There are no safety recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm, but owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA.
2002 Chevrolet Prizm problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | |
| Electrical System | 3 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 3 | |
| Air Bags | 2 | |
| Steering | 2 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | |
| Structure | 1 | |
| Tires | 1 | |
| Visibility | 1 | |
| Suspension | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
Most reported parts
- Exterior Lighting › Headlights — 1
- Electrical System › Ignition — 1
- Electrical System › Ignition › Switch — 1
- Air Bags › Frontal — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
- Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch — 1
- Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and Attachments — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 67,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2002 Chevrolet Prizm complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Engine · reported Jun 23, 2018
Engine absorbs oil. After purchasing; engine seized. Purchased 2nd engine at beechmont chevrolet...same flaw. Engine seized at five mile road exit off of I-275. To this day if I do not check oil on regular basis. I pose a risk of engine seizing again.
Air Bags · at 73,000 miles · reported Jun 23, 2015
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?
Suspension · at 60,000 miles · reported Jan 30, 2015
The contact owns a 2002 chevrolet prizm. While driving at 30 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the front struts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10e002000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Engine and Engine Cooling · at 72,000 miles · reported Jan 28, 2010
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…
Visibility · at 43,495 miles · reported Dec 8, 2009
Dear madam/sir, in today's (12/08/09) wall street journal, in the article about toyota recalls, it was mentioned that 2003 and 2004 corollas and matrixes were recalled to fix a flaw that could cause the power windows to stop working. I own a 2002 prizm, which I believe is a corolla with a prizm badge. I had to have one power window fixed at 43,495 miles, another at 56,236 miles and now the other two are giving me problems at 77,000 miles. Toyota and chevrolet need to study this problem and extend the recall to the 2002 models.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm?
Owners report engine and engine cooling problems most often (4 reports), followed by electrical system (3). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 67,000 miles.
Are Chevrolet recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Chevrolet dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.