2002 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...
ENGINE ABSORBS OIL. AFTER PURCHASING; ENGINE SEIZED. PURCHASED 2ND ENGINE AT BEECHMONT CHEVROLET...SAME FLAW. ENGINE SEIZED AT FIVE MILE ROAD EXIT OFF OF I-275. TO THIS DAY IF I DO NOT CHECK OIL ON REGULAR BASIS. I POSE A RISK OF ENGINE SEIZING AGAIN.
MY 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM (SAME AS A TOYOTA COROLLA) HAS ITS CRUSE CONTROL, HORN, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ALL MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL, ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO THE REST OF THE CAR THROUGH AN INFLATABLE RESTRAINT STEERING WHEEL MODULE COIL (AKA CLOCK SPRING) MECHANISM. BOTH THE CRUSE CON...
Mileage: 73,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT I...
Mileage: 60,000
2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP *TGW
PURCHASED CAR JULY '09 WITH 64,000 ON ENGINE. VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 90 DAY WARRANTY. 2700 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ENGINE EMITTED BLUE SMOKE AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PISTONS HOLD NO COMPRESSION, ONE VALVE SHOT, REPAIR SHOP AND WARRANTY COMPANY STATE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, NE...
Mileage: 72,000
DEAR MADAM/SIR, IN TODAY'S (12/08/09) WALL STREET JOURNAL, IN THE ARTICLE ABOUT TOYOTA RECALLS, IT WAS MENTIONED THAT 2003 AND 2004 COROLLAS AND MATRIXES WERE RECALLED TO FIX A FLAW THAT COULD CAUSE THE POWER WINDOWS TO STOP WORKING. I OWN A 2002 PRIZM, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A COROLLA WITH A PRIZM B...
Mileage: 43,495
PURCHASED CAR JULY '09 WITH 64,000 ON ENGINE. VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 90 DAY WARRANTY. 2700 MILES AFTER PURCHASE, ENGINE EMITTED BLUE SMOKE AFTER HIGHWAY DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, PISTONS HOLD NO COMPRESSION, ONE VALVE SHOT, REPAIR SHOP AND WARRANTY COMPANY STATE VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, NE...
Mileage: 67,000
HOOD LATCH COMPLETELY BROKE SO THAT EITHER IT COULD NOT BE CLOSED COMPLETELY, OR, WHEN FINALLY CLOSED, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN. THIS, COUPLED WITH OTHER HOOD LATCH PROBLEMS REPORTED BY OTHERS SEEMS TO INDICATE A DEFINITE HOOD LATCH PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 65,000
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON PERMANENTLY. THIS CAN BE TEMPORARILY TURNED OFF BY MECHANICS BUT ALWAYS COMES BACK ON AGAIN. SINCE THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, THIS WARNING LIGHT IS USELESS IF I HAVE A REAL PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
HOOD LATCH/SAFETY LATCH FAILED AND HOOD OPENED UP AND CRASHED AGAINST WINDSHIELD AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. DAMAGED HOOD, HINGES, COWLING, AND CRACKED WINDSHIELD. *TR
Mileage: 155,995
I INSTALLED FOUR KUMHO 795 TIRES (P185/65R14) ON 10/03/2006 ON MY 2002 CHEVROLET PRISM LSI. IN NOVEMBER 2008, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ONE TIRE (FRONT PASSENGER SIDE) RUPTURED ON THE INSIDE SIDE WALL. I WAS LUCKY NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR ALMOST LOST CONTROL. I WENT TO THE DEALER (EXECUT...
HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY CATCH FAILED; HOOD FLEW OPEN ON EXPRESSWAY @ 50-55 MPH CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOOD, HINGES, COWLING, FENDERS AND WINDSHIELD. *TR
Mileage: 130,025
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD AUTOMATICALLY DETACHED FROM THE LATCH. THE HOOD SLAMMED AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH SHATTERED THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE GLASS. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE WINDSHIE...
Mileage: 118,144
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. TWO YEARS AGO, THE EMISSIONS CONTROL BOX FAILED AT 41,000 MILES AND CAUSED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. AT 72,000 MILES, THE ENGINE HAS A PISTON KNOCK. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE KNOCKING H...
Mileage: 72,000
THE TIE DOWN STRAP ON THE MUFFLER RUSTED OUT AT 45,000 MILES. THE MUFFLER IS STAINLESS STEEL AND SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES. *NM
Mileage: 44,870
TILT STEERING DID NOT LOCK DURING A TIGHT RIGHT TURN.*AK
Mileage: 55,500
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS RESULT, MAJOR DAMAGE OCCURRED. NO WARNING LIGHT APPEARED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *TC
VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT IGNITION COIL HAD BURNED OUT. 2 CYLINDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED AT 35 MPH. DEALER DETERMINED THAT IGNITION COIL HAD BURNED OUT. 2 CYLINDERS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL.*AK
HEADLIGHTS STAY ON ALLDAY AND ARE VERY BRIGHT. WHICH BLINDS OTHER DRIVERS.*AK