2003 Pontiac Vibe Body & structure Problems

The secondary safety hood latch failed causing the hood to fly up and shatter the windshield while also obstructing visibility on the road. The complete obstruction of the windshield presented a dangerous situation putting myself and others at risk of death of severe injury. In addition this caused glass shards to enter the driver/passenger compartment if the vehical further presenting risk to the occupants. The secondary hood latch mechanism appears to be extremely rusted and stuck in the "open" position. I am aware the NHTSA has issued a recall for a similar defect in the past (Nissan affecting 1.9 million vehicles).

NHTSA ID

11467179

Incident

May 27, 2022

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPS WHEN GOING DOWN AIR RECIRCULATION LOWER MOTOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY DOES THIS ALL THE TIME ITSEEMS LIKE THE WINDOW IS GOING TO SHATTER

NHTSA ID

11338296

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

Mileage

104,000 mi

TOOK MY CAR FOR THREE RECALLS AT HERB CHAMBERS IN WARWICK THEY KEPT ME THERE FOR HOURS IN DID NONE OF THEM THEN TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL THE NEXT DAY AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK.

NHTSA ID

10949778

Incident

Jan 30, 2017

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE FRONT HOOD AND THE WHOLE ROOF OF MY CAR HAS ALL OF IT'S PAINT ALMOST GONE.THE REST OF THE CARS PAINT IS GOOD BUT NOT THE FRONT HOOD AND WHOLE ROOF. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ID

10736174

Incident

Jul 31, 2012

I DROVE ON A MAIN HWY IN A MORE REMOTE LOCATION AT ABOUT 100KM WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN I HEARD A BIG BANG. AFTER COLLECTING MYSELF I REALIZED I COULD NOT SEE FORWARD AT ALL THE BACK MIRROR WAS KNOCKED OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE MIRRORS WHERE MARGINALLY USABLE DUE TO TOO MUCH WATER AND SALT ON THE ROADS. WE BARELY MISSED A BIG TRUCK THAT WAS ONCOMING. I MANAGED TO PULL PARTIALLY OFF THE ROAD TO THEN PULL DOWN THE HOOD SO I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS GOING AFTER WHICH I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. A NICE PERSON PULLED OVER AND TIED DOWN THE HOOD SO WE COULD DRIVE TO THE NEXT CITY TO CALL CAA AND NOT GET STUCK ON THE HWY IN THE DARK, A SAFER PLACE TO BE. WE MADE IT, BUT WE COULD HAVE HIT THE ONCOMING TRUCK JUST AS EASILY, WE CAME REALLY CLOSE TO HITTING HIM HEAD ON JUDGING BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. THIS IS A POSSIBLY DEADLY FLAW IN THE HOOD CLOSING MECHANISM I BELIEVE THAT WILL SOME DAY COST SOME PERSON THERE LIVE!! WE WHERE LUCKY. IN THE END THE HOOD IS TOAST, THE WINDSHIELD IS FRIED AND THE ROOF IS DENTED, WE ALSO NOW HAVE A KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH WAS NOT PRESENT BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10664096

Incident

Dec 12, 2014

Mileage

269,450 mi

INITIAL RECALL (#08V162000) FOR LOOSE WINDOW BOLTS CONDUCTED IN 2008. RECENTLY NOTICED DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WINDOW AGAIN LOOSE AND RATTLING WHEN WINDOW IS PART WAY DOWN (AS BEFORE WITH ORIGINAL RECALL IN 2008). CONCERN IS THE WINDOW GLASS COULD BECOME DISENGAGED FROM LIFTING TRACK AND SHATTER RESULTING IN DISTRACTING THE DRIVER AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10638298

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

115,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10379872

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

79,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10235291

Incident

Jul 22, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

RECALL ON PONTIAC VIBE # 07273A, MAY 28, 2008 I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE, WHICH HAS THE ABOVE RECALL. THE RECALL CONSISTS OF DEFECTIVE BOLTS, WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT DOOR WINDOWS TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THE RECALL STATES THAT THE DEFECTIVE BOLTS COULD LOOSEN AND THE WINDOW MAY BECOME LOOSE AND SHATTER. THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PROBLEM OCCURRED TO MY VIBE JANUARY 8, 2008, BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. THE GLASS DID DROP OUT OF THE TRACK AND I BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE WINDOW GLASS WAS SCRATCHED WHEN THE WINDOW FELL FROM THE TRACK. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BUT THE GLASS WAS NOT COVERED. IN EARLY JUNE I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTE ON THE VIBE DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE WORK COMPLETED. I ADVISED THE SERVICE CONSULTANT OF THE PREVIOUS REPAIR AND SHOWED HIM THE SCRATCH IN THE GLASS. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT THINK GM WOULD PAY FOR THE GLASS BUT WOULD ASK THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE MANAGER STATED I WOULD HAVE TO CALL PONTIAC TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE GLASS. I CALLED PONTIAC (800-620-7668) AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER OF (71-637104061). AFTER SPEAKING WITH FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE OVER THE COURSE OF SEVEN DAYS I WAS ADVISED THAT GM WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WINDOW BECAUSE IT DID NOT SHATTER. I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTS AND REPAIR ORDERS ON REQUEST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232131

Incident

Jun 24, 2008

Mileage

46,263 mi

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BECAME STUCK AND SHATTERED WHEN TRYING TO GET IT BACK INTO POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218995

Incident

Feb 15, 2008

I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT. THERE IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE VISIBILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DURING SUNNY TIMES WEARING SUNGLASSES AND DURING MORNING AND EVENING HOURS WHEN THE LIGHT SENSOR TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND DIMS THE PANEL LIGHTS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO READ READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION SUCH AS SPEED! I CAN'T AVOID DRIVING MY CAR IN CERTAIN LIGHTNING CONDITIONS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162123

Incident

Aug 30, 2003

I OWN A PONTIAC VIBE, PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO READ THE RED LIGHTED INSTRUMENT PANEL ON SUNNY DAYS. THE SPEEDOMETER NUMBERS AND ODOMETER READINGS ARE SOMETIMES WASHED OUT ON SUNNY DAYS. I RECENTLY TOOK A FOUR THOUSAND MILE TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST, AND WAS VERY CONCERNED OVER MY INABILITY AT TIMES TO READ HOW FAST I WAS GOING ON THE SPEEDOMETER, AND HOW FAR I WAS FROM MY DESTINATION DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY READING THE ODOMETER. TRYING TO READ THIS INFORMATION GOING AT SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES AN HOUR WAS VERY NERVE-WRACKING AND DANGEROUS. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT MY LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO INCREASE THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ADDING, NOBODY ELSE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. I HAVE SEEN, HOWEVER ON ONE WEBSITE, SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TROUBLESOME DASHBOARD DESIGN. I AM CURRENTLY STUCK WITH THE VEHICLE AND AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. IT IS A NICE CAR, BUT PONTIAC NEED TO REDESIGN THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IT IS THE MOST UNUSUAL, AND UNSATISFACTORY INSTRUMENTATION I HAVE SEEN ON A CAR, AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 56 YEARS. BY THE WAY, I PASS MY ILLINOIS DRIVER'S LICENSE VISION TEST WITHOUT THE NEED OF GLASSES. THANKS FOR READING THIS. SINCERELY:*JB

NHTSA ID

10158738

Incident

May 30, 2006

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS. THE GAUGES WERE DIGITAL AND UNABLE TO BE READ. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE SINCE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *JB UPDATED 2/28/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10148010

Incident

Jan 18, 2006

Mileage

17,700 mi

INSTRUMENT PANEL CHROME PLATING IMPAIRS VISIBILITY WHEN SUN REFLECTS OFF IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10072279

Incident

May 6, 2004

Mileage

605 mi

THE WINDOWS DIDN'T "WIPE" CLEAN OF THE RAIN DROPS WHEN THE CONSUMER ROLLED THEM DOWN. *PH THE RUBBER WINDOW GUARDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW DID NOT WIPE THE WINDOW WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. THIS CONDITION CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY OUT OF ALL FOUR WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL COVERED UNDER IT'S 36000 MILE TWO YEAR WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10064986

WHILE DRIVING SUN GLARES ON THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER CONTROLS ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10057493

Mileage

2 mi

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS UNREADABLE IN DAYLIGHT WHILE WEARING SUNGLASSES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10056421

Incident

Feb 2, 2003

DASH LIGHTING IS VERY HARD TO SEE DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS. *PH *NM

NHTSA ID

10056016

Incident

Dec 1, 2002

Mileage

40,444 mi

THEY MADE THE 2003 VIBE WITH SEE THROUGH PLASTIC MOLDING, YOU CANT SEE IT UNLESS YOU ARE UP CLOSE, ANY SMALL THING THAT HITS IT IT DAMAGES THE PLASTIC AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS CHIPPED SEVERELY...GM WILL NOT HONOR THE BUMBER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FOR THAT SHE SAID THATS WHAT ITS THERE TO DO...HOW CAN IT PROTECT THE PAINT IF IT CANT PROTECT ITS SELF....ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. RON HERNANDEZ

NHTSA ID

10070565

Incident

Jul 15, 2003

Mileage

5,400 mi

2003 PONTIAC VIBER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSATATE TODAY AT 70 MPH NO OVER HANGING OBJECTS, NO CARS INSIGHT, SUNROOF EXPLODES, SHOWERING GLASS ON US, AND STARTLING US WITH LOUD NOSIE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS.*AK THANKS

NHTSA ID

10051559

Incident

Jan 2, 2004

Mileage

21,875 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SUN SHINE REFLECTED ON THE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. *AK IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, ENGINE MONITOR GAUGES, AND THE RADIO WERE NOT VISIBLE DUE TO THE DESIGN AND RED ILLUMINATION. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10034473

THE GLARE FROM THE SUN CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY OF THE NUMBERS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10039825

VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO RUST ON AND AROUND THE ''VIBE'' EMBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10013908

Incident

Apr 4, 2003

I NOTICED MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HANDLE WELL AT ALL IN SNOWY WEATHER. IN 4 INCHES OF SNOW I GOT STUCK THREE TIMES AND FINALLY JUST HAD TO STAY HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THIS AND IT WAS STATED TO ME THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED BY THIS, IF I HAD KNOWN THE VEHICLE HANDLES SO POORLY I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED IT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10010242

Incident

Mar 1, 2003

Mileage

1,100 mi