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Chevrolet PrizmModel year report

1999 Chevrolet Prizm Problems

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
78,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
28 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 32 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm. The part named most often is air bags, with 11 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and engine cooling (5). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,000 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 25 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (2), Wheels (2), Brakes (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10525904, filed 2013-07, 70,000 miles

Electrical system: “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! …”

NHTSA complaint #10749307, filed 2015-08

Engine cooling: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10192374, filed 2007-06, 89,090 miles

Exterior lighting: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11155706, filed 2018-12, 240,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 70,000 and 100,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5038%50–7531%75–10023%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 78,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’998’01’04’06’08’13’15’18
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Prizm · sedan not rated4 / 4———
Prizm · sedan (side air bags) not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 Chevrolet Prizm version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Prizm FWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual263429$2,300
Prizm FWD1.8L 4-cyl4-speed automatic253228$2,400
Prizm FWD1.8L 4-cyl3-speed automatic243026$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 25 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 25 bulletins →

Other model years of the Chevrolet Prizm

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20021967,0000—30—Stable
20014562,0000—30Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20002456,0000—28—Stable
19993678,0000—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199827128,9500—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Chevrolet Prizm model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 11 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm (Prizm, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 25 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,000 miles and the middle half falls between 70,000 and 100,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.