8.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,300
Average Mileage:
100,950 miles
Total Complaints:
21 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. change piston rings/replace engine (3 reports)
  3. class action lawsuit! (3 reports)
  4. Chevy needs to redesign engine (2 reports)
  5. replace engine (1 reports)
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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1

Dec 012007

Prizm 1.9 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 184,000 miles

Well I was doing an Internet search to see if there were others that have experienced my problem and found this site and am amazed at all the same complaints!! I purchased this car in 2002 with 14,000 miles on it on the recommendation of my brother-in-law who owns a used car dealership. Same car as the Corolla yet $$$ less. Absolutely no problems until this past summer. I commute 700 miles per week , all highway driving and noticed I was down oil, about 1 quart per 1k miles. Didn't think anything of it but as the months passed the amount increased to 2 quarts every 1k. Engine light would go on and I was shocked to find the oil level down below the dipstick indicator. Then I became aware of the engine noise which indicted no oil. Catylitic converter went and my mechanic found that the PCV valve was loaded and thought that this had something to do with the excessive oil consumption. Well I had the converter replaced , PCV valve and oil change. Drove 1100 miles and was down 4 quarts and was on the verge of blowing the engine.

After reading this web site I find it hard to understand how this problem escaped GM and Toyota and why there is not a recall or compensation. A class action suit should take place.

- Kevin O., Springfield, MA, US