A/C leak (fixed my dealer under warranty)
A/C circuit control module.
MASS air flow sensor.
O2 sensors went out BOTH of them.
Tires, originals were junk.
Dashboard lights burning out, radio too.
Where is the oil going?? Not burning and not leaking!
This is actually my mother's car. She bought it after my dad totaled her S-10. (Rolled it) Anyway, bought it because she had previously bought my sister a 93 Rrizm LSI and it was pretty much trouble free. Well, this 2000 doesn't have half the power the '93 model had. No pick-up to it, the O2 sensors shorted out to the tune of 300.00 each (not dealer, this was @ autozone) EXPENSIVE!!
The interior of the doors is peeling away, CHEAP!! The lights on the stereo and the dashboard are burning out. Power steering starting to make noise. The A/C module that switches on the compressor is shorted out. Oil seems to disappear between changes, I changes it last time and it was only 2800 miles on that oil change and couldn't even get a gallon out of it. My mother is in her mid 50's and does not dog her car.
Disappointing from a "Toyota" product. My dad's little Suzuki Esteem puts it to shame, sad too the Prizm is an OK looking car, hers is black with spoiler and alloy wheels "LSI" fully loaded.
I wrote the above review, actually the car is an '01, sorry my fault thinking it was a 2000.
Oil should be checked more than every 2800 miles. Owner's manual states at every fill-up. Also, there is NO way you should get a gallon of oil when changing oil, the Prizm crankcase only holds 3.7 to 4 quarts... which is a gallon or LESS! If you dumped in 5qts after an oil change, you may have damaged the engine!
Nope, I got under 1/2 a gallon out of it everytime I change it. I am suspect of engine sludge. Motor has a little lifter tap under acceleration. I always put 4QTS of oil in it at an oil change. (always change filter too)
I also own a 2001 Prizm LSi. This car is AWESOME it is now at 130,000 miles and no problems. I change my oil regularly myself, so I know no one tampers with it. I also have changed the spark plugs myself and the brakes and rotated the rotors and flushed the transmission. However these are just regular for any car with this type use. I use this car everyday and it still gets 35 mph freeway or not. You may have just got a lemon, because we have 3 of this type of car in my family and everyone is above 120,000 miles with no problems!! I am good to this car and clean the engine regularly also! If you do not know a lot about the regular procedures of taking care of a car, I would strongly suggest getting to know a mechanic really well!!
As mentioned in the review (I wrote it) The car is taken care of. But I feel it is cheaply built. The motor has sludge, LSI wheels (aluminum) are corroded (and I detail her car every 6 months) Poor build from Toyota/Chevy. Anyone have the rubber trim cracking and peeling?? Very cheap quality there. Had to replace 2 O2 sensors before 50K THOSE ARE WAY EXPENSIVE!!
I love my 2000 Prism but it is not the same quality of car my dad bought years before - his went 350,000 before a niece crashed it. My Prism drinks oil (does not burn, does not leak). We joke about where it could be going. I have always maintained the vehicle per specs, and aside from cheap plastic interior door handles that break off and other cheapness, I like the car, have high hopes for it soaring up above 100k miles (I'm around 90k at the moment) but I get a kick out of how many people fall hard into two groups - "Mine drinks oil" or "Mine NEVER drinks oil you must be doing something wrong" - speaking from experience with 3 in the family, mine drinks, the other 2 never did. Go figure.
I have a 2000 - I change the oil (penzoil synthetic) every 6000 miles and it doesn't use a drop between changes.
Just took a 400 mile trip - averaged 75-85 mph and got over 38 mpg.
109k miles and haven't done anything but oil/filter & tires since purchased. This has got to be the cheapest car on the planet to operate.
Bought it for $4000 on ebay sight unseen with 56k on the odo.
My son has a 2001 and it uses a quart every 1000 miles. It has fewer miles, but has had conventional oil so that may be the difference. I've seen articles about sludge and sticking rings causing massive oil consumption without smoke.
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