Total Complaints
130 filings
GEO PRIZM · model year
1995 GEO PRIZM
130 NHTSA complaints, 40 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995GEOPRIZM carries 130 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 40 crashes, 2 fires, 39 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 1995 PRIZM is air bags:frontal with 26 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (11) and seat belts:front:anchorage (6). 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 1995 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.
130
Complaints
40
Crashes
2
Fires
39
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
40 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 26 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 11 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 5 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 3 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 2 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 |
Recent Complaints
20140128TIRES
DANGEROUSLY POOR WINTER TRACTION ON A TIRE LABELED AS ALL-SEASON. *TR
20131015SEAT BELTS
DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM CONSISTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT. PASSENGER SIDE RESTRAINT RETRACTING MECHANISM INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RETRACT OR LOCK, AND FREQENTLY JAMS SO IT CAN'T BE PULLED OUT. *TR
Mileage: 95,000
20130731CrashSUSPENSION
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. IT RATTLES AND THE RIGHT WHEEL MAKES NOISE. FRONT AXLE BROKE AND I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
20130731CrashSTEERING
I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. IT RATTLES AND THE RIGHT WHEEL MAKES NOISE. FRONT AXLE BROKE AND I HAD IT REPAIRED BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
20080307CrashPOWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 50- 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SUDDEN BANG. THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT MOMENTARILY, AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT. HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK THE SIDEWALL ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SPUN APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STOPPED MOVING SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE POLICE STORAGE COMPOUND. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRASH WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED AXLE. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. REMAILED 05/07/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF AN INVESTIGATION WAS DONE. UPDATED06/09/08
Mileage: 84,000
20050901AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 GEO PRISM. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. THE SPEED WAS ABOUT 5 MPH. BECAUSE SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT THE FRONT DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WHERE SOME PREVIOUS ROAD CONSTRUCTION ON THE ROAD SHE WAS TRAVELING ON. BUT THE NIGHT OF THIS INCIDENT THE ROAD WAS FAIRLY LEVELED. THE CONTACT DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS ALREADY STOPPING. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT THAT SHE IS AWARE OF. ONE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES,SUCH AS SEVERE BRUISING, HEAD INJURIES, BUSTED NOSE AND BLACK EYES. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THE INSURANCE AGENCY TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NHTSA RECALL 96V070000 CONCERNING THE AIR BAG SENSOR. SHE CONTACTED GM MANUFACTURER AND SHE WAS TOLD THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THIS OCCURRED ON AUGUST 30, 2005. *AK
20041006AIR BAGS
REPORTING ON BEHALF OF OUR INSURED. AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER HIT POT HOLE. NO FRONTAL IMPACT. INJURY TO DRIVER. AIR BAGS WERE NOT REPAIRED. *AK
20040901STRUCTURE
PROBLEMS WITH BLACK AND WHITE SPOTS DEVELOPING ON THE VEHICLE'S HOOD, ROOF AND ON TOP OF THE TRUNK. *MR *NM
20040723AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE TECHNICIAN AT THE GARAGE INDICATED THE PROBLEM SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER WITH THE RECALL INFORMATION BUT THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NM
20040722AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
YOUR WEBSITE STATES THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE: 95 GEO PRIZM FOR AIRBAGS FRONTAL SENSOR CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS A PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB
20031018ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE "ALMOST STALLS." THE LIGHT COMES ON AND A DECREASE IN RPM AND ENGINE HESTITATION OCCURS. LIGHT DID STAY ON FOR 1 HOUR, BUT WHEN DEALER CHECKED THERE WERE NO CODES RECORDED. DEALER CHECKED CAR 2 SEPARATE TIMES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DEFECTS. *LA
Mileage: 96,000
20031018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE "ALMOST STALLS." THE LIGHT COMES ON AND A DECREASE IN RPM AND ENGINE HESTITATION OCCURS. LIGHT DID STAY ON FOR 1 HOUR, BUT WHEN DEALER CHECKED THERE WERE NO CODES RECORDED. DEALER CHECKED CAR 2 SEPARATE TIMES WITH NO EVIDENCE OF ANY DEFECTS. *LA
Mileage: 96,000
20030109STEERING
CONSUMER STATES THE HARMONIC BALANCER WENT OUT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
20020809SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THREE RETRACTORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY,ONE ON DRIVER'S SIDE BELT/ BELT RETRACTOR BEHIND DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE ON ON PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR. SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT, THEY WILL JUST HANG IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER ,AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
20020605CrashTIRES
WHILE DRIVING OVER A HILL FRONT TIRES STARTED TO WOBBLE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER FOUND SCREWS FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING ON THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020605CrashSTEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING OVER A HILL FRONT TIRES STARTED TO WOBBLE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER FOUND SCREWS FROM RACK AND PINION STEERING ON THE GROUND. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020514SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THE BRAKES MAKE HIGH PITCHED SOUNDS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE NOT WORN OUT, THE CONSUMER CHANGED THE 2ND SET OF BRAKES BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT TAKE THE NOISE ANYMORE. *YH
20020503CrashSEATS
BOTH FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED UPON REAR END COLLISION IMPACT-IS THIS NORMAL. *AK
20020423SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DRIVERS RESTRAINT DOES NOT LOCKS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
20020129AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
A BEVERAGE WAS SPILLED INTO CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING, AND AN HOUR LATER AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT RECALL 96 V 107 000, AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE. DRIVER STATED THAT RECALL EXPLAINED EXACT PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT EFFECTED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Compare 1995GEOPRIZM to Similar Vehicles
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1995 GEO PRIZM have?▼
The 1995 GEO PRIZM has 130 NHTSA complaints, 40 crashes, 2 fires, 39 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 GEO PRIZM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1995 GEO PRIZM is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 26 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE.
Is the 1995 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
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.