1999 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 1999 Chevrolet Prizm problems
The 1999 Chevrolet Prizm has been reported to have electrical issues, specifically with short in ground wires. This problem has been reported only once, but it has a severity rating of 10.0, which is the highest possible rating, indicating that it is a significant issue. The average failure mileage for this problem is 122,000 miles, suggesting that it may occur later in the vehicle's lifespan.
The root cause of this problem is a faulty ground bus connector design, which has been reported to cause other electrical problems, such as the burning up of the DRL module, which can cost over $200 to replace. This issue has been reported to affect other electrical systems in the vehicle, indicating that it can potentially lead to more significant problems.
The 1999 Chevrolet Prizm has also been reported to have engine problems, which are the most common problem category for this vehicle. The most frequently reported problem is excessive oil consumption, which has been reported for the 2001 model year. However, it is unclear whether this problem affects the 1999 model year.
Overall, the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm has been reported to have electrical and engine problems, which can be significant issues that affect the vehicle's reliability and performance. It is essential to address these problems promptly to prevent further damage and ensure the vehicle's safe operation.
Is the 1999 Chevy Prizm a good car?
In short, the Prizm is one of the best compact cars money can buy. It does everything well and looks good, too. Better yet, it is essentially a reskinned Toyota Corolla, which bodes well for reliability and resale value.
How many miles does a Chevy Prizm last?
Properly maintained a Prism should be good for 200+K miles.
Does a 1999 Chevy Prizm have a timing belt?
Does my 99 Chevy Prizm have a timing chain or timing belt? What is the repair or replacement mileage for the one it has? It has a timing chain on that vehicle.
Does Chevy Prizm have Toyota engine?
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 the 1999 Chevy Prizm a good car?
In short, the Prizm is one of the best compact cars money can buy. It does everything well and looks good, too. Better yet, it is essentially a reskinned Toyota Corolla, which bodes well for reliability and resale value.
Does a 1999 Chevy Prizm have a timing belt?
Does my 99 Chevy Prizm have a timing chain or timing belt? What is the repair or replacement mileage for the one it has? It has a timing chain on that vehicle.
Did the Chevy Prizm have a Toyota engine?
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 does a Chevy Prizm last?
Properly maintained a Prism should be good for 200+K miles.
1999 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:
- Air bags problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Exterior lighting problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Service brakes problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1999 Chevrolet Prizm vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1999 Chevrolet Prizm
The NHTSA has received 43 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1999 Chevrolet Prizm vehicles.
STEERING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-07-20
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1Y1SK5282XZ
- Components: STEERING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,STRUCTURE
- Summary: AT 70 MILES/HOUR MY GENERAL MOTORS POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS ON FULL ASSIST AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. GENERAL MOTORS SECRETLY REMOVED THE POWER ASSIST, REPLACED IT AND THEN JIMMIED THE ENTIRE CAR TO PRESENT FALSE EVIDENCE THAT THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY BAD DRIVER CAR MAINTENANCE. THEY THEN DENIED THE CLAIM BASED ON PHOTOGRAPHS THEY HAD TAKEN OF MY CAR AFTER THEY HAD CHANGED EVERYTHING. THE ACCIDENT ON 7/20/2018, OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY DURING A SUNNY LATE MORNING. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR *JS *JS *TT CONSUMER STATED I SENT ONE LETTER TO THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION ON 12/3/2018 WITH 7 QUESTIONS AND ANOTHER LETTER ON 9/27/2019 WITH 3 MORE QUESTIONS TO YOU. I HAVE SENT COPIES OF THESE LETTERS, PER ATTACHMENT. CAN I GET SPECIFIC ANSWERS TO EACH QUESTION FROM YOU AND YOUR PHONE # SO I CAN CALL YOU AFTER MY REVIEW. IT SEEMS TO ME GENERAL MOTORS HAS ALWAYS DESIGNED ITS' VARIABLE POWER STEERING ASSISTS, WHEN THEY BREAK, TO GO INTO FULL, OPEN POWER ASSIST , ALL THE TIME AND AT ALL SPEEDS. THIS IS SOO MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN MANUAL STEERING ESPECIALLY WITHOUT LOW SPEED WARNING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS BROKEN. WHAT HAS NHTSA DONE TO PREVENT THIS SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS OF EXCESS, INAPPROPRIATE MAGNIFICATION OF HIGH SPEED STEERING. *JB
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-09-07
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: HI, I AM WRITING TO REPORT A TIRE BRAND, SOLD BY WALMART THAT COULD BE ILLEGAL FOR SALE IN THE U.S. THE DOT INFORMATION IS COMPLETELY MISSING ON THESE TIRES. THEREFORE, ALL THE CLAIMS MADE IN UTQG SPECS COULD BE FALSE AND/OR DO NOT MEET US STANDARDS. THESE ARE TIRES SOLD ON WALMART.COM AND BOUGHT AND USED BY MANY PEOPLE. I RECENTLY EXAMINED A PAIR OF THESE TIRES WHILE I WAS PICKING UP AN ORDER FROM WALMART. THESE TIRES MADE A RATTLING SOUND WHEN BOUNCED ON THE FLOOR. WHEN WE TESTED OTHER TIRE BRANDS FROM OTHER MANUFACTURERS, THEY DID NOT MAKE THE RATTLING SOUND. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE STEEL BELTS ARE LOOSE UNDER THE TREAD. ONLY A FATAL CRASH DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION MIGHT REVEAL THIS FAULT, WHICH MIGHT BE TOO LATE A LESSON TO LEARN FOR SOMEONE. I AM NOT SURE IF ALL TIRE SIZES OR TIRE TYPES HAVE MISSING DOT INFORMATION. AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT IN TIRES, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT DEFECTIVE STEEL BELTS TOO (THE RATTLING SOUND), BUT, I WANT TO BRING MY OBSERVATIONS TO THE ATTENTION OF EXPERTS. IT'S WORTH LOOKING IN TO THESE TIRES TO MAKE SURE THAT US CUSTOMERS ARE NOT BEEN SOLD UNSAFE TIRES. IF THIS COULD PREVENT AN AVOIDABLE ACCIDENT, IT'S WORTH THE EFFORT. I CONTACTED WALMART AND BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION. FROM THEIR EMAIL RESPONSE, IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE IGNORING THE ISSUE. THE TIRE IN QUESTION IS, BRAND: CROSSWIND HP010 MANUFACTURER: LINGLONG MADE IN: THAILAND SIZE: 185/65R14 WALMART PRODUCT PAGE: HTTPS://WWW.WALMART.COM/IP/CROSSWIND-HP010-185-65R14-86H-TIRE/765720344 THANK YOU PS: I ENDED UP RETURNING THE TIRES
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-08-19
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1Y1SK5480XZ
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: THE TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID THROUGH THE NORTHBOUND LANES AND THEN INTO THE DIRT MEDIAN AND FINALLY BECOMING CAUGHT ON THE CABLE DIVIDER, TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE THAT SEPARATED FROM IT'S TREAD WAS A FIRESTONE FR380 E26L 38B. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED IN 2009 WITH A 55,000 MILE LIMITED WARRANTY. WHEN THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED THE ODOMETER WAS AT 88,088 MILES. THE ODOMETER WAS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS 140,629 MILES. THIS MEANS THE TIRE WAS STILL 2,459 MILES UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE MINIMUM TREAD DEPTH RECOMMENDED BY FIRESTONE TIRES IS 2/32 DEEP OR 0.0625. THE TREAD DEPTH ON THE TIRE IN QUESTION WAS 0.175, MORE THAN TWICE THE REQUIRED DEPTH. THE STATE TROOPER WHO INVESTIGATED THE CRASH DETERMINED THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE MECHANIC WHO EXAMINED MY VEHICLE AGREED THAT THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE'S TREAD SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2015-05-20
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: MY CAR TURNED OFF WHEN PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND DAD TOOK THE CAR TO GET CHECKED, THEY WERE TOLD THAT IT WAS ELECTRICAL. THE COMPUTER BLEW OUT TWICE. THEY WEREN'T CHARGED WHICH WAS A GOOD THING BECAUSE THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE. EVERY TIME YOU SWITCH THE A/C ON OR TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR TURNS OFF. I CAME ON THIS WEBSITES HOPING TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE MY FAVORITE CAR IS JUST SITTING THERE COLLECTING DUST. I DON'T WANT TO JUNK THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS GREAT! I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE IT NEITHER BECAUSE I HAVE TWO KIDS AND DON'T WANT NOTHING BAD TO HAPPEN. PLEASE GET A RECALL DONE. I DON'T WANT TO JUNK THIS CAR.
SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2012-12-03
- VIN: 1Y1SK5285XZ
- Components: SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REFUELED ON A HALF TANK IN ORDER FOR THE FUEL TANK NOT TO LEAK FUEL. ON ONE OCCASION, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE SPARKS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND WAS VIBRATING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10E002000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2014-07-28
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1Y1SK5284XZ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. OVER A YEAR AGO, THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS CAUGHT FIRE WHICH SPREAD TO THE ALTERNATOR. THE IGNITION, WIRING HARNESS, AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2013-07-18
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1Y1SK5286XZ
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING,AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING TO HELP A FRIEND MOVE ABOUT 4 BLOCK FROM MY APARTMENT COMPLEX ON THURSDAY 18TH JULY AT APPROXIMATELY 12:20PM. ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM MY APARTMENT, I LOOKED OVER TO MY RIGHT SHOULDER TO CHECK MY BLIND SPOT TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE AND WHEN I TURNED BACK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND STOPPED SUDDENLY. BY THIS TIME I WAS WITHIN TWO CAR LENGTHS AWAY AND SLAMMED MY BRAKES. MY CAR BEGAN SLOWING DOWN BUT SLID STRAIGHT INTO THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE. AFTER I REAR ENDED HER I LOOK AHEAD AND NOTICE A 4 CAR BUILD UP WITH THE 5TH CAR AHEAD MAKING AN ILLEGAL U TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. MY ENTIRE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS PRETTY MUCH DESTROYED WITH ALL NEW PARTS HAVING TO BE BOUGHT. BECAUSE MY CAR IS FRONT WELL DRIVE THE FRONT DIPPED AND DID NOT DO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE OTHER PERSONS VEHICLE (1999 HONDA ACCORD COPE) EXCEPT SCRATCHED HER BUMPER. I ONLY HAVE LIABILITY SO HER CAR IS BEING FIXED AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR MINE OUT OF POCKET. BECAUSE THE LEFT FENDER WAS BADLY DENTED, IT HINDERED THE FRONT DOOR FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN AND I REMAINED PINNED INTO MY CAR FOR A WHILE. I NOTICED THAT MY AIR BAGS NEVER EVEN WENT OFF WHICH COULD HAVE PREVENT THE LITTLE WHIP LASH I RECEIVED. I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING SLIGHT PAINS BEHIND MY NECK. *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2010-01-09
- Fire: 1
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: 1999 CHEVROLET PRISM HAD EQUIPMENT FAILURE. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS EXTINGUISHED BY PASSING MOTORISTS. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0029-90 UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2008-09-09
- VIN: 1Y1SK528XXZ
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET PRIZM. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND HEARD AN EXCESSIVELY LOUD GRINDING NOISE. SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED. THIS WAS A CONTINUOUS FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 60,040.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-09-01
- VIN: 1Y1SK5284XZ
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: AT 80,000 MILES, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING PO 441: EVAP PURGE FLOW. THIS IS GETTING WAY TO COMMON AMONG THESE CARS, PLEASE ADMIT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND FIX IT. (TOYOTA HAS ADMITTED THE PROBLEM ON 1998 MODELS, AND HAS CUT A DEAL WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO RETROFIT OLD TRUCKS AND BUSES NOT EVEN MADE BY TOYOTA TO MAKE UP FOR THE POLLUTION THEY'VE CAUSED, BUT THAT STILL LEAVES ME PAYING TO HAVE THIS DESIGN FLAW FIXED). *TR
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2007-06-02
- VIN: 1Y1SK5288XZ
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: THE THROTTLE ON MY CAR STUCK AT FULL OR NEARLY FULL WHEN I ACCELERATED TO PASS A VEHICLE. I FIRMLY DEPRESSED AND HELD THE BRAKE PEDAL, THEN TOOK THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS: CHECKED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVE; CHECKED THAT NOTHING WAS DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR; PULLED BACK ON THE ACCELERATOR; WHILE CONTINUING TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL MOVED THE SHIFT LEVER TO NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO ACC; PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE STATED THAT A PIN HAD COME OFF OF THE THROTTLE ASSEMBLY, EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT CAUSED A DAISY CHAIN LINK TO JAM IN THE CORNER EDGE OF THE ASSEMBLY HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN. AN AFTERMARKET CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM INSTALLED ON THE CAR IN 2000 BY THE DEALER WAS NOT WORKING FOR AT LEAST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC INSERTED A COTTER PIN ON THE END OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL ARM, TEST DROVE THE CAR AND REQUESTED THAT I DRIVE VERY LITTLE UNTIL I COULD RETURN FOR A BRAKE CHECK WHEN THE GARAGE REOPENED. *TR
SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-07-19
- Components: SEAT BELTS
- Summary: THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILS TO CLOSE. NO AMOUNT OF JAMMING THE TONGUE INTO THE RECEPTOR CAUSES ENGAGEMENT. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES. THE DEALER IS REPLACING AT A PARTS CHARGE OF $125 PLUS LABOR. *JB
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2006-07-01
- VIN: 1Y1SK5288XZ
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: THE RIMS OF THE 1999 CHEVROLET PRISM BEND AND PUNCTURE THE TIRES. THEY WERE BRAND NEW TIRES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH WHAT A MECHANIC HAS SAID ARE "SOFT RIMS." THE TIRES COULD FAIL WITHOUT ME KNOWING IT. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR HELP IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE MANAGER SAID :"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO TAKE THE MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET." MY MAIN CONCERN IS TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE. I TRAVEL WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN. MY SON IN LAW SUGGESTED THAT THE RIMS BE EXCHANGED FOR A SAFER RIM. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BENT RIMS IN THIS MODELS. I MAINLY AM SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *NM
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-01-20
- VIN: 1Y1SK5281XZ
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: IN APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 2005 I DETECTED A GAS SMELL WHEN USING THE HEATER IN MY 1999 CHEVY PRIZM (70K MILES). THE SMELL WAS OVERWHELMING AND I HAD TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHEN DRIVING OR I WOULD GET HEADACHES. I DETERMINED THAT THE SMELL ONLY OCCURRED WHEN USING OUTSIDE AIR FOR THE HEATER A/C UNIT AS I COULD NOT SMELL GAS WHEN THE INSIDE AIR SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. USING ONLY THE INSIDE AIR SWITCH, I FOOLISHLY WAITED NEARLY 12 MONTHS BEFORE TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC. IN JANUARY 2006 THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING AT A SIGNIFICANT RATE AND HE INDICATED THERE WAS HIGH RISK OF FIRE FROM THE LEAK. HE ALSO INDICATED THAT WHEN HE PURCHASED A NEW FUEL RAIL FROM A DENVER, CO DISTRIBUTOR HE WAS TOLD THAT MANY NEW FUEL RAILS WERE BEING PURCHASED BECAUSE OF THE SAME FAILURE. WITH THE NEW FUEL RAIL INSTALLED THERE IS NO MORE LEAKING GAS AND NO GAS SMELLS WHEN I AM USING EITHER OUTSIDE OR INSIDE AIR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE OTHER CHEVY PRIZM/TOYOTA COROLLAS TO SEE IF THERE IS A PATTERN IN FUEL RAIL FAILURE. *JB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-10-15
- VIN: 1GNEK13R6XJ
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: BRAKES FAIL/FALTER WHEN APPLIED AT SLOW STOPPING SPEEDS. *NM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-03-24
- VIN: 1GNEK13R4XJ
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: I OWN A 1999 CHEVY TAHOE THAT I HAD CALLED THE CHEVY SERVICE CENTER ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE BRAKING ON THE VEHICLE. AT THAT TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR OTHER COMPLAINTS ON FILE. I NOW READ ABOUT A RECALL THAT EXPLAINS THE SAME PROBLEMS I'VE HAD WITH MY VEHICLE SO I CALLED THE CHEVY SERVICE LINE AGAIN AND GAVE THEM THE FILE NUMBER THAT THEY GAVE ME WHEN I CALLED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THEY DO NOT HAVE RECORD OF MY CALL OR FILE NUMBER ANY MORE. CHEVY TOLD ME BECAUSE I LIVE IN COLORADO INSTEAD OF ONE OF THE STATES THAT THE RECALL IS FOR, THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAD CALLED YEARS AGO TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND DESCRIBED TO THEM WHAT THEY ARE NOW RECALLING OTHER VEHICLES FOR, ONLY IN DIFFERENT STATES. *JB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2001-09-15
- VIN: 1GNEK13R9XJ
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: I PURCHASED A 1999 TAHOE USED IN 2001 FORM AN INDIVIDUAL. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING IT I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE UNWANTED ANTILOCK ACTIVATION. ON MANY OCCASIONS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE AUTOMOBILE I HAVE EXPERIENCED UNWANTED ANTILOCK ACTIVATION WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I CAN NOT TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT HAPPENS EVERYTIME I TRY TO STOP THE CAR. I HAVE NOT, AS OF YET, BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ALTHOUGH, I HAVE HAD MANY VERY CLOSE CALLS. I RECENTLY HEARD OF THE RECALL IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES AND WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT I LIVE IN NORTH CAROLINA AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY TAHOE. I HAVE REPEATEDLY HAD MY TAHOE IN THE SHOP TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED. I ALSO OWN A 2005 GMC PICKUP WITH ANTILOCK BRAKES AND DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH IT. *NM
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2005-05-12
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: AIRBAG LIGHT ON AND HORN NOT WORKING
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-12-01
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
- Summary: I HAVE A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU LS. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 60,000+ MILES ON IT AND IT WON'T BE PAID OFF UNTIL 2007 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A MANIFOLD GASKET, BATTERY, WATER PUMP, I HAVE HAD TO PUT A USED TRANSMISSION IN. YOU CAN NOT CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE THERE IS NO DIP STICK YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TO HAVE THAT DONE. THE AIR CONDITIONER COMES ON OFF WHENEVER, WHEN YOU PUT GAS IN THE CAR YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT GAS BEFORE IT WILL STAY RUNNING. I HAVE HAD BEARINGS REPLACED IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS, TIRES KEEP GOING BAD AS DO THE THE BRAKES. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE VERY SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE CARS AND NOT ONE RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. I WILL NEVER NEVER BUY A CHEVROLET AGAIN LET ALONE A MALIBU. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE A HONDA. I AM STILL TAKING THE CAR BACK FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM THIS WILL BE THE 4TH TIME IN LESS THAN A WEEK. NOT ONLY IS IT STILL LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT NOW I CONVEINTLY HAVE A COOLANT LEAK THAT I DID NOT HAVE UNTIL THE 3RD TIME OF TAKING IT BACK TO THE CHEVY GARAGE TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK FIXED. THIS CAR SUCKS.*AK
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-08-16
- VIN: 1Y1SK5282XZ
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: DRIVER'S INSIDE DOOR HANDLE HOUSING AND PIN BROKE; DOOR COULDN'T BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. PARTS DEALER STATED A NUMBER OF THESE HAVE BROKEN ON THIS MODEL.*AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-08-11
- VIN: 1Y1SK5287XZ
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER NOTICED ENGINE CONSUMED EVERY 1000 MILES ONE QUART OF OIL. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT SHOP THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *AK
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-04-25
- VIN: 1GBHG31R0X1
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: PASSENGER BACK TIRE TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED ,TREAD CAME COMPLETELY CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO SHOULDER AFTER GETTING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IF TRAFFIC WAS MORE HEAVY I DON'T THINK THE OUT COME WOULD HAVE BEEN AS GOOD. CALLED LES SCHWAB TO REPLACE TIRE ON SITE. DAMAGE FROM TIRE RESULTED IN CUTTING INTO SIDE OF VEHICLE AND INSIDE WHEEL WELL. *LA
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2004-04-25
- VIN: 1GBHG31R0X1
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: PASSENGER BACK TIRE TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED ,TREAD CAME COMPLETELY CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO SHOULDER AFTER GETTING CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IF TRAFFIC WAS MORE HEAVY I DON'T THINK THE OUT COME WOULD HAVE BEEN AS GOOD. CALLED LES SCHWAB TO REPLACE TIRE ON SITE. DAMAGE FROM TIRE RESULTED IN CUTTING INTO SIDE OF VEHICLE AND INSIDE WHEEL WELL. *LA
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-01-01
- VIN: 1Y1SK5486XZ
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE PURCHASE OF THE (NEW) VEHICLE. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT AT BEST THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AND THEN RECUR. NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, GM REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF DIAGNOSING THE PROBLEM.*AK
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-02-20
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 1Y1SK5285XZ
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON ICY ROADS, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A EMBANKMENT AND HIT A TREE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONSUMER. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER'S HEAD WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE CONSUMERS CHEST HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SPINAL/FACIAL, AND HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, IT WAS NOTED THAT FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSORS HAD BEEN DAMAGED IN THE CRASH. *AK *SCC *JB
1999 Chevrolet Prizm recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm.
- Manufacturer: RIDE CONTROL, LLC
- Components: SUSPENSION
- Summary: RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
- Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
Negative 1999 Chevrolet Prizm car reviews
Positive 1999 Chevrolet Prizm car reviews
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I was pleasantly surprised when I first drove this car. Despite being a 1.8L with 120hp, it has a lot of pep to it. It's a fun, economical, and super reliable car! Although the dealership mentioned that they had to repair the driver's side door handle once and it just broke again, the door handles are still relatively cheap. The A/C works great and cools the car quickly. It handles well and I highly recommend it to everyone! It's a shame they stopped making it!
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I hope you're doing well! I just wanted to share that I bought my car brand new in January 1999 and it was custom built to my specifications. Since then, I've only needed to do regular oil changes and have had absolutely no problems with it. It's been an extremely reliable car!
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This car is a dependable and reliable vehicle, especially if you get one that is in good condition. Regular maintenance is all that is required, such as changing the oil. It is extremely low maintenance and gets good gas mileage. With 123,000 miles on it, the engine has not had any major issues yet. The only things that needed to be changed were the sensor twice, the serpentine belt, and recently the brake hose due to a leak. Despite these minor issues, the car still drives like it was purchased from the dealership just last week! One thing to note is that the interior controls and door handles are not the best quality, but with careful use, they should last. The car's pickup speed is slow, but once it reaches the desired speed, it cruises right along. Overall, this car is a great choice for those looking for a low maintenance and reliable vehicle.
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I needed a car to get me from point A to point B and my Prizm has been perfect for the job. It has a nice design and is pretty quick thanks to its Japanese engine and drivetrain. I'm grateful to Chevy for making such a reliable car. I've had no problems with it, and only changing the oil has been necessary.
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Great car! Good on gas and easy to work with.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1999 Chevrolet Prizm problems:
1999 Chevrolet Prizm Problems and Complaints - 7 Issues
Problem with your 1999 Chevrolet Prizm? Our list of 7 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 1999 Chevrolet Prizm.
Chevrolet (Geo) Prizm — Car Forums at Edmunds.com
Aug 1, 1999 ... My 99 Chevy Prizm doesn't whine so it can't be "normal" since not all of them make the noise... only problem with my Prizm has been the check ...
2001 Chevy Prizm: Repair or Replace? - Maintenance/Repairs - Car ...
Jun 29, 2010 ... The 2001 Chevrolet Prizm has 83 complaints for excessive oil consumption. Average repair cost is $2,239.00 at 89,798 miles. ... The exhaust and ...
Q&A: Troubleshooting 99 Chevy Prizm Dash and Tail Lights
Feb 24, 2008 ... This problem is almost always in a fuse. If you look at the owners manual or if it has a sticker that tells you what each fuse goes to. Look for ...
My 1999 Chevy Prizm may be an oily lemon - Maintenance/Repairs ...
Jun 10, 2011 ... My 1999 Chevy Prizm ... Unfortunately, it is very common for the Prizm/Corolla ... Ways to hide horrible problems that wouldn't show up until after ...
Other years of Chevrolet Prizm
Are you having problems with your 1999 Chevrolet Prizm?
Neal Stehr 2024-11-28
The Corolla is a reliable car, but in this case, there seem to be some issues that need to be addressed. It is important to ensure that the car is well-maintained to avoid any potential problems. While there have been some challenges with the brake switch and cigarette lighter, these are minor issues that can be easily fixed. Overall, the Corolla is a great car and with proper care, it can provide many years of trouble-free driving.