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Chevrolet PrizmModel year report

2002 Chevrolet Prizm Problems

Complaints
19filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
67,000miles, 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
30 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 36 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 19 consumer complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 4 complaints (21% of the total), followed by latches, locks and linkages (3) and air bags (2). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 15% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 67,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 276 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 37 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Purchased car july '09 with 64,000 on engine. Vehicle purchased with 90 day warranty. 2700 miles after purchase, engine emitted blue smoke after highway driving. Vehicle taken to repair shop, pistons hold no compression, one valve shot, repair shop and warranty company state vehicle not drivable, needs replacement engine, potential valve damage., engine could cease if driven.”

NHTSA complaint #10284716, filed 2009-09, 67,000 miles

Latches, locks and linkages: “Hood latch completely broke so that either it could not be closed completely, or, when finally closed, it was impossible to open. This, coupled with other hood latch problems reported by others seems to indicate a definite hood latch problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10258183, filed 2009-02, 65,000 miles

Air bags: “My 2002 Chevrolet Prizm (same as a toyota corolla) has its cruse control, horn, and the drivers side airbag all mounted on the steering wheel, electrically connected to the rest of the car through an inflatable restraint steering wheel module coil (aka clock spring) mechanism. Both the cruse control and the horn do not now operate and haven't for years, does this mean that the airbag is also inoperatable (two out of three failures sounds like a bad omen; conventional wisdom tells me that this airbag system is also faulty)? Is this car safe to continue to operate with this alleged defect?”

NHTSA complaint #10726851, filed 2015-06, 73,000 miles

Electrical system: “Check engine light has come on permanently. This can be temporarily turned off by mechanics but always comes back on again. Since there is no problem with the engine, this warning light is useless if I have a real problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10258185, filed 2009-02, 50,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

15% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,500 and 73,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2515%25–5062%50–750%75–10015%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: 67,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2002200420052007200820096201020152018
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 2002 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 (side air bags) not rated4 / 4———
Prizm · sedan 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 2002 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 manual273731$2,150
Prizm FWD1.8L 4-cyl4-speed automatic263630$2,250
Prizm FWD1.8L 4-cyl3-speed automatic253027$2,500

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 2002 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. 276 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 276 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 2002 Chevrolet Prizm have?

NHTSA recorded 19 consumer complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 4 complaints (21% of the total), followed by latches, locks and linkages with 3.

Has the 2002 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 2002 Chevrolet Prizm get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm (Prizm, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 26 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 67,000 miles and the middle half falls between 55,500 and 73,000 miles; 15% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.