1997 Geo Prizm Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Prizm years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Geo Prizm. That ranks 3rd out of 8 Prizm model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is seat belts (17 complaints, 34%), typically at around 112,650 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 50owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Geo Prizm problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 17 | 34% | 112,650 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 15 | 30% | 121,325 | — | — |
| Steering | 5 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% | 167,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 4% | 104,662 | — | — |
| Equipment | 2 | 4% | 112,650 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 2% | 54,000 | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Geo Prizm recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags
Problem: If the air bag computer in a subject vehicle experiences a mechanical shock (i.e., rapidly moving the front seat back against the stops or a sudden release of the parking brake) within a very short time after the engine is started, the air bag can deploy inadvertently.
Risk: Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
Fix: Dealers will repair the air bag computer.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 geo prizm. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle veered towards the left. The contact also stated that the seat belts were not connecting to their appropriate buckles. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, however the manufacturer was notified. The…
On 4/19/05 i was in an accident with my 97 geo prism. The vehicle air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to operate correctly causing me to hit the steering wheel and dash causing severe injury to myself and minor passengers in the vehicle. I originally filed complaint through my…
Dt: the contact stated while traveling at 60 mph the contact's vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle. It was a frontal impact. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer has not been contacted. The vehicle was totaled.*ak
During an accident the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt equipment failed to lock.*mr everyone inside the vehicle sustained some type of injury (geo prizm). *nm updated 12/22/05 *jb
The exhast manifold is cracked. I went to an used auto parts dealer and found that there where 4 vehicles from the same production line that had cracked exaust mainifolds in the same location. When the vehicle is not in motion exaust fumes enter the inside of the car. Toyota corollas come from the…
Other Geo Prizm years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Prizm | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 Prizm | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 Prizm | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 Prizm | 24 | 0 |
| 1998 Prizm | 11 | 0 |
| 1997 | 50 | 1 |
| 1996 Prizm | 61 | 0 |
| 1995 Prizm | 96 | 2 |
See all Geo Prizm problems by year, every Geo model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Geo models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Geo Prizm?
Owners most often report seat belts, air bags, steering problems. The top one, seat belts, accounts for 17 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Geo Prizm?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Geo Prizm a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Prizm model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.