1998 GEO Prizm Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 78,000miles, 3 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 GEO Prizm (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1998 GEO Prizm. The part named most often is air bags, with 2 complaints (18% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and body and structure (2). 3 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, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 3 technical service bulletins for this model year.
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.
- Air bags2 18%
- Brakes2 18%
- Body and structure2 18%
- Other or unknown1 9.1%
- Seat belts1 9.1%
- Suspension1 9.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 9.1%
Example complaints
Brakes: “Brake pedal height is higher than the gas pedal which causes occupant's foot to go underneath the brake pedal, and causes pedal misapplication. Please provide further information.”
NHTSA complaint #835445, filed 1999-03Body and structure: “The contact owns a 1998 Geo Prizm. The roof headliner is dry rotted, corroded, and hanging down in the passenger compartment. The door gaskets on each door have cracked, melted, and hardened. The entire exterior of the vehicle has white haze spots, where the primer is coming through the paint. The contact stated that the failures began right after the three year warranty ended on the vehicle. He also stated that there was a safety recall on the black metallic paint. The recall was good for three years and then it was extended to five years. …”
NHTSA complaint #10208183, filed 2007-11Latches, locks and linkages: “All of the handles inside the vehicle do not work. No one can exit the vehicle. Currently, the passenger's side handles do not work, and one cannot open the vehicle from the outside.”
NHTSA complaint #10098941, filed 2005-01, 96,200 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 3 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 69,000 and 96,200 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 GEO 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. 3 on record; the latest 3 are shown.
- 10248444Jun 30, 2014Equipment. Vehicle Recalls
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- 10012558Nov 1, 2005Engine cooling. Avoiding oil baffle damage during oil fill process.
Other model years of the GEO Prizm
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6 | 63,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2000 | 7 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1999 | 24 | 125,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1998 | 11 | 78,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 50 | 104,662 | 1 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 61 | 109,132 | 0 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 96 | 95,500 | 2 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 134 | 107,500 | 1 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 77 | 160,000 | 1 | — | 26 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 50 | — | 0 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 46 | 190,000 | 1 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 37 | 125,500 | 0 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All GEO Prizm model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 GEO Prizm have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1998 GEO Prizm as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 GEO Prizm is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 2 complaints (18% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.
Has the 1998 GEO 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.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 GEO Prizm reported?
Among the 3 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,000 miles and the middle half falls between 69,000 and 96,200 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 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
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.