2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM

SUSPENSION

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG AND AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. UPDATED 11/14/14*CN UPDATED 7/28/2015*JS

Mileage: 56,000

THE PISTON SKIRTS ON THE 2000 MODEL WERE TOO SHORT (THEY WERE REPLACED WITH APPROPRIATE SKIRTS IN A LATER YEAR MODEL). THE VERY SHORT SKIRT ALLOWS THE PISTON TO TILT IN THE CYLINDER MUCH SOONER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN NORMAL ENGINES. THIS CAUSES THE RINGS TO FAIL TO SEAT PROPERLY MUCH EARLIER THAN WOULD HAPPEN IN AN ENGINE WITH NORMAL SKIRT LENGTHS. THIS CAUSES EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WHERE THE AMOUNT OF OIL CONSUMED RISES EXPONENTIALLY WITH THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN. AT SOME POINT, THE ENGINE COULD MALFUNCTION WHILE THE DRIVER IS DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRISM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD LOCK, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM INSIDE. IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW TO ENGAGE THE EXTERIOR DOOR LATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

Mileage: 99,000

CHEVROLET PRIZM...COROLLA IN DISGUISE. CAR DRINKS OIL BAD. HAVE OWNED A 2000 MODEL BOUGHT IN 2008 WITH 44,000 MILES CAR LOOKED AND DROVE LIKE NEW SO I THOUGHT CAR IS MADE BY TOYOTA NO NEED TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. WRONG!!! GOT HOME WITH THE CAR AND MY DAD WANTED TO DRIVE IT,HE'S A MECHANIC.GETS BACK HOME MAD. HE HEARD A TICKING NOISE,( I DIDN'T NOTICE CAUSE LAST CAR WAS WORE OUT AND NOISY...THIS WAS QUITE FOR ME) CHECKED OIL AND THERE WAS LESS THAN A QUART IN THE OIL PAN IT ONLY HOLDS A LITTLE OVER 3QTS. HE PUT OIL IN IT AND IT WAS SUPER QUITE MOTOR. DROVE THE CAR TIL BOUT 94000. AT FIRST THE CAR NEEDED ONLY 1 QT EVERY 600-800 MILES. THAT WAS OK I WAS USED TO THAT. THEN IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE. 1 QT EVERY 50 TO 100 MILES. MY DAD TORE IT APART LOOKED EVERY WHERE FOR A LEAK. NONE NOTHING!!! IT WAS BURNING OIL HE FOUND OUT BUT COULD NOT TELL WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. THIS IS VERY BAD BECAUSE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN ONLY HOLD SO MUCH BEFORE IT CLOGGED AND BURNT SLAP OUT!!! ALMOST 7000

Mileage: 94,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN BURNING A QUART OF OIL PER MONTH AND CURRENTLY USES THREE QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK. WHEN DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE INITIALLY PERFORMED, THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LINES WERE TESTED AND THE RESULTS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO LEAKS AND THE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. CURRENTLY, A MECHANIC HAS CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL RING IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WOULD COST $2,000 - $3,000. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

Mileage: 74,000

2000 PRIZM LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *NM UPDATED 07/20/06 *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT LATCH. THE SERVICE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO CHEVROLET CONSUMER HOTLINE; THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST RAN BEFORE THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD BE AUTHORIZED TO PERFORM THE WORK ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIC SEATING POSITION THAT KEPT THE SEAT BELT FROM LATCHING. *AK

AT 15K MILES, MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING. AT 35K MILES, MY DRIVER INDOOR "PLASTIC" DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. AT 75K MILES, MY DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING (I NOW HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE). AND AT 85K, MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO CRACK. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ALMOST $40 A PIECE FOR THE HANDLES, EACH, AND THEN 140.00 EACH TO INSTALL. THIS IS A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC, AND SHOULD NOT BE SO MUCH. THE MOTORS ARE ROUGHLY $100 EACH TO REPLACE, PLUS THE LABOR. THE SEATBELT SIGN FLASHES ALL THE TIME, WHETHER I AM BUCKLED IN OR NOT, AND I AM TOLD THE WHOLE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACES, AT ANOTHER $235. NOW MY SPARK PLUG COILS ARE SUPPOSEDLY BAD, AND I AM LOOSING OIL. THE CAR HAS 82 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 1 TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON THE CAR, BUT DOUBT I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET.

Mileage: 25,000

AT 15K MILES, MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING. AT 35K MILES, MY DRIVER INDOOR "PLASTIC" DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. AT 75K MILES, MY DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING (I NOW HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE). AND AT 85K, MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO CRACK. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ALMOST $40 A PIECE FOR THE HANDLES, EACH, AND THEN 140.00 EACH TO INSTALL. THIS IS A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC, AND SHOULD NOT BE SO MUCH. THE MOTORS ARE ROUGHLY $100 EACH TO REPLACE, PLUS THE LABOR. THE SEATBELT SIGN FLASHES ALL THE TIME, WHETHER I AM BUCKLED IN OR NOT, AND I AM TOLD THE WHOLE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACES, AT ANOTHER $235. NOW MY SPARK PLUG COILS ARE SUPPOSEDLY BAD, AND I AM LOOSING OIL. THE CAR HAS 82 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 1 TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON THE CAR, BUT DOUBT I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET.

Mileage: 25,000

AT 15K MILES, MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING. AT 35K MILES, MY DRIVER INDOOR "PLASTIC" DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. AT 75K MILES, MY DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING (I NOW HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE). AND AT 85K, MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO CRACK. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ALMOST $40 A PIECE FOR THE HANDLES, EACH, AND THEN 140.00 EACH TO INSTALL. THIS IS A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC, AND SHOULD NOT BE SO MUCH. THE MOTORS ARE ROUGHLY $100 EACH TO REPLACE, PLUS THE LABOR. THE SEATBELT SIGN FLASHES ALL THE TIME, WHETHER I AM BUCKLED IN OR NOT, AND I AM TOLD THE WHOLE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACES, AT ANOTHER $235. NOW MY SPARK PLUG COILS ARE SUPPOSEDLY BAD, AND I AM LOOSING OIL. THE CAR HAS 82 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 1 TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON THE CAR, BUT DOUBT I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET.

Mileage: 25,000

AT 15K MILES, MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING. AT 35K MILES, MY DRIVER INDOOR "PLASTIC" DOOR HANDLE COMPLETELY BROKE OFF WITH NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. AT 75K MILES, MY DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR QUIT WORKING (I NOW HAVE NO WAY OF OPENING MY DOOR FROM THE INSIDE). AND AT 85K, MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLE STARTED TO CRACK. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ALMOST $40 A PIECE FOR THE HANDLES, EACH, AND THEN 140.00 EACH TO INSTALL. THIS IS A LITTLE PIECE OF PLASTIC, AND SHOULD NOT BE SO MUCH. THE MOTORS ARE ROUGHLY $100 EACH TO REPLACE, PLUS THE LABOR. THE SEATBELT SIGN FLASHES ALL THE TIME, WHETHER I AM BUCKLED IN OR NOT, AND I AM TOLD THE WHOLE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACES, AT ANOTHER $235. NOW MY SPARK PLUG COILS ARE SUPPOSEDLY BAD, AND I AM LOOSING OIL. THE CAR HAS 82 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IN NOVEMBER OF 2000, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES 1 TIME. I AM NOT HARD ON THE CAR, BUT DOUBT I WILL PURCHASE ANOTHER CHEVROLET.

Mileage: 25,000

SPRING 2004, OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTICED EXCESSIVE SLUDGE (APPX 65000 MILES ON CAR). CLEANED ENGINE OUT, CHANGED OIL (CAR HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-4K MILES). AFTER THAT CAR WAS NOTED TO BE USING TOO MUCH OIL (TOPPING OFF AT EACH 1500 MILES THEY HAD TO ADD 2 AND A HALF QUARTS). TOOK TO DEALER AT ABOUT 67000 NOTING OIL PROBLEM AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED OUT TO BE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. REPLACED. NOTHING DONE ON OIL PROBLEM. AT 70000 MILES ENGINE WAS HESITATING AND CONTINUING TO BURN OIL. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. CHARGED ME FOR NEW SPARK PLUGS FIRST THEN FOUND OTHER PROBLEMS (BELIEVE IT WAS AIR FLOW SENSOR.) AT 72,000, TOOK BACK TO DEALER FOR EXCESSIVE OIL USE. CHANGED OIL AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK WHEN IT HAD BURNED A QUART. ON THE WAY HOME FROM DEALER, ENGINE BLEW UP. UNDER GM EXTENDED WARRANTY, LOWER HALF OF ENGINE REPLACED. THREE WEEKS AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED (WHICH TOOK A MONTH) TRANSMISSION DIED. REPLACED TRANNY UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY I'M LU

Mileage: 72,086

SPRING 2004, OIL CHANGE MECHANIC NOTICED EXCESSIVE SLUDGE (APPX 65000 MILES ON CAR). CLEANED ENGINE OUT, CHANGED OIL (CAR HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3-4K MILES). AFTER THAT CAR WAS NOTED TO BE USING TOO MUCH OIL (TOPPING OFF AT EACH 1500 MILES THEY HAD TO ADD 2 AND A HALF QUARTS). TOOK TO DEALER AT ABOUT 67000 NOTING OIL PROBLEM AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. LIGHT TURNED OUT TO BE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM. REPLACED. NOTHING DONE ON OIL PROBLEM. AT 70000 MILES ENGINE WAS HESITATING AND CONTINUING TO BURN OIL. TOOK BACK TO DEALER. CHARGED ME FOR NEW SPARK PLUGS FIRST THEN FOUND OTHER PROBLEMS (BELIEVE IT WAS AIR FLOW SENSOR.) AT 72,000, TOOK BACK TO DEALER FOR EXCESSIVE OIL USE. CHANGED OIL AND TOLD ME TO COME BACK WHEN IT HAD BURNED A QUART. ON THE WAY HOME FROM DEALER, ENGINE BLEW UP. UNDER GM EXTENDED WARRANTY, LOWER HALF OF ENGINE REPLACED. THREE WEEKS AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED (WHICH TOOK A MONTH) TRANSMISSION DIED. REPLACED TRANNY UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY I'M LU

Mileage: 72,086

I WAS DRIVING OF A HIGHWAY AND MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 60 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HOOD OPENED AND HIT MY WINDSHIELD. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A HUGE ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS AS I COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING. LUCKLY I DID NOT LOOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR AND I PULLED IT ONTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. LATCH WAS WORKING FINE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. NOW HAVE LOT OF DENTS ON THE FRONT OF THE ROOF. HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC. THE COST OF REPAIR WAS ABOUT $1500.00. *AK

AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR JUST A FEW MONTHS, BOUGHT NEW, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF AS IT PLEASED. SOMETIMES WITH BEING BELTED IN, IT WOULD SHOW UP, AND OTHERTIMES IT WOULD BE OFF. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE FOR THIS JOB AT THE DEALERSHIP WAS OVER $300.00, SAYING THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEATBELT. A BIT OFF TO ME.*AK

Mileage: 2,000

HAVE DAMAGED LIFTERS IN 2000 CHEVY PRIZM ENGINE MADE BY TOYOTA, DUE TO A MFG. DEFECT, ACCORDING TO MY CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPAIMAN. HE SAYS UPPER ENGINE DRAIN HOLES FOR OIL WERE DRILLED SMALLER THAN AMERICAN MADE MOTORS WHICH WILL GUM UP AND RESTRICT FLOW OF OIL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO HYDRAULIC LIFTERS. EXTENT OF DAMAGE UNTIL ENGINE IS TORN DOWN IS UNDETERMINABLE. AT THE LEAST, TRADE IN VALUE IS MUCH DIMISHED DUE TO EXCESSIVE ENGINE NOISE. MILEAGE-39,000. *LA

Mileage: 39,000

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE FOR ONLY FIVE MINUTES CONSUMER RETURNED TO VEHICLE AND NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. *AK

SAFETY LATCH ON HOOD MALFUNCTIONED SO HOOD NOT SECURE. HOOD FLEW OPEN WHILE CAR TRAVELING AT APPROX 50MPH. LATCH IS SPRING LOADED BUT SPRING DID NOT WORK. LATCH DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE CORRODED. WINDSHIELD CRACKED. HOOD DAMAGED TOATL COST $1700. *AK

Mileage: 52,000