2002 Chevrolet Prizm Chevrolet Prizm 2002

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2002 Chevrolet Prizm repairs by problem area

Engine (38%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (11%)

Brakes and Traction Control (4%)

Suspension and Steering (13%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (24%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (7%)

Other (2%)

Chart based on 45 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Prizm.

2002 Chevrolet Prizm repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (8%)

$500 - $999 (18%)

$100 - $499 (45%)

< $100 (30%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 40 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2002 Chevrolet Prizm 4dr Sedan

125-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Chevrolet Prizm in Minnesota, United States
Aug 2003 - Aug 2016
Jun 2003

25000 mi
Replaced intake gasket under warranty at the dealer - known Prizm problem. 
May 2010

87100 mi

US $280
Evap pressure solenoid. 
Oct 2011

104700 mi

US $110
Front brace was failing - making wobbling noise. $60/part + %50 labor. 
Chevrolet Prizm in Ohio, United States
Feb 2015 - Dec 2017
Sep 2016

133000 mi

US $500
New clutch 
Chevrolet Prizm in Arizona, United States
Apr 2013 - Jun 2018
Sep 2013

105000 mi

US $310
Car rides low to the ground. The struts and springs were replaced. 
Dec 2013

107000 mi

US $250
Clutch was slipping. I replaced the clutch and motor mounts. 
Apr 2015

118500 mi

US $600
Paint on hood, top,trunk, and bumper was oxidizing. I sanded it and painted it. 
Nov 2016

131300 mi

US $15
Output seal on transmission was leaking. Replaced the seal 
Jun 2018

141000 mi

US $865
The AC clutch was damaged. The clutch and compressor were replaced. An accumulator and AC hose assembly. 
Chevrolet Prizm in Missouri, United States
Mar 2010 - Jun 2011
Jan 2011

US $22
Broken interior door handle. Owner installed replacement in less than 1 hour. 
May 2011

152000 mi

US $1736
Manual transmission failing; replaced with used unit. 
Chevrolet Prizm in California, United States
May 2017 - Aug 2018
Aug 2017

290000 mi

US $1200
Needed New Clutch plate 

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2002 Chevrolet Prizm 4dr Sedan

125-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Chevrolet Prizm in Ohio, United States
Feb 2006 - Sep 2011
Jun 2006

50000 mi

US $200
fixed A/C not working in certain vent positions 
Apr 2009

90000 mi

US $20
remove rust from rotors 
Apr 2011

117000 mi

US $100
AC not working, Replaced condenser 
Aug 2011

119000 mi
Inside door handle broke, had to open door from outside. Installed rear door handle on front door. 
Chevrolet Prizm in Minnesota, United States
Aug 2009 - Oct 2010
Sep 2010

141000 mi

US $150
Stuck drivers side front caliper 
Oct 2010

141000 mi

US $155
Catalytic converter clogged due to bad valve seals. Converter replaced. 

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2002 Chevrolet Prizm 4dr Sedan

125-horsepower 1.8L I4 3-speed automatic FWD

Chevrolet Prizm in Michigan, United States
Jun 2015 - Sep 2016
Dec 2015

115000 mi

US $50
Weak power window motor, replaced 
Chevrolet Prizm in Washington, United States
Apr 2015 - Nov 2016
Apr 2015

135000 mi

US $104
Wheel bearing, both sides. Replaced hub assembly and bearing. Water pump - weep hole was showing fluid, replaced w/ new part. 
Sep 2015

142000 mi

US $523
Wheel bearings failed again. Previous wheel bearings installed correctly, but quality was very poor. New Timkin brand installed. 
Mar 2016

150000 mi

US $180
Tie rod end needed replaced. 
Chevrolet Prizm in Maryland, United States
Oct 2010 - Jun 2022
Mar 2011

75000 mi

US $5
Replaced center brake light. Had to disassemble light assembly to remove and replace bulb. Took 1 hour. 
May 2014

108000 mi

US $110
heater blower fan stopped working on first three speeds. Replaced with elec. part. 
Jul 2015

122200 mi

US $400
Had to replace hood latch and cable. 
Jun 2017

138000 mi

US $620
A/C compressor assembly replaced with belts 
May 2018

139000 mi

US $100
Replace manifold gasket Due to engine light on, 
Chevrolet Prizm in California, United States
Oct 2007 - Jan 2010
Dec 2007

99000 mi

US $300
Original Delco/Delphi AC compressor failed. Delphi now offers only rebuilt units. Debris clogged condenser, orifice tube and accumulator/hose assembly. All were replaced as precaution. Luckily, evaporator & expansion valve escaped harm. 2nd Serpentine belt and hydraulic/spring belt tensioner asm. replaced. Both only last about 50K miles. AC compressor install was good time to do this. Secondary function of tensioner is dampening shock of AC comp'r clutch engage/disengage cycles. 
Mar 2009

130000 mi

US $900
Starter slow rotation. Garbage Delco/Delphi battery. High AC ripple on recharge means end of life. Replace with Costco-Kirkland 'cause not keeping car >3 years, else would've bought the OPTIMA. Starter rotation better when hot, but is not the total soluti $900 is total bill. Starter motor replaced with Delco-boxed, GM-part-numbered, rebuilt Nippon-Denso. Other work performed at same time will be detailed next. Four Tokico HP Blue strut assemblies, installed by same dealer in 2004 on our (now-totaled) 1999 Prizm, installed on this Prizm. Four-wheel thrust-center alignment performed also. Result is major improvement in ride & handling! Goes where you point it now 
Jan 2010

US $98
CEL on for year. Knew what it needed to correct. Registration renew due in April. Up- and down-stream O2S contaminated. As other reports will reveal, total repair cost will = residual value of car. Cat contaminated by excessive HC. Total repair cost = residual value of car. Front struts blown, causing excessive tire wear & unpredictable handling in high speed transitions over less-than-smooth roads. Along with other needed repairs; struts, upper strut mounts, shaft boots & labor exceed residual value of vehicle. Vibration @70+MPH. FWD L&R axles nutating at differential interface. Bought used 2 years ago. Up to '02, diff oil in separate cavity from AT. Never RnR'd until we bought. Monthly flushing with RedLine Hi Temp ATF not enough to overcome neglect. BER. 
Chevrolet Prizm in Pennsylvania, United States
Aug 2008 - Mar 2011
Nov 2008

127162 mi

US $967
Replace catalytic converter. 
Sep 2010

168000 mi

US $210
Tried cleaning fuel injection system to see if that would fix the problem without having to replace fuel injector. Replaced fuel injector. 
Feb 2011

177000 mi

US $451
Engine was misfiring. Replaced spark plugs and coil. 
Mar 2011

177000 mi
Burning oil when sold, perhaps a quart every few hundred miles. 
Chevrolet Prizm in Indiana, United States
Dec 2011 - Jul 2014
Jul 2014 Burns a ton of oil 
Chevrolet Prizm in Ohio, United States
Feb 2014 - Jun 2018
Feb 2014

49000 mi

US $30
serpentine belt 

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2002 Chevrolet Prizm Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2002 Chevrolet Prizm problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.