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1995 Geo Prizm

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Prizm.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1995 Geo Prizm is a passenger car whose routine engine service calls for 3 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil. In the 1990–2002 Prizm complaint record, the 1995 model lands closer to the middle of the range with 113 owner-reported complaints, well below the 1994 peak of 167 but far above the 2002 low of 3. Its top complaint area is air bags, and it carries 3 recalls, a profile that suggests moderate field-reported concern rather than either the generation's worst or most trouble-free year.

Model year1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 310 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25329391. Note the factory engine oil filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 310 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

Tire sizeP175-65R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	25329391 discontinued · alt 25329386
Engine air filter	25099209
Fuel filter	12366546
Spark plug	19354429
Front wiper blades	94855689 alt 94855692
Serpentine belt	94853865 alt 94852783
Thermostat	94840251 alt 94859163

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3 qt
Engine Oil	API · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3.9 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 89021184 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6.5 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)	6.5 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	43 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)	15 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	32.4 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)	29 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	16.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	16.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.040-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque	13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.33 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	GM part number 12345923 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	3.30 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	310 cca
Standard BCI Group Number	35

Service checks

Pressure Test	8.5-14.9 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	8.5-14.9 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	180 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.787 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	90 degrees	90 degrees
3	90

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 15,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 15,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
At 45,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Geo Prizm recorded 113 complaints, which is lower than the 1994 peak of 167 but higher than the 1990‑1993 range (51‑90) and the 1996‑1998 range (64‑11). Recalls remained steady at three in 1995, matching the 1994 level and exceeding the one‑or‑two recall counts seen in most other years. Investigations were present in 1995 (one), consistent with the single investigations noted for 1993, 1994, and 1996, while technical service bulletins jumped to 16, the same high level observed in 1996 and exceeding earlier years. This places 1995 at the descending edge of a complaint surge that began in 1993, suggesting the model’s reliability was beginning to improve after the 1994 high. Consequently, the 1995 Geo Prizm offers a mixed record: fewer complaints than the worst year but still elevated relative to surrounding years, making it a cautiously acceptable choice for a used purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

113

Owner complaints

31 involved a crash · 1 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94’95’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 113 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags28

Seat Belts18

Service Brakes, Hydraulic10

Structure9

Visibility6

Suspension5

Power Train4

Steering3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10E002000SuspensionReported 11/02/2010

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED… Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT…

96V107000Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-InactiveReported 20/06/1996

IF LIQUID IS SPILLED IN THE CONSOLE BOX AREA, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND STAY "ON" DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE AIR BAG SENSOR TO PREVENT POSSIBLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BY THE SPILLING OF LIQUID SUBSTANCES ON THE SENSOR. AIR BAG SENSORS DAMAGED…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Prizm. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 battery Vehicles taking 3 qt Engine oil filter 25329391 Engine air filter 25099209 Fuel filter 12366546 Spark plug 19354429

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Prizm take?

3 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F 30W SL OR API, ABOVE 0 degrees F 10W-30 SL OR API, ALL TEMPERATURES 5W-30 SL OR API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Prizm have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.