1997 Geo Prizm

No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Airbags & Restraints

Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 31 of 50 complaints (62%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 61 in 1996 to 50 in 1997.

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 3 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category	1995	1996	1997	vs. 1997 Subcompact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,300–2,500	2,150–2,500	2,250–2,600
Combined MPG	25–27	25–29	24–28
City / Highway MPG	23–25 / 27–31	23–26 / 27–32	22–26 / 27–32
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	329–355	306–355	317–370
Complaints filed	96	61	50	Not compared
Recalls issued	3	1	2	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	26	22	13	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	1	2	2	Not compared
Injuries reported	25	22	11	Not compared
Deaths reported	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	4	4	4

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

Airbags & Restraints: 31 of 50 NHTSA complaints (62%) mention it.

EPA rates it 24–28 MPG combined across 4 configurations.

EPA estimates $2,250–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic 3-spd	4	1.6L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	22 mpg (low)	27 mpg (low)	24 mpg (low)	$2,600 (high)	370 g/mi (high)
Configuration 2	Manual 5-spd	4	1.6L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	26 mpg (high)	31 mpg	28 mpg (high)	$2,250 (low)	317 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3	Automatic 4-spd	4	1.8L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	23 mpg	31 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400	342 g/mi
Configuration 4	Manual 5-spd	4	1.8L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Subcompact Cars	25 mpg	32 mpg (high)	28 mpg (high)	$2,250 (low)	317 g/mi (low)

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	1	0	0	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	2	0	0	0
Fuel System	0	0	0	0
Electrical	2	0	2	0
Brakes	5	1	0	0
Steering	5	0	0	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	5	0	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	31	12	0	11
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	0	0	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	0	0	0	0
Visibility & Lighting	2	0	0	0
Other	2	1	0	4

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

SUSPENSION · Campaign 10E002000 · Feb 11, 2010
Defect: 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.
AIR BAGS · Campaign 97V043002 · Mar 25, 1997
Defect: IF THE AIR BAG COMPUTER IN A SUBJECT VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A MECHANICAL SHOCK (I.E., RAPIDLY MOVING THE FRONT SEAT BACK AGAINST THE STOPS OR A SUDDEN RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE) WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THE ENGINE IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG CAN DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY.
Consequence: UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE AIR BAG COMPUTER.