2003 Pontiac Vibe Owner Complaints

The 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe was manufactured by Toyota and is for all intent and purposes is a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The 2003-04 Pontiac Vibe should be included in the "Do not drive" advisory issued by Toyota 20 Jan 30th 2024. Only the body is different than the Toyota Matrix and everything internal is the same. Please do not let this model fall through the cracks. January 30, 2024, Toyota issued a "do not drive" advisory for certain 2003–2005 car models due to concerns about their Takata airbags: 2003–2004 Corolla 2003–2004 Corolla Matrix 2004–2005 RAV4 The company says the Corolla and Matrix models are under a separate recall because their airbags can be deployed without a crash. The Takata air bag inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel. Customers can check if their Toyota has a recall at www.toyota.com/recall or by contacting the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

NHTSA ID

11568755

Incident

Jan 30, 2024

BUCKLE CAME UNLATCHED AND LATCH WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL DRIVER AND PASSENGER

NHTSA ID

11492395

Incident

Sep 17, 2022

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

I HAVE A2003 PONTIAC VIBE WHICH HAD ATAKATA RECALL. IN JANUARY 2020, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER CALLED"QUALITY BUICK GMC OF ENGLEWOOD" LOCATED AT"406 GRAND AVE ENGLEWOOD NJ 07631 US" TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. SINCE THE DAY OF THE REPAIR THE LID ON TOP LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD POPPEDUP AND DID NOT CLOSE FULLY. THAT IS WHERE THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG IN THE UPPER LEFT OF THE DASHBOARD IS LOCATED.I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE THAT COULD BE IGNORED. THE CAR STARTEDMAKING INTERMITTENTNOISES SIMILAR TO A CLOCK SOUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I HAVE RARELY DRIVEN THE CAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC SINCE THE REPAIR WAS DONE. BUT RECENTLY THE NOISE HAS BECOME STEADY. I HAD MY MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN TOYOTA CARS CHECK THE CAR IN APRIL 2021. MY MECHANIC HAPPENS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. HE SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG REPAIR DONE ON THE CAR IN 2020 IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THAT IS TO SAY MY CAR WAS MESSED UP AS A RESULT OF THIS SO CALLED RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER NOW REFUSES TO CHECK THE CAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ID

11413704

Incident

Jan 2, 2020

Mileage

27,000 mi

DASH LIGHTS GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME

NHTSA ID

11338299

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

BLOWER MOTOR NOT CLOSING OR OPENING ALL THE WAY MAKES NOISE GOES AWAY WHEN RECIRCULATION IS ENGAUGED COMES RIGHT BACK WHEN TURNED OFF

NHTSA ID

11338298

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

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

REFERENCE GM RECALL NO. 07273: WINDOW REGULATOR BOLTS: RECALL REPAIR DONE IN 2008, RECALL WORK FAILED IN 2016 AND $311 WAS SPENT ON WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY AND LABOR. 2019/2020 THE REGULATOR IS FAILING AGAIN. WINDOW IS RATTLING, SLOW TO MOVE UP AND DOWN, INCLUDING LOUD SCRAPING NOISES. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL MODES OF MOVEMENT AND NON-MOVEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11297006

Incident

Jun 3, 2008

Mileage

111,324 mi

BUCKLE CAME UNLATCHED AND LATCH WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL

NHTSA ID

11288728

Incident

Dec 12, 2019

Mileage

287,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL TWO TIMES TRIED TO GET THIS RECALL FIXED FOR AIR BAGS, AS MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. BEEN SCREWED AROUND FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WASTED SO MUCH TIME ON THE PHONE AND TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. BOTH TIMES THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE RECALL SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT PART. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL IS A FAKE AND GM IS GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS ONLY TO APPEASE THE NHTSA, THE REALITY IS VEHICLES ARE NOT BEING FIXED AS PROMISED! SO DISAPPOINTED.

NHTSA ID

11256456

Incident

Sep 13, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER BEING REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS). GARBER BUICK (5925 STATE ST, SAGINAW, MI 48603, (989) 497-4444) PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. TWENTY DAYS LATER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER A THIRD TIME WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) STEERING WHEEL MODULE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,908.

NHTSA ID

11253230

Incident

Mar 26, 2019

Mileage

156,908 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. HOLIDAY AUTOMOTIVE (321 N ROLLING MEADOWS DR, FOND DU LAC, WI 54937) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11241709

Incident

Dec 12, 2018

TAKATA RECALL I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A TAKATA RECALL. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORK THEY DID. THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY DIDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST SAID IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT, BUT I COULD PAY TO HAVE THEM HOOK UP THEIR COMPUTER TO DIAGNOSE THE CODE. I DIAGNOSED THE CODE MYSELF AND IT IS FOR AN "AIRBAG STAGE 2- OPEN CIRCUIT." I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER (AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER - BILL PIERRE CHEVROLET IN SEATTLE) WORKED ON MY AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THEIR WORK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM FAULT THAT POPPED UP AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. THEY DIDN'T DIAGNOSE THE CODE, THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY JUST DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT, AND TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED OR EVEN LOOKED AT.

NHTSA ID

11218192

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. WALSER BUICK (2775 LONG LAKE RD, ROSEVILLE, MN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

11187036

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOWER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW, IT SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING GLASS. THE SAME NOISE OCCURRING WHEN RAISING THE WINDOW BACK UP. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDOW SWITCH DISCONNECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5058739349. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.

NHTSA ID

11180124

Incident

Nov 17, 2018

Mileage

208,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR AIR BAG BEING FAULTY; HOWEVER HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION WHEN OR WHERE TO HAVE IT REPLACED OR ANY MONETARY COMPENSATION, CAR RENTAL AND ALL THAT IS LISTED ON THE CLASS ACTION FILED?

NHTSA ID

11111243

Incident

Sep 25, 2017

I RECENTLY FOUND OUT FROM OTHER PONTIAC VIBE AND TOYOTA MATRIX OWNERS THAT THE ODOMETER STOPS RECORDING AT 299,999 MILES...THIS WAS A FACTORY GOOF AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO GET WITH THEIR MANUFACTURER ABOUT IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED/ODOMETER REFLASHED AT OWNERS EXPENSE...WE KNOW THAT THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING DRIVEN TODAY, THEIR ODOMETER CAN MAX OUT AT 999,999 MILES...IN MOST TO ALL STATES, IT IS ILLEGAL TO ALTER THE ODOMETER IN ANY WAY AND SHOULD HAVE CORRECT MILEAGE STATED EVERY TIME WE RENEW OUR REGISTRATION, BUT HOW CAN WE WHEN THEIR IS STILL ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, BUT CANNOT TRULY ADDRESS THEIR CORRECT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE ODOMETER INCORRECTLY....PLEASE OPEN A CASE AND CONSIDER A RECALL TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER FIX THEIR PROBLEM....THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11079968

Incident

Mar 19, 2003

TAKATA RECALL; I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION DIRECTING ME TO GO TO KOOL CHEVROLET FOR REPAIRS. PARTS WERE ORDERED AND A SERVICE PERSON CALLED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. THE SERVICE MANAGER JASON IMMEDIATELY CALLED ME TO SAY THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE APPOINTMENT AND WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT AT KOOL TOYOTA NEXT DOOR RELATING TO INCOMPETENT WORK PERFORMED ON MY 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 TWO YEARS AGO. ARE TOYOTA AND GM NOW ONE AND THE SAME? WHY SOLICIT MY BUSINESS AND THEN REFUSE TO DO IT AFTER ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE? CAN A GM DEALER "BLACKBALL" A CONSUMER TRYING TO COMPLETE A LIFE THREATENING RECALL REPAIR? I WILL CONTEST IN ADVANCE ANY EXCUSE THAT KOOL CHEVROLET COMES UP WITH THAT THEY SAY JUSTIFIES THEIR INACTION TO PERFORM THIS LIFE THREATENING RECALL REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

11051091

Incident

Nov 28, 2017

Mileage

161,500 mi

TAKATA RECALL. BEEN WAITING FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN FROM DEALERSHIP..BACKORDER.

NHTSA ID

11045279

Incident

Jul 18, 2017

I JUST WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS CAR WAS TRADED IN AT BASIL GM IN FREDONIA NYY THIS WAS IN AUG. 2015. I APPROACHED THEM BUT I STILL KEEP GETTING THESE RECALLS.

NHTSA ID

11035098

Incident

Aug 19, 2015

"TAKATA RECALL", I HAVE HAD MY AIRBAGS REPLACED PER TAKATA REQUEST HOWEVER THE AIRBAG INDICATOR IS STILL INDICATING A PROBLEM; IS IT SAFE OR NOT, THE MECHANICS HAVE NO ANSWER FOR ME?

NHTSA ID

11024639

Incident

Sep 20, 2017

TAKATA RECALL-HAD THE CARE SERVICED FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL. TIME HAS PASSED; NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME,

NHTSA ID

11022659

Incident

Jul 11, 2017

Mileage

299,999 mi

I PURCHASED THIS 2003 PONTIAC VIBE FOR $4000 ON 7/27/2013 FROM 49TH STREET AUTO SALES & REPAIR. THIS CAR HAD INCORRECT ENGINE INSTALLED. VIN: [XXX] WAS INSTALLED WHEN I PURCHASED. GM DEALER VERIFIED THE ENGINE VIN # IS FROM A 2007 PONTIAC VIBE 4 CYL 1.8 L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ENGINE. NOT A 16 VALVE 6 SPEED VEHICLE. THEREFORE THERMOSTAT SENSOR CAN'T BE ATTACHED, TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR RADIATOR CAN'T BE ATTACHED, ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN DISABLED AND TRANSMISSION ERRORS CAN'T BE CORRECTED. WARNING ASK OWNER WHY HE THIS VEHICLE WAS ADVERTISED TO HAVE A 4 CYLINDER TOYOTA CELICA GT-S MOTOR INSTALLED. PER MECHANIC ([XXX]) INSPECTION MY SON WAS ASSURED BY HIM IT ONLY HAD 900 MILES ON IT. IT DID NOT AFTER $1241.20 IN REPAIRS JUST TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE AXLE SHAFT FELL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT 70 MPH. I'M FROM MICHIGAN AND DROVE THIS DEATH TRAP OF A CAR HOME WITH INTENSE SHAKING ON FRONT RIGHT BECAUSE AXLE WASN'T EVEN ATTACHED. MY MECHANIC HAD TO WELD THE AXLE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM GM STATING THIS ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED INTO THIS VEHICLE. VIDEO FROM MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED ENGINE VIN DETAILING ALL PROBLEMS. I RECEIVED A REFUND FROM THIS DEALER THROUGH MEDIATION WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY OF PINELLAS COUNTY. THIS DEALER IS TRYING TO SELL THIS DANGEROUS VEHICLE AGAIN! .49THSTREETAUTOSALES.COM/VIEW/1427/TAN-2003-PONTIAC-VIBE-IN-CLEARWATER-FL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

11000966

Incident

Jul 27, 2013

Mileage

144,660 mi

THIS VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN DECEMBER OF 2009. IT WAS TOTALED. I BROKE MY STERNUM BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY. THIS WAS BEFORE THE RECALL. IT WAS ON BLACK ICE AND I HIT THE MERIDIAN STRIP TWICE AND SPUN OUT, DID NOT HIT ANY OTHER VEHICLES. IT IS TOO LATE NOW TO DO ANYTHING, BUT I WANTED TO STOP GETTING RECALL NOTICES. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

10985708

Incident

Dec 19, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10983062

Incident

Feb 9, 2015