1994 GEO Prizm problems
Owners have filed 173 complaints about the 1994 GEO Prizm with NHTSA. Air bags account for 32.4% of them — the clear leader, ahead of seat belts at 13.3%.
Complaints173
Crashes50
Fires7
Injuries44
Deaths2
What owners report breaking
Air bags 32.4% · 56
Seat belts 13.3% · 23
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.1% · 14
Visibility 6.9% · 12
Electrical system 6.4% · 11
Power train 5.2% · 9
Engine and engine cooling 4.0% · 7
Steering 3.5% · 6
Severity
Of those complaints, 50 describe a crash, 7 describe a fire, 44 report an injury and 2 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Filings have fallen off, 5 in the last three years against 11 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 107,500 miles.
In owners' own words
The contact owns a 1994 GEO Prizm. When the contact placed the key into the ignition, the air bags immediately deployed without warning. She suffered minor injuries and cuts to the left side of her face. Her face was swollen and she complained of a severe burn-like injury to her chest area. The manufacturer had not been notified. The failure and current mileages were less than 238,975. Air bags · reported at 238,975 miles
On 3/25/99 at 8:50 a.M. I was driving to work when I smelled a hot smell, stopped at a stoplight, looked around to determine cause of the hot smell, and had the driver side bag deploy in my face. A gas station attendant ran out into the street and helped me out of the car. After I was out of the car, the passenger side bag deployed. Multiple sprains and abrasions to myself. Air bags
When vehicle was involved in a intersectional crash, vehicle crashed into the right passenger side of another vehicle, there was no deployment of the driver's or passenger's side air bag. This happened will traveling about 45 or 50 mph. Not sure if vehicle will be totalled. Please provide any further details. Air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…