Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Chevrolet Prizm problems
Owners filed 32 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm with NHTSA between May 2002 and Jun 2018. The most-cited component is electrical system (6).
Complaints
32
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system6
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Air bags4
- Steering4
- Latches/locks/linkages4
- Exterior lighting3
- Power train2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Engine1
- Suspension1
- Visibility1
- Tires1
- Structure1
- Parking brake1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
1
1
7
1
4
2
6
4
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
6 reports
“I HAVE A 02'CHEVY IMPALA WHEN I TURN IT ON ALL ELECTRIC COMES ON AND THE ENGINE RUNS FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND DIES THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM COMES ON I GOT THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED STILL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MILES AFTER READING THE MANUAL AND PUSHING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR WHILE HOLDING THE KEYS ON FOR THREE SECONDS BUT EVENTUALLY IT DIED AGAIN. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
5 reports
“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. WARRANTY DID NOT COVER SLUDGE DAMAGE DUE TO NEGLIGENCE OF PREVIOUS OWNER. CAR BURNS OIL VARIABLY RANGING FROM 1QT PER 500 MILES TO 3QT PER 200 MILES. OWNERS MANUAL STATES CAR BURNS 1 LITER PER 800 MILES FROM NEW. NOT WORTH PAYING 3K TO 6K FOR NEW ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE VALUED AT 5K. OIL BURNING WORSE AFTER CHANGING OIL, SLUDGE CLOGGED OIL PUMP AFTER 5K OF DRIVING. TW*”
Air bags
4 reports3 crashes
“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?”
Steering
4 reports1 crash
“2002 CHEVROLET PRIZM. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP *TGW”
Latches/locks/linkages
4 reports
“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. *TR”
Exterior lighting
3 reports
“2002 MALIBU. TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE. *NM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.