1990 Chevrolet Prizm problems
The Geo Prizm and Chevrolet Prizm were compact cars that were rebadged versions of the Toyota Sprinter, a vehicle that the Japanese automaker Toyota never directly sold in the North American market. The Sprinter itself was derived from the Toyota Corolla. The Prizm was marketed under the Geo nameplate until it was discontinued after the 1997 model year. After that, the vehicle was marketed under the Chevrolet nameplate. General Motors (GM) referred to this and other Toyota Corolla derived vehicles as the GM S platform. The cars were produced from 1988 to 2001 (the last ones being sold for model year 2002) alongside the Corolla at NUMMI, an assembly plant operated as a joint venture of GM and Toyota. The Prizm was sold exclusively in the United States and succeeded the 1985–1988 Chevrolet Nova, which was also derived from the Sprinter and produced at NUMMI.
Production
All Prizms were built at NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc.), a joint venture company between Toyota and General Motors in Fremont, California. The NUMMI plant at Fremont had manufactured the Prizm's predecessor, the Chevrolet Nova, and would later manufacture the Pontiac Vibe, one of its replacements.
Production of the newly-rebadged Chevrolet Prizm began in late 1997 as the Geo brand was phased out, alongside the newest North American generation of the Toyota Corolla. The last Prizm was built on December 13, 2001, resulting in a brief 2002 model year.
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Common 1990 Chevrolet Prizm problems
The Chevrolet Prizm, first introduced in 1990, is a compact car that shares many similarities with the Toyota Corolla. Despite its reliable reputation, there are several common issues reported by owners of this vehicle.
- Rough Idling: Some owners of 1990 Geo Prizm models have reported issues with rough idling, which can be more noticeable at night and when the car's lights are on. This issue is often intermittent, and the shaking disappears when the car is accelerating.
- Flickering Oil Light: After running the car for a period of time, some owners have reported that the oil light starts flickering while idling in drive. This issue is not present when the car is in neutral or park or when accelerating. This problem may be related to a coolant leak, blown gasket, or other issues affecting oil pressure.
- White Smoke/Steam from Tailpipe: After the car has been sitting for a while, some owners have reported a cloud of white smoke or steam coming from the tailpipe. This issue is not accompanied by any unusual smells and is not a large amount of smoke, but it is noticeable.
- Brake Master Cylinder: Some 1990 Geo Prizm models may require a brake master cylinder replacement at around 125,000 miles. This issue is one of the most commonly reported problems with this vehicle.
- Alternator and Battery Issues: Some owners have reported issues with the alternator and battery, such as headlights causing idling issues, but replacing the battery has not resolved the problem. This may indicate an electrical short or other issue with the car's electrical system.
These are some of the common issues reported by owners of the Chevrolet Prizm. It is important to note that many of these problems can be resolved with regular maintenance and repairs, and the car's overall reputation for reliability remains strong.
What engine is in a 1990 Geo Prizm?
Engines. All Prizms are powered by engines from their contemporary Toyota Corolla models: 1990–1992 Geo Prizms are powered by a 4A-FE or optional 4A-GE engine. 1993–1997 Geo Prizms are powered by a 4A-FE or optional 7A-FE engine.
How many miles will a Geo Prizm last?
Extremely reliable car.
Lasting over 200,000 miles is common.
When did they stop making Chevy Prizm?
This generation of the Prizm ended production in late 2001 as GM had decided to discontinue the model.
Is Chevy Prizm same as Toyota Corolla?
Others are built for Geo, and they're called Prizms. There are some cosmetic differences: different headlights, taillights, upholstery, etc. But mechanically, they're the same car, because all Geo Prizms and four out of five Corollas come off that very same assembly line.
What engine is in a 1990 Geo Prizm?
Engines. All Prizms are powered by engines from their contemporary Toyota Corolla models: 1990–1992 Geo Prizms are powered by a 4A-FE or optional 4A-GE engine. 1993–1997 Geo Prizms are powered by a 4A-FE or optional 7A-FE engine.
Is Chevy Prizm same as Toyota Corolla?
Others are built for Geo, and they're called Prizms. There are some cosmetic differences: different headlights, taillights, upholstery, etc. But mechanically, they're the same car, because all Geo Prizms and four out of five Corollas come off that very same assembly line.
When did they stop making Chevy Prizm?
This generation of the Prizm ended production in late 2001 as GM had decided to discontinue the model.
How many miles will a Geo Prizm last?
Extremely reliable car.
Lasting over 200,000 miles is common.
1990 Chevrolet Prizm car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Chevrolet Prizm problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1990 Chevrolet Prizm vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1990 Chevrolet Prizm complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1990 Chevrolet Prizm.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-02-12
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1Y1SK5169LZ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING AND DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE WENT UP IN SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *LA
Other years of Chevrolet Prizm
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