Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Pontiac Vibe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
ALL 4 DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN OFF. I HAVE TO USE A PAIR OF PLIERS TO OPEN THE DOOR. IVE NOTICED ALMOST EVERY PONTIAC VIBE HAS DOOR HANDLES BROKEN OFF. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IF I WERE TO BE IN A WRECK AND BECOME UNCONSCIOUS OR TRAPPED. THERE'S NO WAY FOR ANYONE TO GET INTO THE CAR TO HELP ME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS GOING DOWN, A CLUNKING SOUND WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (H&H BUICK, 3400 S. EXPRESSWAY ST., COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA, 844-879-6715) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,500. *TT CONSUMER STATED THE PREVIOUS RECALL NOTICE WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN MAY OF 2017 BUT WINDOW PROBLEMS WERE PRESENT AFTER THAT WAS DONE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW REGULATOR BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY DRIVERS SIDE STILL CLUNKS WHEN WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WINDOW COULD BREAK AT SOME POINT, THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AND IS DANDEROUS. REPLACING THE BELTS ON THE ORIGINAL RECALL WORKED FOR A TIME BUT IT CAME BACK. I WAS TOLD A NEW REGULATOR FOR THE WINDOW WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED THE CLUNKING SOUND STILL HAPPENS. UPDATED 10/18/18*JB
08-08-2018> VEHICLE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WHEN ROLLED DOWN MAKES A LOUD POPPING NOISE. TOOK IT TO GM DEALERSHIP H&H IN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA. THEY SAID IT IS THE WINDOW REGULATOR WHICH IS WORN OUT. THE CAR HAS 95,500 MILES ON IT. IN READING OTHER OWNERS COMMENTS/COMPLAINTS THEY HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHICH WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL FOR BOLTS. IN SEVERAL SITUATIONS THE WINDOW SHATTERED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR DRIVING ON THE ROAD. I TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR AND THEY STATED IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR WHICH NEEDED REPLACED AS IT WAS WORN OUT, COST $240.00 AND TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WAS ALSO WORN BUT WAS NOT MAKING THE NOISE YET. WHEN VEHICLE GETS OUT OF REPAIR SHOP I HOPE THE PROBLEM IS CURED BUT FROM REVIEWING SIMILAR CUSTOMER COMMENTS I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN SOMETIME. I HAVE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO NHTSA WITH REFERENCE#- 1260755.
HOOD LATCH FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALLOWING THE HOOD TO OPEN AND BEND BACKWARDS, BREAKING WINDSHIELD, FULLY OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VIEW, AND DAMAGING THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE HOOD, HINGES, AND BODY PANELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OR LOCK UNLESS THE MASTER SWITCH WAS PRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN INTO DUE TO THE DOOR NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 05/20/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE DOORS OPENED AND CLOSED AUTOMATICALLY, EXCEPT THE REAR DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. UPDATED 06/01/16.*JB
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO A DR. APPT IN BOSTON FROM GLOUCESTER. THE CAR HYDROPLANED HITTING THE JERSEY BARRIER, SPINNING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET HITTING THE GUARDRAIL, AND FURTHER SPINNING TO HIT THE JERSEY BARRIER AGAIN TOTALING THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT AS MUCH AS IT IS INFO FOR TAKING US OFF YOUR RECALL LIST. WE NO LONGER OWN THE VIBE. I DO WANT TO SAY, HOWEVER, HAD MY DAUGHTER NOT BEEN IN SUCH A WELL-BUILT VEHICLE, SHE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE SURVIVED WITH JUST BRUISES WHERE THE SEATBELT HELD HER IN PLACE AND BRUISING TO HER RIGHT KNEE BECAUSE HER KNEE HIT THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH WE QUESTIONED WHY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT. THAT BEING SAID, SHE WAS RATHER HAPPY IT DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE SHE FELT SHE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE PHYSICAL ISSUES HAD IT DEPLOYED (BURNS). --- THANK YOU. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE SEAT WAS NOT BEING OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
THE RECALL IS ON THE BOLTS OF THE WINDOW AND SO AS I WAS TRYING TO GET THE WINDOW TO CLOSE IT JUST SHATTERED...THERE ARE 2 OTHER RECALLS ON IT ....THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING TO IT YET...AND AS I UNDERSTAND THEY WONT FIX THE WINDOW..CAN YOU HELP. *TR
THE DOOR STOP ON MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY 2004 VIBE GETS HIT BY THE WINDOW AND PREVENTS THE WINDOW FROM GOING DOWN ALL THE WAY. IT HAS ALSO PREVENTED ME FROM OPENING THE DOOR IF THE WINDOW IS DOWN. *TR
PLASTIC FOOTREST, FRONT FLOOR, LEFT SIDE HAS CRACKED AND BROKE FREE FROM IT'S RETAINER CLIPS TWICE. THE FIRST ONE WAS REPLACED AT 15,348 MILES ON 01/29/2007. THE SECOND OCCURANCE AT APPROX. 66400 MILES ON 01/16/2013. THIS FOOTREST HAS THE POTENTIAL TO GET JAMMED BENEATH THE CLUTCH, BRAKE, AND/OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS ONCE THE PLASTIC RETAINER CLIPS FAIL AND THE PEDAL BECOMES LOOSE ON THE FLOOR. CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE PEDAL IS NOT IMMEDIATLEY REMOVED FROM THE FLOOR. *TR
WHEN IT RAINS, IT RAINS RIGHT ONTO ME, THE DRIVER, AND CAUSES MY ATTENTION TO DIVERT FROM THE ROAD, TO KEEPING DRY. *TR
2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE FACTORY INSTALLED SUNROOF BLEW OFF THE CAR WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN. *TR
2004 PONTIAC VIBE ORIGINAL TIRES WORN OUT BY 24000 MILES, SECOND SET HAD SEVERE VIBRATION UNABLE TO FIX AND WORN OUT 38K, DEALER ALIGNED AND PUT IN SHIM, 3RD SET TIRES SAME PROBLEM SEVERE VIBRATION AND NOISE JUST UNDER 50K MILES. TIRE SHOP SAID PROB WITH CAR AND SUSPENSION, KEEPS CUPPING TIRES. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER FRONT DOOR MAKES A POPPING GRINDING NOISE WHEN YOU OPEN IT. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED BY GM OR MY DEALER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK STRAP HITTING THE DOOR GLASS/REGULATOR ASSEMBLY AND THAT THE CHECK STRAP SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH A NEW DESIGN. THEY HAD MY ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER ON FILE. WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER FOR THE BOLTS AND WINDOW REGULATOR, I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THE CHECK STRAP. THE DEALER SAID THE TRACK WAS BENT AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $600. TO REPAIR. I FEEL I'M GETTING A MAJOR SNOW JOB REGARDING THE DAMAGE TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR AND THE BENT TRACK. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER HEADLINER LEAKED WATER ONTO SEAT AND DOOR ARM REST AFTER EXTENDED PERIOD OF RAIN. SAME PROBLEM HAD PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED ON DRIVERS SIDE, DRIPPING ON DRIVER,WHICH BECAME A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS AN ELECTRIC SUNROOF. DRAINS WERE NOT VISIBLY PLUGGED OR JAMMED. *TR
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. I CAME ACROSS AN ARTICLE IN THE EL PASO TIMES FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REGARDING THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS SHATTERING WHEN IT IS BEING RAISED AND LOWERED. I DID HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO ME IN MY PONTIAC VIBE. THE WINDOW SHATTERED AS I WAS RAISING IT. I WENT INTO THE PONTIAC DEALER AND THEY HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING THE PARTS THEY NEEDED TO REPAIR THE WINDOW, IT TOOK THEM ALMOST A WEEK TO HAVE MY CAR READY. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR IT WAS STILL NOT FIXED CORRECTLY. THEY TOOK THE CAR BACK INTO THE GARAGE WHILE I WAITED AND MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO IT AND WHEN THEY BROUGHT THE CAR OUT TO ME THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS THE BEST THEY COULD DO. AIR COMES THROUGH THE WINDOW BECAUSE IT IS NOT SEALED CORRECTLY. THEY SAID THE WINDOW WAS SECURE AND SHOULD NOT SHATTER AGAIN.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD MANY DIFFERENT PROBLEMS AND SAFETY DEFECTS. THE FIRST PROBLEM STARTED JUST SEVEN DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. WHILE PRESSING ON THE BRAKES THEY SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE FALLING APART. THE NEXT PROBLEM CONCERNED THE ENGINE. AT TIMES THERE WAS NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VERY BADLY. ALSO, THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE THIRD PROBLEM INVOLVED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE RADIO MADE A CRACKING SOUND, AND THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASHED/TURNED OFF AND ON. DUE TO THE LACK OF ILLUMINATION, AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS VERY HARD TO SEE. WHEN THE POWER WINDOWS WERE ROLLED UP ONE CAN HEAR A BUZZING SOUND .WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT THE KEYLESS ENTRY OPENED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS 30 FEET. AWAY. ALSO, THE SMELLS OF RAW GAS FUMES WERE COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THE FIREWALL SHIELD SCREWS WERE LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND WAS CURRENTLY IN ARBITRATION. *AK
2004 PONTIAC VIBE THE RUBBER STRIPING AND MOLDING ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR KEEPS SPLITTING AND WEARING OUT EVERY 3500 MILES. ALSO THERE ARE 2 SPOTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR WHERE THE PAINT IS GONE IN 2 EXACT ROUND SPOTS FROM THE DOOR VIBRATING. I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE OTHER THEN THE DEALER THAT HIS COULD BE CAUSED BY ONE OF TWO THINGS. EITHER THE BODY IS FLEXING OR THERE IS A WELD MISSING ON THE UNIBODY. THE FLEXING WOULD BE BECAUSE OF THE SUNROOF. THEY (THE FACTORY) REMOVES A BEAM TO PUT THE SUNROOF IN AND THIS CAUSES A STRUCTURE PROBLEM WHICH IS CAUSING THE POSSIBLE FLEXING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOLDING ONCE AND GM IS REFUSING TO REPLACE IT GAIN. THEY HAD AN ENGINEER PUT THE VEHICLE ON A FRAME MACHINE TO SEE IF IT IS STRAIGHT. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY AND DEFECT ISSUE AND SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. *AK
THE PAINT IS VERY EASILY CHIPPING AND IT'S PITTING IN THE FRONT. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PAINT CHIPS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHIPPING SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW IN EARLY 2004. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. I BELIEVE THE PAINT IS BAD OR THE CLEAR COAT IS WAY TO THIN. THE CAR ALREADY NEEDS TO BE REPAINTED AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS. *JB
PONTIAC VIBE 2004, BODY SEEMS TO BE HIGHER ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN VIEWING IT FROM THE REAR. *BF *JB
SPOTS/DISTORTION ON DASH AND GETTING WORSE. *JB
INSULATION BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER COMMING UNGLUED AND LAYING ON HEADLINER. *JB
2004 PONTIAC VIBE, 3.000 PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF AND BUBBLING. *AK
NEW CAR HAS VERY BAD PAINT PROBLEMS - CHIPS AND CRAZING - ONLY 12,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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