2003 Pontiac Vibe Complaint Log

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

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

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

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

OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, MY BATTERY GOES DEAD WHEN THE TEMPERATURE APPROACHES OR GOES BELOW FREEZING. I REPLACED THE BATTERY ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THE INCIDENTS HAVE CONTINUED. I USED TO KEEP MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THE INCIDENTS WERE MORE LIMITED. I NOW KEEP MY CAR OUTSIDE AND THE FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED TO ALMOST EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. SUCH AN INCIDENT IN JANUARY 2011 CAUSED MY CD PLAYER TO STOP WORKING. DECEMBER 2011 AND JANUARY 2012 THE INCIDENTS CONTINUED. I REMOVED THE STEREO HEAD UNIT IN CASE THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE INCIDENTS OF THE BATTERY GOING DEAD HAVE CONTINUED WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND OR BELOW FREEZING.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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.

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.

I AM WONDERING IF THERE WAS A COMPLAINT ON ANY OTHER VIBES 2003. AS I WAS ON A TRIP TO KY. I WENT TO OPEN MY BACK DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND HEARD SOMETHING FALL INSIDE BETWEEN THE DOOR PANEL,I CANT OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE BUT CAN OPEN IT FROM THE INSIDE. I ALREADY RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE BOLTS ON THE FRONT DOOR OF MY VIBE AND WAS WONDERING IF THIS WILL END UP BEING AN ISSUES AND IF IT WILL BE COVER UNDER THE RECALL NOTICE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO TY, MISS MAHADY *TR

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

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.

TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY STEERING SHAFT COUPLING LOST ABILITY TO TIGHTEN ON STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT. *TR

DRIVER WINDOW SHATTERED AFTER LOUD NOISE. WINDOW SHATTERED IN MY FACE. DEALER WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE GM RECALL AND PONTIAC HAS NOT BEEN HELPFUL. I PAID $350 TO GET IT FIXED. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A BUSY INTERSTATE AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO CARE THEIR VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE. *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

2003 PONTIAC VIBE SUFFERED A TIRE BLOWOUT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TIRE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPOERT # 10-0345-78. *JB

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

WINDOW MADE CLICKING POPPING NOISE AS IT WAS GOING UP, THEN EXPLODED. *TR

MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE PASSENGER POWER WINDOW "SHATTERED WITH A LOUD BANG" WHILE BEING RAISED. THIS HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH. ALL PASSENGERS WERE COVERED WITH GLASS BUT ALL WERE LUCKY AND DIDN'T GET GLASS IN THEIR EYES OR ANY CUTS. IT COULD HAVE ALSO CAUSED AN ACCIDENT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE AND MY PASSENGER WINDOW HAS BEEN MAKING POPPING AND CLICKING NOISES WHILE BEING ROLLED UP OR DOWN FOR A FEW MONTHS, THEN RECENTLY IT GOT STUCK AS IT WAS BEING ROLLED BACK UP AND IT SHATTERED. *TR

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

BEGAN NOTICING STRONG GAS SMELL IN GARAGE, TOOK CAR TO SHOP TO CHECK WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A GAS LINE LEAKING AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TANK WAS FULL OF RUST AND ROTTING. I HAD THEM REPLACE THE TANK WITH A USED TANK AND TOOK THE ROTTING TANK HOME WITH THE THOUGHT OF PLACING A COMPLAINT WITH GM. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE ROTTING WAS HIGHLY UNUSUAL ON A TANK THAT WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. GM REFUSED TO LOOK AT THE TANK AND OFFERED OIL CHANGES, SAYING THIS COULD HAPPEN BECAUSE OF THE WINTER CONDITIONS THAT WE DRIVE IN. MY 2 YEAR OLDER AZTEK SITS NEXT TO IT IN THE GARAGE AND TANK LOOKS MUCH BETTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE ROLLING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOWN, THE GLASS FELL COMPLETELY OFF TRACK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT BEFORE IT SHATTERED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDOW WITH SASH CLIPS AND REPLACED THE WINDOW CHANNEL WITH WEATHER STRIPS. THE DEALER AGREED THAT THE REPAIR SHOULD PREVENT THIS FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE CONTACT READ ABOUT THE WINDOW FAILURE IN A NEWSPAPER ON FEBRUARY 22, 2008. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,484 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

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 STATED THAT WHILE COMING A STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

2003 PONTIAC VIBE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. SHE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE A USED TRANSMISSION WILL COST HER ABOUT $2,000. *KB

WE WERE DRIVING TO MY PARENTS HOME FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. ON THE INTERSTATE, IN FIFTH GEAR, AT A SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MILES/HR, THE CAR STARTED MAKING A HIGH WHINING SOUND WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CLUNK AND GRINDING NOISE. WE PULLED OVER. NOTHING WAS VISIBLE. WE LIMPED TO THE EXIT AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. UPON INSPECTION, THE REAR PINION SHAFT BEARING HAD FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION, RUINING THE REAR CASE ASSEMBLY, PINION SHAFT AND BOTH FIFTH GEARS. BOTH FIFTH GEARS HAD BROKEN TEETH AND WERE REPLACED. THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT SET OF 5TH GEARS WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ( THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF 5TH GEAR). THE SECOND REPLACEMENT SET WAS INSTALLED AND FOUND TO BE THE WRONG RATIO AND HAD TO BE REORDERED. THE THIRD SET OF REPLACEMENT FIFTH GEARS WAS INSTALLED ON FEB. 12TH 2008 AND SEEMS TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY AS OF TODAY. THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK 7 WEEKS TO COMPLETE. *TR

3.1L INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK. *TR

1. DRIVER WINDOW MAKES CRACKING/BREAKING NOISE WHEN WINDOW IS BEING ROLLED DOWN. WHEN CLOSING THE DRIVER DOOR, WINDOW SHAKES INSIDE DOOR PANEL. 12/5/07 2. AWFUL SMELL WHEN CAR IS STOPPED COMPLETELY. (SMELLS LIKE A STINK BOMB WENT OFF IN THE CAR). SINCE 2/05. *TR

I BOUGHT MY GRAND PRIX FROM CHIP BANKS IN DUQUOIN, IL. IN AUGUST OF 2006 AND IT HAD ONLY 39,500 AFTER OWNING IT FOR 4 MONTHS THE HEAD STARTED TO MISFIRE. I HAD SOMEONE LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID IT HAD BEEN HEALY COILED TO JUST TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX MY CAR BUT I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I DID NOT BUY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR MY CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT AFFORD IT AND IT DID NOT HAVE VERY MANY MILES ON IT SO I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE OKAY. I HAD IT HEALY COILED TO REPAIR IT AND IT HELD FOR 8 MONTHS AND NOW ALL THE OTHER ROCKER ARMS ARE NEEDING HEALY COILED IN BECAUSE THEY ARE WORN OUT AND THEY ARE DROPPING THE PUSH ROD INTO MY HEAD. I BOUGHT A NEW HEAD FOR MY CAR AND HAD IT INSTALLED AND NOW THE OTHER HEAD IS DOING THE SAME THING. PLEASE HELP ME. I AM THE MOTHER OF FOUR AND I AM LOW INCOME I CALLED CHIP BANKS AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME AND I HAVE NO WAY TO GET MY KIDS AROUND. ONE THING ABOUT MY CAR IS ADVANCED AUTO WHERE I GOT MY HEAD FROM HAD TO SPECIAL ORDER IT BECAUSE IT HAD A 8 MM BOLT PATTERN SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT HELPS ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE OR NOT. I GAVE $13,000.00 FOR THIS CAR AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR AND I DON'T WANT ANOTHER CAR I LOVE MY GRAND PRIX I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THE HEADS HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR SOMETHING. I TRIED TO GO ON CAR FAX.COM AND IT SAID MY CAR HAD ELEVEN REPORTS ON IT BUT I DO NOT OWN A CREDIT CARD SO I CANNOT PURCHASE IT TO FIND OUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TELL ME IF THE CAR HAD EVER BEEN WRECKED OR THE ENGINE MESSED UP OR ANYTHING. THANK YOU. *TR

2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT UPON DECELERATION VEHICLE JERKS TO THE RIGHT AND SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY! VERY HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. IF GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED EVEN SLIGHTLY OR CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSED IN PROBLEM GOES AWAY. AS SOON AS CLUTCH IS RELEASED VIOLENT SHUDDER RETURNS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING APPROX 15 TO 20 MILES AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL VEHICLE IS STOPPED FOR A FEW MINUTES. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT PONTIAC DEALER FOR 1 WEEK NO DIAGNOSIS OR PROBLEM FOUND YET. CAR DOES STOP FOR DEALER I HAVE RODE WITH THEM TO SHOW THEM WHAT IT DOES. DEALER SAYS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. *TR