags (AIR BAGS): 26 complaints, 33.8% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 15 crash reports 26 · 33.8% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 9 complaints, 11.7% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 9 · 11.7% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 9 complaints, 11.7% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 9 · 11.7% Engine (ENGINE): 7 complaints, 9.1% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 7 · 9.1% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 6.5% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 2 fire reports 5 · 6.5% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 4 complaints, 5.2% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 4 · 5.2% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 3 complaints, 3.9% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 · 3.9% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 2 complaints, 2.6% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 · 2.6% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 1.3% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 1.3% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 63 complaints, 81.8% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 18 crash reports 2 fire reports 63 · 81.8% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 26 33.8% 15 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 9 11.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 9 11.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 7 9.1% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 5 6.5% 0 crashes · 2 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 4 5.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 3 3.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 2 2.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 1.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 63 81.8% 18 crashes · 2 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jan 1995; the first recall shown was reported in Jun 1996. 1995-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1995-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1995-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1995-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 1996-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 1996-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 1997-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 1997-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 1998-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 1999-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 1999-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 1999-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2000-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2001-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2002-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2004-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2006-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jan 1995 Feb 2010 Recall campaign 96V107000 ◆ Recall campaign 96V107000 Recall campaign 10E002000 ◆ Recall campaign 10E002000 Investigation EA97015 ● Investigation EA97015
  • Campaign 96V107000 was reported 491 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q1 Owner reports 2
1995-Q2 Owner reports 3
1995-Q3 Owner reports 2
1995-Q4 Owner reports 3
1996-Q1 Owner reports 3
1996-Q2 Owner reports 5
1996-Q3 Owner reports 2
1996-Q4 Owner reports 8
1997-Q1 Owner reports 3
1997-Q2 Owner reports 3
1997-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q4 Owner reports 3
1998-Q1 Owner reports 1
1998-Q2 Owner reports 2
1998-Q3 Owner reports 1
1998-Q4 Owner reports 1
1999-Q1 Owner reports 2
1999-Q2 Owner reports 4
1999-Q3 Owner reports 5
1999-Q4 Owner reports 2
2000-Q1 Owner reports 3
2000-Q2 Owner reports 1
2000-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q1 Owner reports 2
2001-Q2 Owner reports 2
2001-Q3 Owner reports 1
2001-Q4 Owner reports 1
2002-Q4 Owner reports 2
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 1
2004-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q4 Owner reports 1
2006-Q1 Owner reports 1
2006-Q4 Owner reports 1
2007-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 96V107000
Recall campaign 1 10E002000
Defect investigation 1 EA97015
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Airbags.

  1. Recall campaign 10E002000

    Safety recall 10E002000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 96V107000

    Airbags

    Report date
    Component:
    Airbags (AIR BAGS)
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 77 complaints · page 1 of 4
2007-07-26Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10197554
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GEO PRIZM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD TRAVEL LONGER THAN EXPECTED BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT WHEEL SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 183,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
2006-12-01Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10175398
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1993 PRIZM HOOD UNLATCHED AND OPENED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. *TS *JB
2006-03-03STEERING
NHTSA ODI 10166960
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1993 CHEVROLET PRIZM WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. *TS THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE TURNED AROUND AND TRAVELED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO A DITCH. BOTH PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THEIR HEAD AND BACK. *NM
2005-12-19Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10145613
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V107000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTROL MODULE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUTIT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK.
2004-06-16Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10078311
CrashFireInjuryDeath
PURCHASED A 1993 GEO PRIZM FROM A PRIVATE PARTY, BEFORE THE PURCHASE WE NOTED THAT THE NHTSA DESCRIBED A RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME OF OUR OWNERSHIP OF THIS CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I CONTACTED THE CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE DEFECTIVE SERIES OF CARS. HOWEVER, IN REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE I FIND THAT MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE, AND IN ADDITION, THE 1993 TOYOTA COROLLA, WHICH THE GEO PRIZM IS ITS COUNTERPART, HAVE ALSO HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WHAT MAKES CHEVROLET SO SURE THAT MY CAR'S AIR BAG SENSOR MODULE IS NOT DEFECTIVE? I HAVE NOT HAD A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN "MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER DOES NOT MATCH." *AK
2004-03-05Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10061505
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. *AK
2003-11-24Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10047466
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DANGEROUS LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. REPLACED CRACKED MANIFOLD TWO TIMES, THE SECOND ONE LASTED 16 MONTHS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE!! EXHAUST REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEO PRIZM AND TOYOTA COROLLA MODELS. AT OVER $300 TO REPLACE EACH TIME, I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING. THE MAIN CONCERN I HAVE THOUGH IS WITH THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE. IS THIS BEING INVESTIGATED? *LA
2003-10-18Engine (ENGINE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10043140
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING CAR HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED ENGINE NOISE GETTING LOUDER. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION THE FOLLOWING MORNING I FOUND THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED COMPLETELY INTO TWO SEPERATE PIECES.ALSO NOTICED ODOR FROM EXHAUST LEAKING INTO PASENGER COMPARTMENT.APARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD THINK THAT EXHAUST FUMES ARE A LARGE PROBLEM FOR MY EIGHTEEN MONTH OLD SON.I WANT TO KNOW IF ANYONE HAS OR IS INVESTIGATING THIS AND WHAT IF ANYTHING WAS OR WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. *LA
2002-11-20Airbags (AIR BAGS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 8023029
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS
2002-11-15Airbags (AIR BAGS)
NHTSA ODI 8022839
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN DRIVING 60MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED. TS

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1993 Geo Prizm?

Owners named Airbags most often — 26 of 77 reports (34%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Geo Prizm?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Airbags. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1993 Geo Prizm?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the airbag light behaves normally and that open airbag recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources