2.2

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
72,086 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2000 Chevrolet Prizm:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #1

Dec 082004

Prizm 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,086 miles
Spring 2004, oil change mechanic noticed excessive sludge (appx 65000 miles on car). Cleaned engine out, changed oil (car has had regular oil changes every 3-4K miles). After that car was noted to be using too much oil (topping off at each 1500 miles they had to add 2 and a half quarts). Took to dealer at about 67000 noting oil problem and check engine light. Light turned out to be a catalytic converter problem. Replaced. Nothing done on oil problem. At 70000 miles engine was hesitating and continuing to burn oil. Took back to dealer. Charged me for new spark plugs first then found other problems (believe it was air flow sensor.) at 72,000, took back to dealer for excessive oil use. Changed oil and told me to come back when it had burned a quart. On the way home from dealer, engine blew up. Under GM extended warranty, lower half of engine replaced. Three weeks after it was repaired (which took a month) transmission died. Replaced tranny under warranty. Apparently I'm lucky it was under the Chevy name and not Toyota, but same problem is noted on a number of those.

- Walworth, NY, USA