Tl* the contact owns a 1996 geo prizm. The contact stated that the steering wheel air bag and front passenger air bag abruptly deployed when the ignition switch was engaged. The contact sustained burn injuries to both arms and chest. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 228,194.
The worst 1996 Geo Prizm problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Airbags22
- Seat belts14
- Brakes5
- Body3
- Steering3
- Suspension3
- Transmission3
- Engine2
- Seats2
- Tires2
- Wheels2
- Acceleration1
- Electrical1
- Lights1
- Locks1
- Visibility1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1996 Geo Prizm
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Turn signal failures
There is no summary currently available
EA97015
Technical service bulletins for the 1996 Geo Prizm 16
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Fuel system, gasoline
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- Equipment
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy...
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- Avoiding oil baffle damage during oil fill process
- Comment that the ABS light is on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) 46 and 86 set as current or history
- Steering column squeak when turning steering wheel during high ambient interior temperatures (lubricate...
1996 Geo Prizm fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-26 | 27-32 | 25-29 |
| 1.8L 4‑cyl | FWD | 23-25 | 31 | 26-27 |
What 1996 Geo Prizm owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 geo prizm. While driving various speeds over a bump in the road, the vehicle pulled to the left. The failure recurred two or three times per day. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed, but not repaired. While driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front passenger side of the vehicle. Also, at 40,000 miles, the tires became worn out within 10,000 miles. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10e002000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 55,140.
Three of my doors on my 1996 geo prizm locks have failed, shutting the doors permanently. I have only one door to get in/out of my car. I have spoken to other geo owners and they are experiencing the same problem. I now have to se if I can find a shop to get the doors unlocked so I no longer have to climb over the seat to get in to drive. Heaven help me if I get into an accident.
Tire tread separated while driving. *mr the consumer heard a loud noise and felt a pull while the vehicle was in motion. *sc (dayton tire).
Rear seat belts would unlock from the buckle without warning. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
The seat belts lock in the retracted position they are unable to be used. This usually starts with them sticking when you try to pull them down to buckle. I have two geo prizms a 1996 and a 1997 they both have had this problem for a long time.
Driver's seat belt will not buckle. The belt does not come out of holder.
My rear window literally shattered today (june 5, 2003) while I was a work the car was parked the two front side windows where rolled down approximately 2 to 3 inches the temperature here today reached only 71 degrees with a slight wind and it was overcast so it was not extremely hot yet it shattered have you had any simular reports of this happening
Consumer called complaining about having problems with the rar seat belts.dealer was not contacted at the time of the call. Ph
Consumer states that while driving and no warning the engine caught on fire under the hood, the consumer was able to pull over to the side of the road, dealer notified. Ts
Compare the 1996 Geo Prizm
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Questions about the 1996 Geo Prizm
Is the 1996 Geo Prizm reliable?
Owners have filed 61 complaints about the 1996 Geo Prizm, 10.2 times a typical Prizm model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Geo Prizm?
Airbags, with 22 complaints. Next is seat belts (14).
How many recalls does the 1996 Geo Prizm have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Geo Prizm have bad airbags?
The Geo Prizm model years with the most airbags complaints are 1994 (50 complaints), 1995 (31 complaints) and 1993 (27 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1996 Geo Prizm get?
Official estimates for the 1996 Geo Prizm range from 25 to 29 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 23-26 city and 27-32 highway.
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