There are 7 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Vibein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MY HUSBAND WAS CUT OFF ON AN EXIT RAMP ON 62EAST. WHEN HE CRASHED HE HIT A TREE HEAD ON CAUSING THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND CUT OPEN HIS HEAD. HE STILL HAS PAIN AND ISSUES WITHIN HIS ACCIDENT AREA AND I THINK THIS IS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG RECALLS AND FEEL THAT IF THERE ARE CONTINUOUS CHECKS AND ISSUES THAT WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ANY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR THE NEGLIGENCE UPON THE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG. *TR
THE PROBLEM EXPERIENCED RESULTED IN A CRASH, ALTHOUGH THE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AND IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES (SEEMS LIKE A HYDRAULIC ISSUE?). THE ENGINE DOESN'T CUT OFF. YOU CAN RESTART THE VEHICLE AND STEERING FEEL IS RESTORED. WHEN POWER IS LOST TO THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO STEER. NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED, BUT OCCASIONALLY, WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH THE FOOT ON THE CLUTCH, THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLS, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU LOSE ALL POWER. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAD A SLOW SPEED CRASH WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THIS WEEK WHERE THIS VERY INFREQUENT, INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS IS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT PURCHASED JULY 31, 2002. THE EXPERIENCED PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ONLY A FEW TIMES OVER THE ALMOST 90,000 MILES BUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR US, THE POWER STEERING FAILURE THIS TIME RESULTED IN A CRASH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE GENERALLY DOES NOT STALL BUT YOU ARE PUT IN A VERY SCARY SITUATION. *TR
TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING ABILITY STEERING SHAFT COUPLING LOST ABILITY TO TIGHTEN ON STEERING GEAR PINION SHAFT. *TR
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
CONTINUAL EXPENSIVE REPAIR OF MY 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA. IN JAN. 2003.. DOOR HANDLES HAD TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY SNAPPED. (UNDER WARRANTY). IN OCTOBER 2004... GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE NOZZLE CAME LOOSE FROM THE TANK, $900 REPAIR TODAY.. 12/21/04 VAN DID NOT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO RIGHT TIE ROD LOOSE AND ALIGNMENT $300 (CAR HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
CREAKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED. ALSO, BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. GASKETS REPLACED ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ALSO THE THROTTLE GASKET REPLACED.*AK
IN AUGUST OF 2003, WE BOUGHT A NEW, 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. IN NOVEMBER, WE HAD A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, WHILE TAKING A CURVE. THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND MADE US HIT THE SIDE WALK WITH THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE TWO FRONT WHEELS BURSTED AND THE ROD BROKE IN HALF. WE STARTED SPINNING UNTIL THE MOTOR, FINALLY DIED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND AT THAT TIME. OUR INJURIES ARE BEING TREATED AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY COVERED THE VEHICLES REPAIRS. THE DAMAGE WAS MAJOR AND WE REQUESTED AN INSPECTION FROM PONTIAC. THEY ARE NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY AND DENIED TO PROVIDE US WITH A COPY OF THE INSPECTION REPORT OR PICTURES. THE TOWING COMPANY MENTIONED TO US THAT THEY HAD PICKED UP THREE VIBES WITHT HE SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026