2003 Pontiac Vibe complaints

2003 PONTIAC VIBE 5-SPEED. TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GRIND ITSELF UP AND STRAND THE CAR. FLUID CHANGED EVERY 30K MILES. FIRST TRANSMISSION DIED AT 70K MILES AND THE SECOND ONE NOW DIED AT 110K MILES. THIRD TRANSMISSION GETTING INSTALLED TO CORRECT A FAULTY DESIGN. BUYING A BRAND NEW ONE THIS TIME AND IT HAS COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SO FAR. *TR

2003 PONTIAC VIBE. UNIT #1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE AT MILE POST 90 IN THE CENTER LANE. #1'S RIGHT TIRE FAILED CAUSING #1 TO SPIN OUT, DRIVING OFF RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD BACKWARDS AND SIDE SWIPED THE GUARDRAIL. *LN ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL WAS BLOWN OUT WITH WIRES PROTRUDING FROM A HOLE. NO DEBRIS WAS STRUCK IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE FAILED WHILE IN OPERATION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0384-90)*JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE EXPRESSWAY (DURING RUSH HOUR) AT AROUND 65 MPH THERE WAS A SUDDEN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS WAS AND LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED. IT BEING MICHIGAN AND IN THE 30'S IT HAS BEEN CLOSED THE ENTIRE SEASON. I WAS NOT DRIVING NEAR OR UNDER AN OVERPASS AT THE TIME SO I DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING WAS DROPPED ON IT. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I DISCOVERED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS HAPPENED TO THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SAFETY RECALL (07273) WITH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS AS THEY WOULD SUDDENLY BREAK AS WELL. THIS SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. COULD THIS BE RELATED? *TR

MARCH 12, 2011 THE MAIN HOOD LATCH FAILED TO MAINTAIN A LATCH LOCK ON A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WHILE VEHICLE WAS MERGING ON A HIGHWAY AND THE SAFETY CATCH FAILED TO "CATCH" AND THE HOOD OPENED. THIS ACTION PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM SEEING THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP. *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT WINDOWS ONTO THE DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR OF THE 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. I HAD THE BOLTS REPLACED AT THE DEALER, SO THE WINDOW WOULD NOT SHATTER WHILE DRIVING OR FALL INTO THE DOOR FRAME. WELL, REPLACING THE BOLTS DOES NOT PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. THE WINDOW STILL FELL INTO THE DOOR FRAME ANYWAY AND CAN SHATTER AT ANYTIME. THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT SCREWS INTO BREAKS EASILY WHICH RESULTS IN EITHER THE WINDOW SHATTERING WHILE DRIVING AND/OR FALLING INTO THE DOOR FRAMES. THEREFORE, THE RECALL DID NOT PREVENT THIS VERY UNSAFE EVENT FROM HAPPENING. PLEASE INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR THE PLASTIC CLIPS ON THE FRONT WINDOWS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT THE INITITAL RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ADDRESSED, BUT DID NOT. *LN

2003 PONTIAC VIBE. POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK ON THEIR OWN AND CANNOT BE OVER-RIDDEN EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH KEY FOB. A PERSON INSIDE THE VEHICLE CANNOT EXIT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND MAKING A TURN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FASTER THAN USUAL. WHILE THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE CAUSING IT TO CRASH INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND ROLL OVER THREE TIMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. HE SUSTAINED A BROKEN TAIL BONE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. HE WAS NOT WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/13/10

2003 PONTIAC VIBE REAR POWER WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. THE FRONT SIDE PASSENGER WINDOWS MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN I ROLL IT DOWN EVEN THOUGH I DID TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS RECALLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE THE VEHICLE IDLE AND IN PARK, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ABNORMALLY SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER ADVISED HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V162000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE. THE WINDOW BOLTS WERE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V162000 (VISIBILITY: GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD, HUMMING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 02V074002 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY) AS HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,800.

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND THE POWER WINDOW GLASS ABRUPTLY RELEASED DOWNWARD INSIDE OF THE DOORS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. ALSO, THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE WINDOWS WERE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE PART THAT SECURED THE WINDOW GLASS. THE WINDOWS WERE REPAIRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79.000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

2003 PONTIAC VIBE. HAS A TOYOTA ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY QUIT PULLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY,WITH NO WARNING. THE COMPLETE FAILURE LEFT THEM STRANDED IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOW LOCATION WHERE A COLLISION WAS PROBABLE. NEITHER WERE INJURED AND A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE WEB I FOUND A LOT OF SIMILAR STORIES REPORTED IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE IN CLEVELAND, OH WHEN THE BRAKES AND STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD NO INDICATION WHATSOEVER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THIS RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE POLICE AGREED WITH ME THAT I WAS NOT AT FAULT AND IT WAS THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOT CITED. *TR

A SLIGHT NOISE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WORSENED OVER THE COURSE OF A 800-MILE TRIP. THE NOSE WAS A RHYTHMIC SOUND THAT WAS DETECTABLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MECHANICS WERE FAMILIAR WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL YEAR CAR WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. UPON INSPECTION, THEY FOUND A CLUSTER SHAFT BEARING WAS DESTROYED. WE WERE LUCKY AND HAD STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR SOON ENOUGH THAT THERE WAS NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION. HAD WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS LIKELY THE BEARING WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED SENDING BALLS AND FRAGMENTS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ULTIMATELY, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH, IN A WORST CASE SITUATION, COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE. HAD THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY. ONCE THE DAMAGED CLUSTER SHAFT BEARING WAS FOUND IN OUR TRANSMISSION, IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REASSEMBLED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE. *TR

GRINDING NOISE BEGAN TO OCCUR UNDER VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION IN ONLINE FORUMS, MANY OTHER TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE OWNERS HAD THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE RESULTING IN TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE MAIN SHAFT BEARING. *TR

HAD A CODE P0770 SHOW UP. NEEDS NEW SHIFTER SOLENOID. COST IS VARIABLE BUT UPWARDS OF $2,000. HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON INTERNET, LOTS OF OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS ON THE '03 VIBE. *TR

CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2003 PONTIAC VIBE (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) RESULTED IN DIFFICULT VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF I-95. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS DUE TO FAULTY BEARING IN TRANSMISSION. CORRELATES WITH MANY REPORTS IN ONLINE FORUMS OF SAME VEHICLE HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 100,00 +/- 20,000 MILES. *TR

PONTIAC VIBE WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK AND THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL TEMPORARILY. LUCKILY NO INJURIES DUE TO LACK OF SPEED AND TRAFFIC SITUATION. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO GENERAL MOTORS, AND THEY MADE NO OFFER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LOCAL GM DEALER WANTED $3500 TO DO THE REPAIR. I DID NOT HAVE THAT MONEY, SO I OPTED TO BY A USED TRANSMISSION AND HAVE A LOCAL SHOP INSTALL IT FOR A TOTAL OF $1300. I DO NOT HAVE THE BROKEN TRANSMISSION ANYMORE. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SEIZED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED AS A RESULT OF ON OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS SEIZING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE ACT BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE ON THE FREEWAY THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROZE UP CAUSING SUDDEN DECELERATION AND THE ENGINE TO DIE. I BRIEFLY LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BEFORE GETTING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND DESCRIBED IT AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISSUE IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2003 TRANSMISSIONS MADE BY TOYOTA IN PONTIAC VIBES AND MATRIX. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. BY SEARCHING THE WEB THERE APPEARS TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES 2003 PONTIAC VIBE, AWD. *TR

DATE BELOW IS JUST WINTER. SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2009-2010 TOYOTA MATRIX BRAKE FREEZE UP PROBLEM I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE 1.8L ENGINE AND FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS IN REALLY COLD WEATHER MY BRAKES TAKE EXTREME PRESSURE TO APPLY THE PEDAL TO STOP FOR THE FIRST FEW TIMES AFTER SITTING OUTSIDE WHEN I LEAVE WORK. THE CAR IS GARAGE KEPT THE REST OF THE TIME AND I DO NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. I HAD PREVIOUSLY CALLED THE DEALER, NO INFO OR SOLUTION COULD BE FOUND. I DID CALL TOYOTA THIS PAST WEEK TO SEE IF THE RECALL FIX WOULD HELP IN MY CASE BUT WAS TOLD NO TECHNICAL HELP AVAILABLE THROUGH THEM BUT TO CALL THE DEALER WHICH HASN'T HELPED IN THE PAST. MY FEELING IS THIS PROBLEM GOES BACK FURTHER THAN 2009 MY AND BACK TO AT LEAST 2003. IF IT WASN'T FOR HEAVY FOOT PRESSURE AND NO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME I'M POSITIVE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE IF THIS BRAKE PROBLEM IS ON FILE FOR THE EARLIER VIBE / MATRIX FREEZE UP PROBLEM PRIOR TO 2009 MY. I FIND IT VERY DANGEROUS. REGARDS, GREG KIRCHNER *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT HEARS A HORRIFIC POPPING AND SQUEAKING SOUND WHENEVER THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS ROLLED HALFWAY DOWN. IN MAY OF 2008, SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE YEAR LATER WITH THE SAME WINDOW. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE APART THE WINDOW TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC REPAIR SHOULD BE FREE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/09/ *JB

IN MAY OF 2009 WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE THROGS NECK BRIDGE I HEARD A CRASH AND A THUMP FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. I GRABBED ONTO THE GLASS AND HELD IT IN PLACE. I WAS ABLE TO LOCK THE WINDOW SO IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND PROCEEDED ON MY WAY. I TOOK IT TO A PONTIAC DEALERSHIP IN MASSACHUTTES AND I WAS TOLD ALL DAMAGES WOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS DUE TO THE RECALL NUMBER 08V162000 THE DOOR BOLTS THAT HOLD THE WINDOW IN PLACE BROKE CAUSING THE WINDOW TO CRASH AND THE GLASS TO SHATTER. I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE WINDOW FIXED IN MASSACHUTTES SO I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP IN OLD WESTBURY, NEW YORK. THIS DEALERSHIP GM PONTIAC IN HICKSVILLE TOLD ME NOTHING WAS COVERED EXCEPT THE BOLTS. I CALLED THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND ONE PERSON TOLD ME THAT THE PONTIAC WILL COVER THE WINDOW. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT TAKE MY WORD FOR IT AND CALLED PONTIAC THEMSELVES THEY SPOKE WITH A DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL AND THEY SAID THAT IT WASN'T COVERED. THEY THEN QUOTED ME AT 700.00 DOLLARS TO GET EVERYTHING FIXED. I REFUSED SERVICE. CURRENTLY I HAVE CALLED EVERYDAY TO SEE WHAT THEY MIX UP IS AND NO ONE RETURNS MY PHONE CALLS. *TR

2003 5 SPEED TRANS WENT OUT AT 103,000 MILES AFTER I WAS TOLD WAS DUE TO FAULTY BEARINGS. *TR

TRANS WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME AFTER 55,000 MILES. CURRENTLY 158,000 MILES ON CAR AND HAVE TO REPLACE WITH A 3RD TRANS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. HE RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V162000 EA08004, COMPONENT: VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEIR VEHICLE DID NOT APPLY TO THE RECALL. ELEVEN MONTHS LATER WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN THE POWER WINDOWS, THERE WAS A POPPING AND CRACKING NOISE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS RECALLED. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,440. UPDATED 05/13/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS EVER CORRECTED. HE WAS STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS A DAY AFTER THE REPAIR WAS SUPPOSEDLY DONE. UPDATED 05/13/09.*JB

THE SMOKED GLASS COVERING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ THE VITAL INFORMATION SUCH AS SPEED, ETC., ON BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS. THIS POSES A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER AS HE TRIES TO READ THE VITAL INFORMATION WHILE DRIVING IN ANY TRAFFIC CONDITION. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2003. BOTH GENERAL MOTORS IN DETROIT AND MY LOCAL DEALER SAY THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT CORRECTING THIS FAULT. THE INCIDENT DATE I LISTED BELOW IS WHEN I FIRST NOTICE THIS DESIGN FAULT AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER. *TR

AN OVERLY SENSITIVE AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND DIMS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ON A BRIGHT SUNSHINE DAY IF THE SHADOW FROM THE A-PILLAR FALLS ACROSS THE SENSOR. THE DIMMING OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY LEADS TO AN INABILITY TO READ THE INSTRUMENTS ON A BRIGHT SUNSHINE DAY, THUS CREATING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE 2003 PONTIAC VIBE AND ITS SISTER CAR, THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. TOYOTA HAS A TSB ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM (EL007-02), GM DOES NOT HAVE ONE FOR THE VIBE. *TR

WHENEVER THE CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, AND THE AIR TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW ABOUT 30 DEGREES F, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS LEADS TO A DEAD BATTERY AND AN INABILITY TO START THE CAR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE 2003 PONTIAC VIBE AND ITS SISTER CAR, THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. TOYOTA HAS A TSB ON THE PROBLEM FOR THE MATRIX (EL003-03), GM DOES NOT HAVE ONE FOR THE VIBE. *TR

HAD THE BOLTS IN THE WINDOW UNITS REPLACED FROM PREVIOUS RECALL, BUT DID NOT FIX MY PROBLEM. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW CLICKS AND POPS WHEN BEING ACTIVATED UP AND DOWN. THE WINDOW WILL NOT TRACK RIGHT WHEN GOING UP AND I HAVE TO USE BOTH HANDS TO GET IT INTO THE WEATHER STRIP. DURING THE BOLT RECALL ON THE WINDOW THE DEALER SAID I NEEDED A NEW WINDOW REGULATOR AND WEATHER STRIP. COST AROUND $250. *TR

EVERY SEVERAL MONTHS BOTH HEADLIGHTS (RIGHT AND LEFT) BURN OUT AT THE SAME TIME. THIS HAS EFFECTED ONLY THE LOW BEAMS SO FAR. WHEN THE BULBS ARE REPLACED, THEY WORK FINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. *TR

19 JAN 2009, 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSING A INTERSECTION. AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. WHILE REMOVING THE CONTENTS, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE FRONT END, ONE AIR BAG (RH) SENSOR WAS COMPLETELY MISSED AND THE LEFT SENSOR (LH) WAS UNABLE TO BE SEEN, BUT THE LOCATION OF THE (LH) SENSOR APPEARED TO TAKE A DIRECT HIT. THREE PEOPLE WERE IN THE VIBE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AFTER HE STARTED THE IGNITION AND ACTIVATED THE POWER WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE DOOR CHECK LINK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE DOOR GLASS BOLTS AND WINDOW REGULATOR WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY; GLASS, SIDE/REAR) WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,626.

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR GLASS MAKES LOUD SNAPPING NOISE WHEN GLASS IS LOWERED. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WILL BREAK. TOOK TO PONTIAC DEALER, AND HE REPORTS THAT I NEED A NEW "CHECK LINK" BECAUSE IT IS INTERFERING WITH THE WINDOW MECHANISM. COST IS $130 FOR PART AND 1HR LABOR TO INSTALL. FOUND ODI #PE07049 TO IDENTIFY SAME ISSUE ON SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR OF CAR. *TR

AFTER HAVING THE RECALL DONE ON MY 2003 VIBE, FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF BOLTS IN THE POWER WINDOW MECHANISM. IN AUGUST I AGAIN BEGAN EXPERIENCING LOUD CRACKING NOISES AND SCREECHING UPON OPERATION OF THE WINDOWS. I WAS TOLD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE RECALL TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY EXAMINED THE WINDOWS AND THE MECHANICS HEARD THE NOISES BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO DETERMINE A CAUSE. THEY LUBRICATED THE MECHANISM, FOR WHICH I HAD TO PAY,AND SAID I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IF I DID HAVE ANY MORE TROUBLE THE COST WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. I USED THE WINDOWS VERY LITTLE BECAUSE I HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN THE REPAIR. I BEGAN TO HEAR THE NOISES AGAIN. YESTERDAY, UPON RETURNING FROM TAKING MY MOTHER TO HER HEART SPECIALIST, I STOPPED NEAR OUR MAIL BOX. MY MOTHER OPENED THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ABOUT 2/3 OF THE WAY. AS SHE STARTED TO REACH THROUGH THE OPENING, TO THE GET THE MAIL, THE WINDOW EXPLODED. I SAY EXPLODED BECAUSE THE FORCE AT WHICH IT SHATTERED WAS SO GREAT THE IT THREW GLASS ONTO THE ROOF OF THE CAR. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT. MY MOTHER WAS COVERED IN GLASS, AS WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. GLASS ALSO HIT MY DAUGHTER WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

RECALL NOTICE FOR 2003 PONTIAC VIBE REGARDING THE BOLTS IN THE FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. CONSUMER HAS ISSUES WITH REIMBURSEMENT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BOLTS IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IN 2006. IT WAS CAUSING THE WINDOW TO STICK AND MAKING CLICKING NOISES. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL WHICH STATED REIMBURSEMENT MAY BE POSSIBLE. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER SHE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REIMBURSEMENT SINCE IT WAS ALREADY FIXED UNDER RECALL; AND GM ONLY PAYS FOR REPAIRS ONCE. *JB

WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING, MANUAL TRANSMISSION CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE JERKED TO STOP AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. MECHANIC FOUND A BROKEN TRANSMISSION DRUM REQUIRING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPAIR. *TR

WHILE ON VACATION 900+ MILES AWAY FROM HOME, MY FRIEND REACHED OVER TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE (I'VE OWNED FOR 2 YEARS) AND THE ENTIRE LATCH APPARATUS CAME OFF, LEAVING NOTHING THERE BUT A THIN BLACK CORD. I REALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS JOKING, UNTIL I GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT MYSELF AND TRIED TO BUCKLE IT. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO BUCKLE THE BELT INTO. I KNOW THAT THINGS BREAK ON AN AUTOMOBILE BUT THE SEAT BELTS ARE SOMETHING THAT YOU HOPE YOU CAN TRUST WHEN YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THEM. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM KNOWN WITH THIS BELT LATCH, AND AS A SINGLE PERSON WITH NO CHILDREN, THE PASSENGER BELT IS NOT EVEN USED FREQUENTLY. FORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DURING THIS 3,000 MILE VACATION, BUT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF A SEATBELT. I AM GETTING READY TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WILL FIX THIS. I AM SURE THEY WILL FIX IT BUT AT MY EXPENSE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. A MINIMUM CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE THAT I COULD RECEIVE A TICKET FROM POLICE FOR THE PASSENGER NOT USING THE SEATBELT AND THE WORST CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE THAT THE UNBELTED PASSENGER COULD BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS DEFECT IS WORTHY OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION! *TR

I CAME OUT ONE MORNING TO START UP MY VEHICLE, WHICH IT DID SMOOTHLY AND WITHOUT HESITATION; I THEN NOTICED THAT MY INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE BACK LIGHTING WAS OUT, THE INDICATOR NEEDLES ON MY SPEEDOMETER, FUEL METER, ETC... ARE NONE RESPONSIVE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE JUST BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE FUSE...SO LOOKED UP THE FUSE DIAGRAMS IN MY OWNERS MANUAL AND SWITCHED OUT ALL THE FUSES WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN THE ISSUE BUT TO NO SUCCESS. THE CAR RUNS PERFECTLY FINE AND IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER SYSTEM SOMEWHERE. HOWEVER, IT IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITHOUT KNOWING HOW FAST YOUR GOING AND HOW MUCH FUEL YOU HAVE. *TR

MY PONTIAC VIBE WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BECAUSE SCREWS WERE BECOMING DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR, AND BROKEN WINDOWS. THE LOCAL PONTIAC DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE SCREWS, PUT THE DOOR BACK TOGETHER, AND INFORMED ME THAT THE REGULATOR WAS BENT. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THE MAIN PROBLEM WAS THAT THE WINDOW WOULD FALL WHEN I WOULD ATTEMPT TO ROLL THE WINDOW DOWN, AND PUT GREAT PRESSURE ON THE WINDOW. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REGULATOR WAS MY PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WOULD COSTS ME $300 TO REPAIR. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS THE POTENTIAL HAZARD LEADING TO THE RECALL. I AM ASHAMED THAT GM AND THEIR DEALERS HAVE NO MORE CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS THAN THEY DEMONSTRATED TO ME. I VERY STRONGLY FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REPLACE THE REGULATOR IN THE DRIVER DOOR OF MY VIBE. TONIGHT I INADVERTENTLY PRESSED THE BUTTON THAT DOES ROLL THIS WINDOW DOWN WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND IT VERY NEARLY BROKE BECAUSE OF THE UNDUE PRESSURE EXERTED ON THE GLASS. *TR

MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WAS INVOLVED IN SAFETY RECALL 07273: "THE BOLTS IN THE FRONT DOOR THAT ATTACH THE WINDOW TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR MAY BEGIN TO LOOSEN, RESULTING IN A POPPING OR CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPERATED. THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING WINDOW OPERATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE INJURY." THE DATE ON THE RECALL NOTICE IS MAY, 2008. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS IN FACT MAKING A "POPPING" SOUND WHEN OPERATED. I FIRST SCHEDULED AN APPT. WITH THE PONTIAC DEALER (DID NOT INCLUDE NAME OF DEALER HERE, AS INSTRUCTIONS STATE NOT TO INCLUDE NAMES) ON JUNE 20, 2008. MY CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR 1 - 1 1/2 HOURS; HOWEVER, WHEN I RECEIVED IT BACK FROM THE DEALER, THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S STILL MADE THE SAME "POPPING" SOUND WHEN OPERATED. THE DEALER AGREED TO LOOK AT THE CAR AGAIN, AND I TOOK IT BACK ON JULY 22, 2008. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT TO FIX THE "POPPING" SOUND, I MUST PAY APPROXIMATELY $230 FOR A "LINK" IN THE DOOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY IN FACT DID ANYTHING AT ALL TO REPAIR MY CAR FOR THE SAFETY RECALL. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ON MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE JUMPS OUT OF POSITION WHEN THE POWER WINDOWS ARE OPERATED. I HAVE HAD THE FACTORY RECALL ON THE BOLTS ON THIS WINDOW WHICH THE DEALER DID, BUT WHEN THE DEALER GAVE ME BACK THE CAR FROM REPLACING THE BOLTS, THE WINDOW WAS WORSE AT JUMPING OUT OF THE WINDOW AND ALMOST BROKE. I CAN NOT OPERATE THE WINDOW BECAUSE IT JUMPS OUT AT AN ANGLE AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER SAID THEY THINK THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR ON THAT SIDE BROKE ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT THAT WAY WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN. IT ALSO LOOKS AS IF THE DOOR STOP MAY BE HITTING THE WINDOW WHEN THE POWER WINDOWS ARE OPERATED. THIS WINDOW HAS MADE SOME NOISES OR NOT OPERATED PROPERLY OFF AND ON SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER A COUPLE TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS OFF AND ON AT THAT TIME, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. NOW IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND SO I CAN NOT USE THE WINDOW AT ALL. THE DEALER WONT FIX THE PROBLEM AS THEY SAY THEY DO NOT CONSIDER IT AS PART OF THE RECENT RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS UNCLEAR TO ME IF THEY DID THE RECALL FIX PROPERLY OR IF THEY MADE THE PROBLEM WORSE. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED YET, BUT IF I USE THE WINDOW, SOMEONE WOULD BE. *TR

WE HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WITH THE STANDARD 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED (BY MYSELF, NOT THE DEALER). TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ROUGHLY 82,000 MILES. YES, THIS REALLY RUINED OUR CHRISTMAS IN 2006 AS IT HAPPENED ON CHRISTMAS EVE WITH MY WIFE AND (THEN) 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. YES, IT REALLY STUNK THAT IT WAS JUST ENOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY TO NOT GIVE US ANY PROTECTION. HERE'S A FUNNY THING, THOUGH, THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING. WHEN WE WENT TO GET THE CAR AFTER BEING REPAIRED (AT A LITTLE COUNTRY GARAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE) THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THE PREVIOUS MONTH WITH ANOTHER PONTIAC VIBE WITH THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. STRANGE COINCIDENCE IN A TOWN WHERE THE POPULATION IS LESS THAN 2000, I THINK. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $3000 AND STILL HAVE THE OLD ONE- THINKING THAT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A RECALL WAS PLACED ON THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW POPS WHEN GOING UP & DOWN. IT IS INTEFERING WITH THE DOOR CHECK LINK. THIS WILL LIKELY BREAK THE GLASS AT SOME POINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED IN JUNE OF 2008 ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOW ALMOST CAME OUT OF POSITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE $300 REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,534. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFOMRED. UPDATED 08/07/08

MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE (TOYOTA MATRIX SISTER VEHICLE) TRANMISSION FAILED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE OUTPUT BEARING IN MANY/ALL 2003/2004 VIBE/MATRIX VEHICLES EQUIPED WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT IS NOT A HIGH VOLUMN VEHICLE OR COMMON CONFIGURATION BUT DISCUSSIONS ON THE INTERNET LEAD ME TO BELIEVE TOYOTA AND GM ARE IGNORING A MAJOR (EXPENSIVE) VEHICLE RECALL INCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE.

2003 PONTIAC VIBE WITH A RECALL FOR POWER WINDOWS. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AS INDICATED ON THE RECALL. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE FOR 3 MORE DAYS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE WINDOW FAILURE IN NOV 2007, HOWEVER HIS CLAIM WAS DENIED, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO CHEVROLET, THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED, WERE NOT THE PARTS COVERED BY THE RECALL. *JB