AI Damage1999 Chevrolet Prizm: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 36
- involving a crash
- 8
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 31% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 14% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 6% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 6% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 11 complaints (31% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (14% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 5 complaints (14% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (6% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 36 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
At 70 miles/hour my general motors power steering assist was on full assist and caused an accident. General motors secretly removed the power assist, replaced it and then jimmied the entire car to present false evidence that the accident was caused by bad driver car maintenance.
The tread on the rear driver's side tire separated from the tire causing the vehicle to skid through the northbound lanes and then into the dirt median and finally becoming caught on the cable divider, totaling the vehicle. The tire that separated from it's tread was a firestone fr380 e26l 38b.
About two blocks from my apartment, I looked over to my right shoulder to check my blind spot to merge into the next lane and when I turned back the car in front of me slammed on their brakes and stopped suddenly. By this time I was within two car lengths away and slammed my brakes.
The driver's side seat belt failed to restrain the consumer. Upon impact, the frontal air bags failed to deploy. The driver's head went through the windshield and the consumers chest hit the steering wheel. The driver sustained spinal/facial, and head injuries.
I was in a car accident driving a 99 chevy prizm going approximately 45 mph. I was rear-ended on the passenger right side rear corner and then immediately again on the passenger front right corner. The driver's seat broke. It was all the way back in the reclined position. The only injury I experienced was whiplash.
Consumer was driving west when the other car was going east. The other car turned in front of consumer's vehicle, consumer hit othe rvehicle and started to spin around ,couldn't stop, resulting in a crash. Upon impact, airbags didn't deploy.
These tires made a rattling sound when bounced on the floor. When we tested other tire brands from other manufacturers, they did not make the rattling sound. It sounded as if the steel belts are loose under the tread.
The computer blew out twice. They weren't charged which was a good thing because those are expensive. Every time you switch the a/c on or turn the headlights on the car turns off.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,253 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Prizm has 19 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 36, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 36. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (14%), warning lights, check engine (14%), airbags did not deploy (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Chevrolet Prizm?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Chevrolet Prizm from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.