Chevrolet Prizm Reliability
195 NHTSA complaints (1990–2002). Complaint rate: 2500.0 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2001 Chevrolet Prizm. The 1991 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: TIRES.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Chevrolet Prizm Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| TIRES | 13 | 15.4% |
| AIR BAGS | 13 | 46.2% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 12 | 0.0% |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 12 | 75.0% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 8 | 0.0% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 | 0.0% |
| ENGINE | 7 | 0.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 | 40.0% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 | 0.0% |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 5 | 0.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | View 1991View→ |
| 1998 | — | 33 | 7 | — | View 1998View→ |
| 1999 | — | 47 | 13 | 5 | View 1999View→ |
| 2000 | — | 32 | 6 | 3 | View 2000View→ |
| 2001AVOID | — | 59 | 8 | 1 | View 2001View→ |
| 2002 | — | 20 | 2 | — | View 2002View→ |
See also: Chevrolet Prizmaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
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