Comments: 1-15, 16
The alternator has given out twice, both times in highway driving situations with absolutely no warning - putting me in a very dangerous position. The inside door handles have broken on both passenger side doors. The little plastic piece that surrounds the gearshift came unglued, so that the mechanism is exposed.
I've been fairly happy with my Prizm and I love the way it drives. I had no problems with it at all for the first 3 or 4 years. But I think the '91 Prizms were made with too many cheap plastic interior parts. And I don't think I should have had to replace the alternator twice in less than 3 years! (The service station that replaced my second alternator told me this is a common problem with Prizms.) The seats are not very comfortable for long-distance driving either.
I had a problem with the alternator on my GEO Prizm 1994 when the mileage reached 87,000.
James.
My 1991 geo prizm is an excellent car number one in my book.
My Prizm needs the alternator replaced about every two years or so It didn't start doing that though until the car reached about 100,000 miles.
My Geo Prizm just had it's first new alternator installed. It is as 142000 miles. It died in town near a phone! My handles on the doors also have broken and my emergency brake doesn't work. Also it can get up to 400 miles for a full tank of gasoline! It has had it's fair share of good and bad times. Though I wish it had a little more get up and go it is and excellent little car!
My girlfriend owns a 93, and it has 135000 miles on it. Great little car if you want excellent gas mileage. The color of the car is emerald!!! Perfect vehicle for the beginning driver.
I have a 1990 Geo Prizm and all, but the drivers door interior door handles are broken. Gear shift is exposed, headliner is dead... The only reason I like my car is because it gets me where I need to go, but given a choice, I would have gotten a half-way decent car that doesn't break every time you touch something.
My 1991 Prism has been pretty reliable. Like others, interior door handle on drivers' side broke in 2001. Replaced alternator at 150,000 miles. Replaced alternator again at 210,000 miles. Not bad, all in all, but I am surprised that my "new" alternator lasted only 60K miles, and I am surprised that this is common.
Otherwise, it has been very reliable. The car now has 240K miles and still starts every time and runs quite well (for what it is).
Like other comments on this site, cracked door handle on passenger side, low crack all along the front windshield that I thought was a rock now get that it has to do with defroster vents, automatic transmission shift lever cover broke, only 2/3 of rear window defroster works, cooling fan clutch broken runs all the time, dome light doesn't work. Noisy, doesn't handle well in high winds.
On the good side... excellent mileage, low maintenance, good transportation, plenty of room. Good grandma car or car for first-timers.
My 1995 Geo Prizm has had four alternators in 67,000 miles!!!
The Geo Prism seems to have one common problem... the Alternator.
I just replaced mine at 88,000 miles, had the battery checked and charged, and the alternator/brake lights still won't go off.
There is so much experience in this forum, did anyone ever actually fix the problem for good?
I have a 1991 prizm with 187000 miles, only had to replace upper coolant hose. I work in a shop and I see these cars with well over 200,000 miles they are very reliable, and for those whos arn't reliable is because they beat on them. Your car is gonna run the way you treat it so anyone that says prizms are bad cars there wrong they just need to know how to treat a car!!
I have a had my Prism Lsi for a little over a year now. And I have had no major engine problems. However, the dome light doesn't work, the passenger door handle is broke, and the second day after I bought my car, the door panels fell off. Yes, on the same day, both of them.
I just bought a 1991 Prism and so far so good. This seems to be a good source for information.
I had a 1991 and put 100,000 miles on it. Bought it at 50,000 The alternators are AC Delco and are lousy. As for the interior door handles, you can buy them @ the dealer for about 15 dollars, they are easy to put in. I replaced the front ones a couple times. Also I put one in from the same year corolla, it fits and the plastic seemed a little better quality. My friend has the car now @ 170,000 miles, runs fine. As for the car all the important things are well made, and the smaller things (put in by GM) are lousy. Alt, radiator, and the interior are GM specific. Starter, brakes engine, tranny, AC are Toyota. Guess what I replaced Alt (twice) radiator and interior parts.
I've got a 92 Prizm with 118000 miles on it. One door handle was broke when I bought the car 16 mths ago. No problem with the Delco alt to date. I don't think much of Delco products to begin with, and the fact being there are quality rebuilds and terrible rebuilds. Changing an alt is a pretty simple job and anybody with a little mechanical ability can do it. A person just has to check with local mechanics, different parts stores, and the like to find a decent brand. Many parts stores carry the same alt rebuilt by different rebuilders and will help you get the best qaulity. Remember they don't want a reputation for selling crappy parts!