1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE...
AT 70 MILES/HOUR MY GENERAL MOTORS POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS ON FULL ASSIST AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. GENERAL MOTORS SECRETLY REMOVED THE POWER ASSIST, REPLACED IT AND THEN JIMMIED THE ENTIRE CAR TO PRESENT FALSE EVIDENCE THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY BAD DRIVER CAR MAINTENANCE. THEY THEN DENIED T...
Mileage: 240,000
AT 70 MILES/HOUR MY GENERAL MOTORS POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS ON FULL ASSIST AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. GENERAL MOTORS SECRETLY REMOVED THE POWER ASSIST, REPLACED IT AND THEN JIMMIED THE ENTIRE CAR TO PRESENT FALSE EVIDENCE THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY BAD DRIVER CAR MAINTENANCE. THEY THEN DENIED T...
Mileage: 240,000
AT 70 MILES/HOUR MY GENERAL MOTORS POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS ON FULL ASSIST AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. GENERAL MOTORS SECRETLY REMOVED THE POWER ASSIST, REPLACED IT AND THEN JIMMIED THE ENTIRE CAR TO PRESENT FALSE EVIDENCE THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY BAD DRIVER CAR MAINTENANCE. THEY THEN DENIED T...
Mileage: 240,000
HI, I AM WRITING TO REPORT A TIRE BRAND, SOLD BY WALMART THAT COULD BE ILLEGAL FOR SALE IN THE U.S. THE DOT INFORMATION IS COMPLETELY MISSING ON THESE TIRES. THEREFORE, ALL THE CLAIMS MADE IN UTQG SPECS COULD BE FALSE AND/OR DO NOT MEET US STANDARDS. THESE ARE TIRES SOLD ON WALMART.COM AND BOUGHT AN...
THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THROUGH THE NORTHBOUND LANES AND THEN INTO THE DIRT MEDIAN AND FINALLY BECOMING CAUGHT ON THE CABLE DIVIDER, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE THAT SEPARATED FROM IT'S TREAD WAS A FIRESTONE FR380 E26L 38B. THE ...
Mileage: 140,629
MY CAR TURNED OFF WHEN PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND DAD TOOK THE CAR TO GET CHECKED, THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THE COMPUTER BLEW OUT TWICE. THEY WEREN'T CHARGED WHICH WAS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE. EVERY TIME YOU SWITCH THE A/C ON OR TURN THE HE...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REFUELED ON A HALF TANK IN ORDER FOR THE FUEL TANK NOT TO LEAK FUEL. ON ONE OCCASION, ANOTHER ...
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REFUELED ON A HALF TANK IN ORDER FOR THE FUEL TANK NOT TO LEAK FUEL. ON ONE OCCASION, ANOTHER ...
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REFUELED ON A HALF TANK IN ORDER FOR THE FUEL TANK NOT TO LEAK FUEL. ON ONE OCCASION, ANOTHER ...
Mileage: 140,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS CAUG...
Mileage: 78,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS CAUG...
Mileage: 78,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS CAUG...
Mileage: 78,000
I WAS DRIVING TO HELP A FRIEND MOVE ABOUT 4 BLOCK FROM MY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THURSDAY 18TH JULY AT APPROXIMATELY 12:20PM. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT, I LOOKED OVER TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER TO CHECK MY BLIND SPOT TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE AND WHEN I TURNED BACK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED...
Mileage: 70,000
I WAS DRIVING TO HELP A FRIEND MOVE ABOUT 4 BLOCK FROM MY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THURSDAY 18TH JULY AT APPROXIMATELY 12:20PM. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT, I LOOKED OVER TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER TO CHECK MY BLIND SPOT TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE AND WHEN I TURNED BACK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED...
Mileage: 70,000
I WAS DRIVING TO HELP A FRIEND MOVE ABOUT 4 BLOCK FROM MY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THURSDAY 18TH JULY AT APPROXIMATELY 12:20PM. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT, I LOOKED OVER TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER TO CHECK MY BLIND SPOT TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE AND WHEN I TURNED BACK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED...
Mileage: 70,000
1999 CHEVROLET PRISM HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY PASSING MOTORISTS. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0029-90 UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF
1999 CHEVROLET PRISM HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY PASSING MOTORISTS. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0029-90 UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD AN EXCESSIVELY LOUD GRINDING NOISE. SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THIS WAS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGH...
Mileage: 60,040
AT 80,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING PO 441: EVAP PURGE FLOW. THIS IS GETTING WAY TO COMMON AMONG THESE CARS, PLEASE ADMIT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND FIX IT. (TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM ON 1998 MODELS, AND HAS CUT A DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO RETROFIT OLD TRUCKS AND BUSES ...
THE THROTTLE ON MY CAR STUCK AT FULL OR NEARLY FULL WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE. I FIRMLY DEPRESSED AND HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN TOOK THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: CHECKED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVE; CHECKED THAT NOTHING WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR; PULLED BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR; W...
Mileage: 89,090
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO CLOSE. NO AMOUNT OF JAMMING THE TONGUE INTO THE RECEPTOR CAUSES ENGAGEMENT. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THE DEALER IS REPLACING AT A PARTS CHARGE OF $125 PLUS LABOR. *JB
Mileage: 75,000
THE RIMS OF THE 1999 CHEVROLET PRISM BEND AND PUNCTURE THE TIRES. THEY WERE BRAND NEW TIRES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH WHAT A MECHANIC HAS SAID ARE "SOFT RIMS." THE TIRES COULD FAIL WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE MANAGER SAID :"WH...
Mileage: 74,000
IN APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2005 I DETECTED A GAS SMELL WHEN USING THE HEATER IN MY 1999 CHEVY PRIZM (70K MILES). THE SMELL WAS OVERWHELMING AND I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING OR I WOULD GET HEADACHES. I DETERMINED THAT THE SMELL ONLY OCCURRED WHEN USING OUTSIDE AIR FOR THE HEATER A/C UNIT...
Mileage: 70,000
AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND HORN NOT WORKING
DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HOUSING AND PIN BROKE; DOOR COULDN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. PARTS DEALER STATED A NUMBER OF THESE HAVE BROKEN ON THIS MODEL.*AK
Mileage: 78,500
CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED EVERY 1000 MILES ONE QUART OF OIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASE OF THE (NEW) VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT AT BEST THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN RECUR. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, GM REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBL...
WHILE DRIVING ON ICY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONSUMERS CHEST H...
Mileage: 51,000
WHILE DRIVING ON ICY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONSUMERS CHEST H...
Mileage: 51,000
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT DRIVING A 99 CHEVY PRIZM GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. I WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE PASSENGER RIGHT SIDE REAR CORNER AND THEN IMMEDIATELY AGAIN ON THE PASSENGER FRONT RIGHT CORNER. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE. IT WAS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE RECLINED POSITION. THE ONLY INJURY I EXPER...
MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING MY MVA,CAUSING ME EXTENSIVE PROBLEMS. *NLM
Mileage: 100,000
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURY. *AK
ANY TIME CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AS DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WILL WORK. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON CONSUMER ASSUMES THAT TAIL LIGHTS ARE ALSO ON. BUT, IN REALITY, THEY DON'T COME ON. COMSUMER HAS BEEN STOPPED BY POLICE DUE TO TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING ON.*AK TAIL ...
ANY TIME CONSUMER STARTS VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AS DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WILL WORK. WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE ON CONSUMER ASSUMES THAT TAIL LIGHTS ARE ALSO ON. BUT, IN REALITY, THEY DON'T COME ON. COMSUMER HAS BEEN STOPPED BY POLICE DUE TO TAIL LIGHTS NOT BEING ON.*AK TAIL ...
TIRES ARE GETTING DEEP NASTY CRACKS IN MY OPINION TOO SOON FOR SUCH A NEW / LOW MILEAGE CAR, WOMAN DRIVING LITTLE BABY . *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 185/65/14 )
CAR SHOOK VERY HARD AND HEARD A DISTINCT RUBBING NOISE FROM THE REAR END, AFTER INCIDENT BRAKES WERE NOISY AND PULSATED WHENEVER THEY GOT HOT, DIFFICULT TO CONTROL CAR,PAD AND ROTORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND WARPED.
CONSUMER HEARS A RUBBING NOISE IN STEERING RACK WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER ROUGH PAVEMENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE SURGES OR SLOWS DOWN AT 45 MPH ON ITS OWN, UNABLE TO DETERMINE DEFECT. *MJS
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BLINKING AND DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. IT TOOK SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE PART TO COME. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER WHEN THE LIGHT WAS BLINKING THE AIRBAG WASN'T WORKING. THE PART CAME, AND TWO DAYS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT WAS STILL BLINKING. *AK
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, INDICTATING A DEFECT. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. *AK
TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH, AND WAS UNABLE TO HEAR TURN SIGNAL WHEN USED IN NOISY TRAFFIC AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES,AND DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NLM
HEADLIGHTS ON REGULAR BEAM ARE HOODED. VISIBILITY IS APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS AND SHADOWED BEYOND THAT. SHADOW IS NOT ONLY DISTRACTING, BUT PREVENTS SIGHT OF ANYTHING THAT MAY BE IN THE ROAD UNTIL YOU'RE ON TOP OF IT.
SEATS ARE DESIGNED POORLY/LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE SIDES OF THE CAR CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN REACHING SEAT BELTS/HEAD REST DESIGN PROTRUDE TOO FAR FORWARD/SEATS DO NOT ADJUST IN HEIGHT. MJS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WEST WHEN THE OTHER CAR WAS GOING EAST. THE OTHER CAR TURNED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CONSUMER HIT OTHE RVEHICLE AND STARTED TO SPIN AROUND ,COULDN'T STOP, RESULTING IN A CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
AUR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. HAD IT REPAIRED TWICE AT DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THA T DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED, CAUSING LIGHT TO COME ON. POSSIBLY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN MODULE. *AK