1991 Chevrolet Prizm problems

General information about Chevrolet-Prizm
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

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 1991 Chevrolet Prizm problems

The 1991 Chevrolet Prizm is known for several common problems that owners have reported. One of the most significant issues is related to the fuel system. According to a complaint from 2003, while driving on the turnpike, the consumer's vehicle started making noises, and a minute later, the engine blew, causing a small fire.

Another common problem is related to the car's electrical system. Several owners have reported issues with the battery, with two batteries needing to be replaced in one case.

The car's mechanical components have also been reported to have issues. For instance, the front axle joints went out at 190,000 miles, and the headliner came down at about 180,000 miles.

The shift lock override button must be pushed to shift out of park, which may be a safety concern for some drivers.

In summary, the 1991 Chevrolet Prizm has several common problems related to the fuel system, electrical system, mechanical components, and safety features. While the car is known for its reliability and good gas mileage, these issues may be of concern to some owners.

How many miles will a Geo Prizm last?

Extremely reliable car.

Lasting over 200,000 miles is common.

What engine does a 1991 Geo Prizm have?

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. 1998–2002 Chevrolet Prizms are equipped with Toyota's 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE inline-four engine; 2000–2002 models include VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence).

How much is Prizm car?

More about the Chevrolet Prizm

Prices for a used Chevrolet Prizm range from a high of $7,988 to a low of $3,500.

How much horsepower does a 1997 Geo Prizm have?

105 hp1997 Geo Prizm / Horsepower

What engine does a 1991 Geo Prizm have?

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.

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.

1991 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:

Engine and engine cooling problems
Seat belts problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1991 Chevrolet Prizm vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1991 Chevrolet Prizm complaints

The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1991 Chevrolet Prizm.

2003-03-13

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2003-01-04
Fire: 1
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: NAR 03/13/2003 WHILE DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE STARTED MAKING NOISES. A MINUTE AFTER, THE ENGINE BLEW WHICH CAUSED A SMALL FIRE. DAMAGES OCCURED IN ENGINE AND BOTTOM HOOD. *CB *JB

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2003-02-27