PlainCars

GEO PRIZM · model year

1991 GEO PRIZM

72 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991GEOPRIZM carries 72 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 PRIZM is structure:body:door with 14 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (10) and suspension:front (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

No open NHTSA investigation overlaps the 1991 PRIZM in the current dataset. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

72
Complaints
3
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

72 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR14
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE10
SUSPENSION:FRONT4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH2
TIRES2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY2

Recent Complaints

20101213EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO DECELERATE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED AND WERE DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE WIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE WIRING AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 170,000

20101117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CARBON MONOXIDE WAS PRESENT BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWICE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

20101117LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GEO PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASTIC USED FOR DOOR KNOBS DISINTEGRATED AND WERE INOPERABLE FOR THE PASSENGER DOORS. THE GEAR SHIFT ALSO FRACTURED AND WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE PARTS HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 190,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 190,000

20090917CrashTIRES

1991 GEO PRISM HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT AND SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, BEFORE HITTING THE MEDIAN WALL. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0738-90.

20050121TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRES HAVE BELT SEPARATIONS AND AS WELL AIR BUBBLES WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO BLOW. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED, SHORTLY AFTER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. *NM

20011130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLES /BRAKELIGHT BURNING OUT AFTER A FEW DAYS OF REPLACEMENT. EVERY GEO PRIZM I SEE ON THE ROADS TODAY HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. I HATE THE FEAR OF WONDERING WETHER OR NOT THEY BLEW WHILE I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE. ALSO THE RISK OF GETTING A TICKET FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *AK

20010529ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

JAN/01 - DISCOVERED CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WAS TOLD BY SALVAGE YARD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GEOS AND THEY CAN'T KEEP MANIFOLDS IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY. NEW MANIFOLD INSTALLED TO REPLACE CRACKED ONE. THE NEW ONE CRACKED APPROX. 1-2 MONTHS LATER.*AK

20010321STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

DOOR HANDLES CONTINUOUSLY BREAK OFF, THUS FAR CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE 3 DIFFERENT DOOR HANDLES REPLACED.*AK *JB

20001108ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHUAST MANIFOLD CRACKED, CAUSING CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES TO LEAK INTO PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

20000908VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

RIGHT REAR WINDOW IS VERY HARD TO ROLL UP OR DOWN. YH

20000908STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

ALL FOUR DOOR HANDLES BROKE. YH

20000908ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED. YH

20000908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED. YH

20000908ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

20000908VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WASHER SPAYERS GOT CLOGGED. YH

20000908SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. YH

20000908EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

TAIL AND HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. YH

20000908EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TAIL AND HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT. YH

20000908SUSPENSION:FRONT

FRONT SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT ON EIGHT OCCASIONS, DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH MISALIGNMENT THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR, REPLACE FRONT TIRES ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. YH

20000908EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AIR CONDITIONER ODOR DOES NOT GO AWAY. YH

Compare 1991GEOPRIZM to Similar Vehicles

PRIZM vs FORDF-150 → PRIZM vs FORDEXPLORER → PRIZM vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → PRIZM vs FORDESCAPE →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 GEO PRIZM have?▼
The 1991 GEO PRIZM has 72 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 GEO PRIZM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 GEO PRIZM is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1991 GEO PRIZM safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.