Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Prizm. The contact was driving 30 MPH and became involved in a crash. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver's seat was pushed backward, causing the contact to sustain injuries to the back. The contact was wearing the seatbelt at the time of the seat failure. A police report was not available. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 125,000. The VIN was not available.
Air bag did not deploy in accident. I have had the air bag warning light on since I bought the vehicle. The dealership said it was due to a defective driver side airbag sensor, and this would not prevent the front airbags from deploying. Dealer stated that they could not fix the defect, because it would not correct the warning light problem, and they removed the sensor that was bad (for the side air bag), but didn't have one to replace it with. I contacted the manufacturer about this problem, and they could not resolve the issue. Daniel's told me they have three other prizms with the same problem that they cannot fix. I feel that I could have been seriously injured due to the non-functioning safety component (front air bag) and that other people May be injured from the same problem. …
On 4/19/05 I was in an accident with my 97 Geo prism. The vehicle air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to operate correctly causing me to hit the steering wheel and dash causing severe injury to myself and minor passengers in the vehicle. I originally filed complaint through my attorney kenneth miller, jr. Baton rouge, la. I want to settle this case asap.
Dt: the contact stated while traveling at 60 MPH the contact's vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle. It was a frontal impact. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer has not been contacted. The vehicle was totaled.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 Geo Prizm. The contact stated that the steering wheel air bag and front passenger air bag abruptly deployed when the ignition switch was engaged. The contact sustained burn injuries to both arms and chest. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 228,194.
Was traving at about45miles per hour,car cut me off, hit rear drivers side bumper, hit my bumper, went through my grill and hood, looking at front of car hole is in the upper left hand coner of decritive plate and bumper,bumper is damaged on top of it,and bowed down, dont understand why air bags did not deploy.
I had a car accident in which my car rolled,and upon impact my seat belts,both driver and passenger popped,also my airbags did not deply.I slid on ice,when try to corect my car spun and hit the side of the road and an embankment and two trees and a rock and my car flipped.I had damage from the front light assembly to the tail light on driver side and also roof and trunk damage the two doors on driver side were pushed in and the airbags did not deply and when the car finally stopped on its roof my seatbelts popped and me and my son dropped to the roof which was on the ground.
Vehicle was stopped at a stop sign, hit a vehicle in front of her when pulling out from the stop sign, frontal impact occurred, approximately 5 MPH. Both air bags did not deploy, dealer contacted and stated they were not aware of any recalls on this vehicle, could not repair.
Related recalls (2)
Air bags
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.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the air bag computer.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
If liquid is spilled in the console box area, the air bag warning light can illuminate and stay "on" during normal driving conditions.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the air bag sensor to prevent possible malfunction caused by the spilling of liquid substances on the sensor.
Frequently asked questions
Which Geo Prizm years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (31), 1996 (22), 1997 (15) and 1999 (14) model years. Airbag complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Geo Prizm airbag problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 97V043002 (air bags, Mar 20, 1997); 96V-107 (sensor/control module-inactive, Jun 20, 1996). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Geo Prizm airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 158,000 miles; 0% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (67 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (4).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.