1991 Geo Prizm Base from North America - Comments

Radiator blew at 55,000 miles.

Timing belt broke at 56,000 miles.

Catalytic converter stopped.

Functioning and exhaust had to.

Be "southern rigged"

Headlight blew and it eats 3rd brake lights.

Cup holders and window crank broke, windows won't stay rolled up.

Power steering leak at 55,000 miles.

Worn Rack & Pinion (Needs to be replaced)

This car is a cheaply, poorly made throw-away car. I bought this car because I thought it would last a while with only 60,000 miles on it. This car needs $1,400 of work and it isn't worth it now. The body is all rusted away. It had to be towed twice off the freeway. The interior is very poorly designed and the cheapest plastic available is used. The car has lots of engine noise and I get horrible gas mileage due to my catalytic converter not being hooked up(it won't work!). This car is no better than your average Ford Escort, Tempo, or Chevrolet Corsica or Cavalier. Matter of fact, I must assume those vehicles are better when I have many friends who have those vehicles and have had little or no problems with them even when they have well over 100,000 miles on them. My car is a beast to even keep its own lane because even after a alignment the steering wheel likes to move and back and the car like to veer to the right very quickly. I almost bought a Chevrolet Corsica before I bought this vehicle and I believe I would have been much happier with that vehicle. This car is over-rated.

Yours must've had a rough and tough life. My 1990 was trouble-free and virtually like new (no rust either in New England) until at 14 years old and 125,000 miles, it was totaled by a big rig on the freeway.

I've owned many small cars, and the Geo Prizm was one of the finest. I believe it is the best small car GM has ever sold.

I also have to disagree... Maybe you got a lemon, but I am the second owner of a '91 Prizm, and I bought it with

100K miles. I used to own a 1986 Chevy Nova, which also was a Toyota Corolla in disguise. I am currently approaching 150k miles., and I've only had to replace the radiator and the exhaust (come on, after 125k, something's gotta give in New England winters). Also, I've had to keep up with slight rust due to road salt and grime, but nothing major. Regular oil changes and tune ups, and this car will probably rust out before the engine/transmission goes... Sorry you had some bad luck with yours, but I'm loving mine, not to mention that it burns a lot less gas than the other cars you mentioned above.