2004 Pontiac Vibe Owner Complaints

The contact owned a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the wife was driving approximately 70 MPH when suddenly the vehicle erroneously turned to the right and drove across multiple lanes of traffic before crashing into a curb and flipping over, landing back on its wheels and stopping. The Highway Patrol was called to the scene. The wife was unable to exit the vehicle due to the damage to the front driver's door from the crash. They had to be forcefully opened by the emergency personnel. During the incident, the wife sustained bruising to both hands while attempting to forcefully turn the steering wheel and regain control of the vehicle. The wife was transported to the hospital and treated. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away and later deemed destroyed by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11722880

Incident

Feb 20, 2026

Mileage

128,000 mi

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11609403

Incident

Jun 5, 2024

As there is a NHTSA recall notice on the 2004 Toyota Matrix for a Takata air bag risk of explosion with shrapnel, should there also be a similar notice on the 2004 Pontiac Vibe, which is practically the same vehicle and was manufactured at the same plant in CA?

NHTSA ID

11568773

Incident

Jan 30, 2024

The contact’s father owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that after her father started the vehicle, the air bag inadvertently deployed without warning. As a result, the contact’s father sustained a mild concussion, and burns to the left and right arms that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11548503

Incident

Oct 5, 2023

Mileage

100,000 mi

p 185/75r15 (?) copy of email sent to Kost Tires Pa, BBB, State Attorney General's office: Sirs, Please forward to your corporate office. Two months ago, I replaced my entire front end (hubs, bearings, lower ball joints and outer ties rod ends) because the excessive noise these tires generated sounded a lot like bad bearings. The bearings themselves turned out to be fine. This tire blew out on me at 65-70 mph yesterday and almost killed me - the other front tire was almost just as bad. This manufacturer's quality control department should be notified asap, or steps should be taken to recall any of this brand that you've sold in order to limit your company's liability in case of an accidental death as a result of inadequate or insufficient safety standards. Again, this is after 4K miles on a "Kendra" tire rated for 60K - manufactured in Malaysia, Thailand or Vietnam (?). Thank you, [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11544372

Incident

Sep 12, 2023

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11529641

Incident

Jun 29, 2023

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE BAKER CADILLAC OF CHARLESTON DEALER, LOCATED AT 1621 SAVANNAH HWY, CHARLESTON, SC 29407) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11306741

Incident

Dec 12, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE JOHN HIESTER CHEVROLET DEALER (919-552-4942, LOCATED AT 3100 N MAIN ST, FUQUAY-VARINA, NC 27526) WHERE THE RECALLS WERE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG 'WAS HIGH PRESSURED' AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11301351

Incident

Jan 21, 2020

THIS VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS WERE NOT PROPERLY DEPLOYED IN THE FATAL ACCIDENT TOTALLING THE CAR, AND MY INJURIES WERE MORE PRONOUNCED.

NHTSA ID

11288544

Incident

Dec 13, 2011

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICES FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11280172

Incident

Nov 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING WITH THE REAR DEFROSTER ACTIVATED, THE REAR HATCH WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUPIENT BUICK/GMC (7100 WAYZATA BLVD, GOLDEN VALLEY, MN 55426) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5481767211. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.

NHTSA ID

11258569

Incident

Sep 10, 2019

Mileage

210,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 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. LINDSAY BUICK GMC (250 W SHIRLEY AVE, WARRENTON, VA 20186, (540) 987-2082) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE; HOWEVER, NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11222472

Incident

Dec 18, 2018

TAKATA RECALL. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO UPDATE INFO AT GM 'UPDATE YOUR INFO ' PAGE ON WEBSITE FAIL, CLAIMING PIN AND NAME ENTERED PROPERLY 'DOES NOT EXIST'. ATTEMPTS TO REPORT ARE PER THE INSTRUCTIONS ON MAILER FROM GM. I CALLED GM, TOLD ME TO GO TO WEBSITE. CALLED DEALER, TOLD ME TO CALL GM. ENDLESS DYSFUNCTIONAL LOOP. I SOLD THE SUBJECT VEHICLE TO WOBURN TOYOTA IN WOBURN, MA 3 YEARS AGO. OBVIOUSLY GM FAILS TO UPDATE OWNERSHIP SEARCHES, FAILS TO OPERATE REPORTING MECHANISMS PROPERLY (SUBJECT WEBSITE AND PHONE SERVICE).

NHTSA ID

11210526

Incident

May 28, 2019

TOOK MY CAR TO KENNY ROSS IN NORTH HUNTINGDON, PENNSYLVANIA 5 YEARS AGO TO HAVE THE RECALLS DONE THEY HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS NEVER CALLED SAYING THE PARTS WHERE IN CALLED SEVERAL TIMES SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KENNY ROSS CHEVY DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY 4/30/2019 THEY SAID THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AGAIN. THEY CALLED A FEW DAYS LATER SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIX THE SAFETY RECALL ON MY CAR CAUSE OF IT BEING AN OLDER CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS WRONG IT IS A SAFETY RECALL THAT THEY REFUSE TO FIX CAUSE IT'S OLDER THE CAR IS STILL IN GOOD CONDITION LOWER MILES AND THEY WON'T FIX IT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO RIDE ALL OVER THE STATE TO FIND A DEALERSHIP TO FIX IT THEY CARRY THE GM NAME THE ARE SUPPOSEDLY A CERTIFIED SERVICE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX A SAFETY RECALL THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 5 YEARS I THINK THEY NEED TO BE SHUT DOWN AND NOT CARRY THE GM NAME TOTALLY RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA ID

11205615

Incident

Apr 30, 2019

Mileage

81,000 mi

I AM A 100% DISABLE SERVICE-CONNECTED VIETNAM VETERAN WITH A SER-CONNECTED NERVOUS CONDITION, AND GMC INCLUDING THE CEO HAS CAUSE NEGLIGENT INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS DURING MY DEMAND FOR THEM TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS! GMC HAS BEEN, WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE INTENTIONALLY & CRIMINALLY WITH-HOLDING DEMANDED INFORMATION THAT I REQUEST BY 10S + 10S EMAILS REQUESTED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY LIVES, TO REPLY TO THE QUESTION DOES MY CAR NOW HAVE A DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG THAT CONTAIN AMMONIUM NITRATE WITH OR WITHOUT A DRYING AGENT! IN AN EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM [email protected] GENERAL MOTORS RECEIVED THE LETTER YOU SENT OUR CEO DATED FEBRUARY 1, 2019, AS WELL AS THE EMAILS YOU HAVE SENT THIS WEEK. I AM RESPONDING ON HER BEHALF. --IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU CLAIM TO HAVE SUSTAINED EMOTIONAL DISTRESS PRESENTING YOUR VEHICLE FOR AIRBAG-RELATED SERVICE AT TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. ACCORDING TO YOUR LETTER, YOU HAD A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE AT BONES TOYOTA, FOLLOWED BY A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE AT WHITE MOTORS. BASED UPON THESE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES, YOU EXPRESSED CONCERN FOR YOUR SAFETY AND STATED YOUR INTENTION TO CONTACT ATTORNEYS ABOUT REPRESENTING YOU IN A LAWSUIT, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. I WAS TOLD AT WHITE MOTORS GMC AND GMC THAT DID NOT AND WOULD REPORT MY CAR TO THE NHTSA, FOR ITS FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH WHERE THE IGNITION COMES OUT WHILE DRIVING AND IGNITION KEY DOES NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR OR HATCH, CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION, SUCH AS IN THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE IN WHICH GMC WAS SEP 20, 2018 ... A U.S. JUDGE HAS DISMISSED A GM IGNITION SWITCH CRIMINAL CASE AFTER ... SAFETY OF ITS VEHICLES, LEADING TO 124 DEATHS FROM A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.!

NHTSA ID

11181623

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE THAT WAS PART OF TWO TAKATA RECALLS, ONE WHICH WAS DONE BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. RECENTLY AFTER THE GM DEALERSHIP WORKED ON IT AND REPLACED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG ON THE VEHICLE, THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE TACHOMETER STARTED GLOWING AND HAS GLOWED SINCE. I HAVE ANOTHER 2005 VIBE THAT HAS A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT I JUST REPORTED. GM AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THIS LIGHT WAS TRIGGERED AFTER THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHY WOULDN'T THIS BE COVERED AND FIXED IF DURING THE RECALL? INSTEAD GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIP SAY THAT IT ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND THEIR WOULD BE A DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE OF $99 PLUS A COST TO FIX THE ISSUE. SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WAS CAUSED BY THE RECALL WORK.

NHTSA ID

11181427

Incident

Feb 19, 2019

Mileage

156,026 mi

MY GMC FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION SWITCH KEY COMES OUT WHILE DRIVING! MY GMC FACTORY INSTALLED IGNITION SWITCH KEY DOES NOT OPEN THE DOOR OR HATCH THAT COULD PLACE MY FAMILY IN A DANGEROUS DEADLY SITUATION IN HAVE NEEDED TO GET IN MY CAR TO ESCAPE!

NHTSA ID

11180886

Incident

Feb 14, 2019

Mileage

35 mi

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, TRANSMISSION STOPPER WORKING AROUND 80K, MULTIPLE REPORTS OF ISSUES FOUND FROM THE SAME VEHICLE MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11179866

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

80,500 mi

TAKATA AIRBAG. I TOOK MY 2004 PONTIAC VIBE TO CAPITOL CHEV IN AUSTIN, TX TO HAVE THE AIRBAGS REPLACED IAC WITH THE RECALL. WHEN I GOT IT BACK, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADJUSTOR AND HE SAID IT CAME IN THAT WAY. WELL, I CONTACT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THE CAR HAS VERY BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR THE AIRBAGS HAVE EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS TILL NOW. I ADVISED THEM I CAN PROVE IT AS THE CAR WAS SERVICED A MONTH PRIOR BY FIRESTONE. WELL THEY SAID THEY WILL CHARGE ME $75.00 TO DO A CHECK AND I SAID NO. FINALLY THEY DECIDED TO LOOK AT IT AGAIN. WELL, THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE ADJUSTOR SAID THE AIRBAG AND MODULE IS NOT CONNECTING TO THE CAR COMPUTER TO REPORT IT READY, ARMED, AND ON STAND BY. THEY FOUND SOME CORROSION ON SEVERAL PLUGS BUT THAT DID NOT CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM. WELL NOW THEY WANT 750.00 TO TEST THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DID NOT START UNTIL I TOOK IT IN FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL. I GOOGLE GM RECALL AND IT APPEARS THEY ARE ONLY COVERING THE AIRBAGS AND MODULES, NOTHING AFTER THAT IF ANY PROBLEM ARISES FROM THE INCOMPABILITY OF NEW PARTS INTERFACING WITH OLD COMPUTERS. SO I PICKED UP THE CAR AND PARKED IT. SO MUCH FOR GM DOING THE RIGHT THING.

NHTSA ID

11171710

Incident

Jan 3, 2019

Mileage

188,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11144937

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

195,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11120145

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

89,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE WHEN USING THE POWER SWITCH TO LOWER IT WITH THE DRIVER DOOR CLOSED. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BOTH DURING DRIVING AND WHILE IN PARK. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT RISE TO THE CLOSED POSITION, IT IS ALL THE WAY DOWN. WHEN DEPRESSING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCH TO RAISE THE WINDOW THE MOTOR OF THE POWER WINDOW CAN BE HEARD RUNNING, WHILE THE WINDOW ITSELF REMAINS IN THE DOWN POSITION. AN EXAMINATION OF THE POWER WINDOW SYSTEM CONCLUDED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR IN PLACE HAD BECOME LOOSE, TWO OF WHICH WERE MISSING. AS A RESULT, THE WINDOW HAD SLIPPED FROM ITS TRACK BECOMING A PROJECTILE INSIDE THE DRIVER DOOR.

NHTSA ID

11119611

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

Mileage

114,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11118587

Incident

Jun 1, 2018

Mileage

95,500 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11118524

Incident

Aug 8, 2018

Mileage

95,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11080086

Incident

Mar 18, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi