2004 Pontiac Vibe Complaint Log

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $1079.50 FOR NEW REGULATOR, MOTOR, GLASS AND TIGHTENING OF PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BOLTS.. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, THE WINDOW MADE IT'S USUAL POPPING/CLICKING SOUND AND THEN STOPPED. THE WINDOW CONTROL WAS THEN ACTIVATED AGAIN IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOWER AND THEN RAISE THE WINDOW. THERE WAS NO REPONSE AND THEN "BAM"--THE WINDOW SHATTERED SENDING GLASS FRAGMENTS INTO THE CAR AND OUTSIDE. SOME FRAGMENTS FLEW 8 TO 10 FEET. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR STANDING CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER WINDOW. THE WINDOW HAS ALWAYS HAD A POPPING OR CLICKING SOUND WHEN RAISING THE WINDOW--THE NOISE WAS ALSO NOTICED ON THREE OTHER PONTIAC VIBES DRIVEN WHEN THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED.

I OWN A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. LAST SUMMER IT BEGAN TO POP/CLICK WHEN ROLLING IT UP OR DOWN. IT SHATTERED IN MY LAP AND I DID RECEIVE MINOR CUTS WHEN ROLLING IT UP DURING A RAIN STORM. I THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE HAD ACTUALLY SHOT AT ME BECAUSE IT WAS SUDDEN AND SHATTERED COMPLETELY. AT THAT TIME, I HAD A GLASS SPECIALIST COME TO FIX IT AND WAS TOLD BY THE MAN THAT IT IS COMMON IN VIBES AND THAT HE HAD REPLACED MANY OF THEM. I JUST HAPPENED TO BE IN MY DRIVE WHEN IT SHATTERED BUT IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN ME CRASHING. I HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND HAD IT FIXED JUST THIS PAST SEPTEMBER. NOW, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW SIMPLY FELL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR. I HAVE PAID OVER $380 ON THIS WINDOW AND IT STILL IS NOT FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR. MY WINDOW IS STILL NOT FIXED, A FRIEND WEDGED IT UP UNTIL I CAN GET THIS RESOLVED. I FEEL THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS I SAID IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING, I FEEL THAT IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. I DID RECEIVE MINOR CUTS JUST SITTING IN MY DRIVE. GLASS WAS ALL OVER ME AS WELL AS MY DRIVE WAY. IT SHOT AT LEAST 20 FEET AWAY. *TR

MY 2004 PONTIAC VIBES DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS GETTING OFF TRACK. WHEN I TRIED TO GENTLY MOVE IT BACK INTO PLACE, IT SHATTERED. *TR

2004 PONTIAC VIBE WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. FIRST IN THE SUMMER OF 2007 AT ABOUT 65000 MILES. TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION, FOR WHICH THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ALSO SAID IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS DUE TO THE ISSUE. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR ABOUT $3000 AND, VERY SOON AFTER, HEARD THE TELL-TALE NOISE OF IMMINENT FAILURE AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION SHOP REPLACE IT UNDER THE 6 MONTH/6000 MILE WARRANTY. THAT SECOND REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION FAILED IN FEBRUARY 2014 AT 208000 MILES. I WILL NOT BE REPLACING IT. *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

I HAVE BEEN HEARING A POPPING SOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WINDOW FOR A WHILE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. WHEN I WENT TO ROLL UP THE WINDOW IT STARTED STICKING ,THEN AS IT WAS GOING ALL THE WAY UP THERE WAS ANOTHER POPPING SOUND AND THE WINDOW BLEW. I BROUGHT IT TO A PLACE TO BE FIXED. THIS POPPING SOUND ALSO HAPPEND WITH THE 2003 VIBE, BUT THE WINDOW DIDN'T BREAK.*AK

REPEATED EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND VIBRATION/NOISE - 2004 PONTIAC VIBE AWD. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES WITHOUT CORRECTING PROBLEM. *TR

CAR SOMETIMES ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THIS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE DRIVERS OF THE MY VEHICLE BOTH WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, AND WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. RPMS WENT UP TO ABOUT 6000 AND CAR TRIED TO TAKE OFF. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP IT BY BRAKING HARD, BUT THE CAR WAS STILL REVVING. EVEN SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL DIDN'T STOP THE HIGH REVS. ONLY TURNING THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY STOPPED REVVING. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW BECAUSE IT SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS FOUND IN A VARIETY OF TOYOTA MODELS AND MY CAR - THE PONTIAC VIBE IS MADE BY TOYOTA. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT BUT VERY FRIGHTENING AND HAPPENED AT LEAST 4 TIMES WITHIN A TWO MONTH SPAN. THERE WAS NO WAY TO REPRODUCE IT SINCE IT WAS SO INTERMITTENT. EVEN THOUGH CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED, AFTER RULING OUT STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL, PEDAL GETTING CAUGHT ON THE MAT, ETC., THE DEALER SUSPECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD BE INVOLVED. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS DURING WHICH TIME THERE WAS NOT RECURRENCE. THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL RECONNECTED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED IN OVER 2 1/2 YEARS.

ON JUNE 23, 2007, MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW STARTED TO MAKE A LOT OF POPPING NOISES WHEN THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW SWITCH WAS USED. THE WINDOW BECAME LOOSE AND WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED UP ALL THE WAY, THE WINDOW SHATTERED. I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDOW AND REGULATOR CLIP ON THIS DATE FOR $289.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. ON JUNE 18, 2007 AND JUNE 25, 2007, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE WINDOWS WERE REPAIRED. ON MAY 29, 2008, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED PONTIAC REGARDING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE WINDOWS, HE WAS ASKED TO FORWARD A FAX OF THE REPAIR INVOICE, IN ADDITION TO A FAX FROM THE PLACE WHERE THE WINDOWS WERE REPAIRED. THIS INFORMATION WAS SENT TO PONTIAC, BUT NOW THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THE BOLTS WERE REPAIRED AS WELL AS THE WINDOWS. THE REIMBURSEMENT WILL MOST LIKELY BE DENIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 6/16/08 *CN UPDATED 06/16/08

THE FRONT DRIVER-SIDE POWER WINDOW MADE A CLICKING NOISE EVERYTIME I ROLLED IT UP AND DOWN. WHEN I WOULD SHUT THE DOOR, THE WINDOW WOULD BANG AROUND AS IF IT WAS PARTIALLY DETACHED. EVENTUALLY, I WAS ROLLING UP MY WINDOW, AND THE PART CLOSEST TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR SLID DOWN, AND THE WINDOW BECAME CROOKED, AND OFF TRACK. I HAD TO PUSH IT UP WITH MY HAND IN ORDER TO GET IT TO CLOSE. I TOOK IT TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND HAD THEM FIX IT (THEY ASSUMED THE TRACK HAD BROKE). TURNS OUT, A BOLT HAD FALLEN OFF, AND WAS SITTING AT THE BOTTOM OF MY DOOR. ONCE THAT WAS REATTACHED, IT STOPPED MAKING THE CLICKING NOISE. ALSO, MY PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOW HAS BECOME MAKING THE SAME NOISE, AND I FIGURE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT BREAKS TOO. *TR

DURING JANUARY OF 2007 I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE EVERYTIME I WOULD OPEN AND SHUT MY DOOR. I NEEDED TO GET SOME WORK DONE SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR A REGULAR TUNE UP AND MENTIONED THE RATTLING IN THE DOOR AND MY CONCERN WITH THE WINDOW. AFTER MY CAR WAS RETURNED THEY HAD ASSURED ME THAT MY WINDOW WAS LOOKED AT AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. AFTER A COUPLE MONTHS THE RATTLING STARTED AGAIN. ONE WARM NIGHT I HAD MY WINDOW DOWN AND AFTER TRYING TO PUT IT UP, MY WINDOW CAME UP CROOKED. I SLOWLY PUT MY WINDOW DOWN AND TRIED TO PULL IT UP SLOWLY AND STRAIGHT IN FEAR OF RAIN THAT NIGHT. AFTER ONE TIME OF TRYING TO PUT IT BACK UP MY WINDOW SHATTERED ON ME WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVER'S SEAT. I WAS COVERED IN GLASS AND SUFFERED FROM MINOR GLASS CUTS. THERE ARE STILL PIECES OF GLASS I AM FINDING THROUGHOUT MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AFTER GETTING MY WINDOW FIXED A COUPLE DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT MY WINDOW SHOULD BE STABLE AND IN WORKING PROPERLY. BY THE END OF OCTOBER, I STARTED NOTICING A NOISE COMING OUT OF THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. I NOTICED THAT MY WINDOW WAS OUT OF PLACE AND THERE IS A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF WINDOW THAT DOES NOT MEET THE SEAL. ALONG THE EDGES THE SEAL IS STARTING TO PEAL OUT AND THERE IS AIR GETTING THROUGH. THIS HAS ALSO STARTED ALONG THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AS WELL. IN DECEMBER OF 2007 I WENT TO PUT MY WINDOW DOWN AT A DRIVE THROUGH AND FOUND THAT MY WINDOW, ONCE AGAIN, WAS COMING IN CROOKED. ALTHOUGH IT HASN'T SHATTERED AGAIN ON ME YET, THERE IS STILL A GAP BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND THE SEAL. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW OF OUR 2004 PONTIAC VIBE MAKING POPPING NOISE WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING. SOUNDS LIKE IT'S OFF THE TRACK AND SNAGGING ON SOMETHING. WE STOPPED USING THE WINDOW AND CONTACTED THE PONTIAC DEALER. THEY WANT OVER $100 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. NEWSPAPER ARTICLE SAYS OTHER VIBE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SHATTERED WINDOWS WHICH IS WHAT I FEAR IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO OURS. PONTIAC SHOULD FIX THIS DESIGN DEFECT ASAP. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW MADE LOUD POPPING NOISE GOING UP OR DOWN UNTIL WINDOW CAME OFF TRACK. DRIVER SIDE SOON BEGAN MAKING THE SAME NOISE BUT DIDN'T COME OFF THE TRACK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE RECALL REPAIR GM RECALL NO. 07273, DEALER REPLACED THE BOLTS PER THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL AND WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON BOTH WINDOWS AS WELL AS A NEW WINDOW AND MOTOR FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH I DETERMINED THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE DOOR CHECK AND THE WINDOW--AND FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM--YOU CAN CONFIRM THIS BY OPENING THE DOOR FULLY AND ROLLING THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN--IF THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY WHILE THE DOOR IS FULLY OPENED, THEN THE CAUSE IS THE DOOR CHECK INTERFERENCE. TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, I MODIFIED THE DOOR CHECK BY REMOVING ABOUT 1/8 INCH OF MATERIAL FROM THE T-SHAPED PART OF THE DOOR CHECK THAT WAS CAUSING THE INTERFERENCE--THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM ON THE DRIVER SIDE. REPLACING THE DOOR CHECK MAY ALSO FIX THE PROBLEM--BUT MAYBE ONLY TEMPORARILY UNLESS THE DESIGN OF THE DOOR CHECK IS CHANGED TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAD ALREADY COME OFF THE TRACK, THE REGULATOR WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND THE CLIPS THAT MOUNT THE GLASS TO THE REGULATOR WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED AT THE VERY MINIMUM. *TR

ROLLING UP DRIVER SIDE WINDOW THE WINDOW POPPED AND SHATTERED. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND HAD IT REPLACED - $250. IT HAD RECENTLY COME OFF TRACK AGAIN AND WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE DOOR PANEL MYSELF I CAN SEE WHERE THE BOLT IS GRINDING INTO THE DOOR AND NOT MOVING ALL THE WAY UP THE TRACK. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BEGAN STICKING AT A CERTAIN POINT WHEN ROLLED UP OR DOWN. ROLLED WINDOW UP AND WINDOW SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING. *AK

ON THE MORNING OF FEB. 5, 2007, IT TOOK ABOUT 3 ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR. I ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE COLD WEATHER SINCE IT WAS AN EXTREMELY COLD MORNING (30 F). I DROVE TO WORK. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE WORK THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, I CALLED AAA. A TECHNICIAN CHECKED THE BATTERY AND FOUND IT TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION, WHICH WAS EXPECTED SINCE IT WAS A NEW BATTERY. THE CAR COULD NOT BE JUMPED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A FLAT BED TRUCK TO COME PICK ME UP. AFTER RESEARCHING THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S WEBSITE, I FOUND THAT GM HAD KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STARTER ASSEMBLY RELATING TO THIS VEHICLE BACK IN JANUARY 2004. THE NOTED STATEMENT WAS "HARD TO START, SLOW CRANKING CONDITION IN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE BELOW 20 DEGREES"F. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT WAS NEVER CORRECTED AND CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED IN AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT UNTIL 8:30 PM. THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, BUT THIS ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DEFECT EXISTED SINCE THE CAR ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE. THE FUNCTIONING OF THE STARTER ASSEMBLY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN INTERMITTENT AT BEST. TOTAL FAILURE OF THIS STARTER ASSEMBLY OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECT NOT BEING CORRECTED. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER, GM, SHOULD REPLACE THE STARTER ASSEMBLY WITH A WORKING MODEL. *JB

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS MAKING A CRACKING LIKE NOISE WHEN IT IS LOWERED, WHEN THIS NOISE OCCURS THE WINDOW SHAKES A LITTLE BIT. IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH IT WILL MAKE THE WINDOW SHATTER, AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WILL SOONER OR LATER. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING CONSISTENTLY FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF. I HAVE AN 04 PONTIAC VIBE. *TR

AFTER 33700 MILES OF NORMAL DRIVING, MY 2004 PONTIAC VIBE GT NEEDS A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR" BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT I HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW BEGAN MAKING A LOUD POPPING AND CLICKING NOISE. IT SOUNDED AS IF THE WINDOW WERE ABOUT TO SHATTER. THE NOISE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE WINDOW MECHANISM WAS ACTIVATED. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE RELATED TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR WAS DONE INCORRECTLY BECAUSE THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED A SECOND TIME BECAUSE THE DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE FOR FREE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,182.

2004 VIBE GLASS SUNROOF CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE GLASS STRUCK THE ROAD AND SHATTERED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT SHE WASN'T AWARE THAT THE GLASS PANEL HAD BLOWN OFF UNTIL SHE HEARD THE FRAME MAKING NOISE. THE TRACKS AND FRAME WERE STILL ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE ADHESIVE GAVE WAY. *NM

JANUARY 2005 WE PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2004 PONTIAC VIBE FROM WADE RAULERSON GM PONTIAC. THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 39,000 MILES. DURING THE COURSE OF OWNERSHIP A TICKING NOISE WAS NOTICED AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES WHEN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED US THAT AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED AND THE CAUSE OF THE DAMAGE WAS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. DURING OUR OWNERSHIP A 71 YEAR OLD WOMAN HAS DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE PLACING 6,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE IN 18 MONTHS. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS WAS FLAWED AND THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURERS SOLD US A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. GM AND THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $10,026 WITH A 50/50 SPLIT OR A USED ENGINE FOR A COST TO US OF LITTLE UNDER $5,000. THE FINAL WRITTEN ESTIMATE PROVIDED TO US WAS FOR $3800.00 PLUS TO BE CHARGED TO US. IT IS AGAIN OBVIOUS THAT A DEALERSHIP WHICH CERTIFIES AN ENGINE THAT SO MISERABLY FAILS IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE LICENSED AND A MANUFACTURER WHO PUTS A PRODUCT OUT SUCH AS THIS IS NEGLIGENT. CHILDREN WERE DRIVEN REGULARLY IN THIS HUNK OF JUNK AND IT IS BY GRACE THAT NOTHING HAPPENED. ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE WHETHER MEDIATION OF THE PROBLEM OR SANCTION OF THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *JB

THE BATTERY FAILED AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES ON MY PONTIAC 2004 VIBE. THE THREE YEAR WARRANTY ENDED TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE FAILURE OF THE BATTERY. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY HAD INSUFFICIENT POWER (310 CCA) FOR EVEN THE SMALL 1.8 LITER ENGINE IN THE VIBE. *JB

PONTIAC VIBE, 2004. WAS DRIVING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON HWY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. A CAR PULLED OUT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. I MISSED THE CAR BUT INSTEAD OF MY CAR STOPPING, IT ACCELERATED, WHILE I WAS FORCEFULLY STEPPING ON THE BRAKES. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND I WAS FISH TAILING TO THE POINT THAT I THOUGHT THE CAR WOULD ROLL. TO STOP THE CAR, I WENT INTO THE DITCH AND A FIELD AND IT FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THE PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED IT ALSO SAW THE CAR SPEED UP WHILE AT THE SAME TIME THE TIRES WERE SKIDDING AS I WAS BRAKING SO HARD. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY STATE THEY HAD TRIED TO REPRODUCE IT BUT EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. I THOUGHT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SO I CONTINUED TO USE THE CAR BUT HAVE NEVER USED THE CRUISE SINCE AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY DIFFICULTY UNTIL RECENTLY. ON WED, 11/15/09, I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO LET A CAR PASS IN FRONT OF ME. IMMEDIATELY WHEN I HIT THE BRAKES, THE CAR ACCELERATED. TO TRY AND STOP IT I INITIALLY TRIED TO PUSH AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I THEN STARTED TO SHIFT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND LET UP ON THE BRAKES. THE CAR STOPPED AS SOON AS I LET UP ON THE BRAKES BUT ONLY AFTER I HAD TRAVELED ~20 FEET UP AN EMBANKMENT. I AGAIN BROUGHT IT IN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I WILL NOT DRIVE IT AS I AM NOW SCARED OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE CONSIDERING OUR OPTIONS. *TR

I RECEIVED MY 2004 PONTIAC VIBE AS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT. EVER SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE WHENEVER THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW IS LOWERED OR RAISED THERE IS A LOUD POPPING NOISE. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE WINDOWS SHATTERING WHILE DRIVING. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I HAVE A VERY YOUNG CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT, AND AM AFRAID MY WINDOW SHATTERING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *TR

A LEAK OCCURRED IN A FUEL LINE OVER NIGHT WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED ON SIX ADDITIONAL OCCASIONS TO DATE--OCT. 2008, APRIL 2010, DEC. 2011, JULY 2012, NOV, 2012, AND APRIL 2014--NECESSITATING TOWING TO A SERVICE FACILITY. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND SHATTERED EVERYWHERE. AFTER HEARING A RATTLING SOUND, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND WAS INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT. THE SHATTERED SUNROOF WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICED BECAUSE THE INTERIOR SUNROOF COVER WAS CLOSED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE FOR FOUR HOURS, THE SHATTERED SUNROOF WAS DETECTED. AFTER DETAILED INSPECTATION OF THE SUNROOF THE SUNROOF GLASS APPEARED DULL AND WAS STICKING UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTOSHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SUNROOF.

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.

THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2004 PONTIAC VIBE WENT OUT. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SUCH SEVERE DAMAGE THAT IT COULD NOT BE REBUILT. THE COST $2500.00 ON A CAR THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD DEPEND ON. OUR 2003 HONDA CIVIC HAS TWICE AS MANY MILES ON IT WITHOUT ANY COSTLY REPAIRS. PONTIAC TOLD US TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM. WHEN WE TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FIXED THEY BASICALLY TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR US BECAUSE WE DID NOT BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FIRST. WE IMMEDIATELY HAD THE PROCESS STOPPED, UNTIL WE COULD FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION. WE CONTACTED GM TO REGISTER OUR COMPLAINT. AFTER A FEW MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH GM AND ELHART PONTIAC, HOLLAND MICHIGAN, WE WERE TOLD TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED AND TO BRING THE TRANSMISSION OUT TO ELHART. CUSTOMER SERVICE, AT ELHART, FOUND THAT A CLIP OR A BEARING HAD COME LOOSE AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE. THIS IS NOT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN ON VEHICLES WITH 78,000 MILES ON THEM. WE WERE THEN TOLD THAT WE WOULD HAVE A THREE WAY CONVERSATION WITH GM, ELHART AND OURSELVES TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY DISCOVERED AND SEE IF WE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE. THIS CONVERSATION NEVER HAPPENED. WE SIMPLY RECEIVED A PHONE CALL SAYING THAT WE WERE DENIED OF ANY ASSISTANCE. THIS DECISION CAME FROM THE DISTRICT MANAGER, WHOSE NAME WE WERE DENIED, AND WE ARE ALSO BEING DENIED ACCESS TO ANY AND ALL OF THE RECORDS THAT GENERAL MOTORS WAS GIVEN. WHEN WE ASKED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE HIGHER UP, WE WERE TOLD THAT WE COULD NOT SPEAK WITH ANYONE AND IF WE WANTED TO PROCEED WE NEEDED TO WRITE A LETTER. SO BASICALLY WE BOUGHT A GM CAR AND AFTER WE PURCHASED IT, GENERAL MOTORS COULD CARE LESS ABOUT OUR, THE CUSTOMERS, SATISFACTION OR STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. WE SIMPLY FEEL THAT WHEN YOU INVEST IN A VEHICLE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT IT TO NOT INCUR SUCH COSTLY DAMAGES.

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY CAR I NOTICED THAT MY PASSENGER WINDOW WAS LOOSE. WHEN I ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN IT WOULD SHAKE. WHEN I WAS GOING TO SHUT THE PASSENGER DOOR I HAD TO MAKE SURE THE WINDOW WAS UP SO THAT IT WOULDN'T BREAK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD IT FIXED. NOW RECENTLY I HEARD A SMALL NOISE IN THE DRIVER WINDOW WHEN I ROLL THE WINDOW UP AND DOWN. NOT POPPING, BUT MAYBE LIKE A SHIFTING OR LIKE IT WAS GOING TO POP. SURE ENOUGH MY WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. I WAS GETTING OUT AND ROLLED UP THE WINDOW WHEN I NOTICED THE WINDOW SOUNDED FUNNY. NOT LONG LATER WHEN I RETURNED TO MY CAR WAS WHEN I NOTICED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THE WINDOW FIXED 2 TIMES. THE WINDOW KEPT FALLING OUT OF TRACK. FINALLY THEY FIGURED THAT THERE MUST BE MORE GOING ON WITH THE WINDOW. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE REGULATOR WAS BENT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN OR THE WINDOW TO SHATTER, BUT I KNOW THAT AS LONG AS I HAVE HAD THE CAR THERE HAS NOT BEEN WEAR AND TEAR ON THE WINDOWS. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND USE THE AIR CONDITION 98% OF THE TIME. *JB

I HAVE THE AGE OLD PROBLEM OF THE POPPING SOUND WHEN I OPEN OR CLOSE THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. I HAVE HAD THE BOLTS REPLACED PER THE RECALL AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE. AFTER READING REPORT #10245483 I DID AS SUGGESTED. THERE IS NO PROBLEM WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN ONLY WHEN IT IS CLOSED. I REMOVED THE DOOR LIMIT STRAP AND COULD SEE SHINY METAL WHERE THE T PART HAD BEEN RUBBING. I REMOVED THIS RESTRAINING STRAP AND GROUND ABOUT 1/8 INCH OFF THE T SECTION. THIS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THANKS TO THE AUTHOR OF COMPLAINT #10235483. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE FAILURE PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED ON APRIL 24, 2006; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS AT THE TIME AND PAID FOR THE REPAIR. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS POPPING AS STATED IN THE RECALL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FREE REPAIR, BUT THE WINDOW CONTINUED TO POP AND MAKE CLICKING NOISES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF ANY FUTURE REPAIRS TO THE WINDOWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 07/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 07/15/08

VERY BAD QUALITY OF PAINT. ESPECIALLY ON THE HOOD. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINS FROM USERS ON THE INTERNET. GM DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY QUESTIONS AND EMAILS. *NM

AROUND 20,000 MILES THE 2004 PONTIAC VIBE BEGAN TO HAVE EXCESSIVE TIRE NOISE AND THE TIRES WERE CUPPED. THE CAR BECAME SO LOUD IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CARRY ON A CONVERSATION IN THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THESE COMPLAINTS WITHOUT RESOLVE OF THE ISSUE. THE DEALER STATES NOTHING IS "WRONG" WITH THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN OUT FOR THE EXCESSIVE TIRE NOISE AND CUPPING OF THE TIRES. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE CAR JUST NEEDED NEW TIRES AND ALIGNED. THE CAR HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND DOES NOT NEED ALIGNED. THE PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IS THE REAR AXLES ARE EXCESSIVELY TILTED AND THIS IS CAUSING THE WEAR ON THE TIRES AND THE EXCESSIVE NOISE. *NM

EVERYONE OF MY WINDOWS HAVE HAD TO BE FIXED FOR SLIPPING. MY DRIVERS WINDOW WAS SO BAD IT ACTUALLY SCRAPPED OFF THE TINTING I HAD PUT ON. THE BOLTS HOLDING IN THE WINDOWS ON ALL OF MY WINDOWS WERE LOOSE OR NOT FITTING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AND I HAD MY CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO HAVE THIS FIXED. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY ONLY FIXED THEM ONE AT A TIME AND IT TOOK ME THREE TIMES TO GET THEM TO FIX THE FIRST ONE. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. WHILE SHE WAS ROLLING UP THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HEARD A POPPING SOUND. THE WINDOW FORMED A CRACK AND SHATTERED. ALSO, THE CONTACT COMPLAINT THAT THE STEERING WHEELWAS VERY LOOSE. SHE FELT THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE HAD TO KEEP TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL AT ALL TIMES TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING. UPON INSPECTION BY A SERVICE DEALER, THEY FOUND THAT THE BRACKET UNDERNEATH THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTED. THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRACKETS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK

HAVE A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE GT AND JUST HAD TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AT 67 000 KM. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST CAR WE'VE OWNED WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION, OUR PREVIOUS CAR WAS A 1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE WHICH HAD 200 000 KM ON THE ORIGINAL CLUTCH WHEN WE SOLD IT. WE BOUGHT THE 100 000 KM POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, BUT WERE TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT COVERED. I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT MYSELF. WE BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PERFORMING MAJOR REPAIRS ON IT FOR SEVERAL YEARS. *NM

2004 PONTIAC VIBE TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE RAN INTO A DITCH. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAIN MINOR BUMPER AND EXHAUST DAMAGE. *NM

WE TOOK OUR 2004 PONTIAC VIBE ALL WHEEL DRIVE IN TO DISCOUNT TIRE TO BUY FOUR NEW TIRES. DISCOUNT TIRE CALLED US LATER TO INFORM US THAT 4 LUGS SNAPPED OFF WHILE TORQUEING THE LUGS TO 80 FTLBS.. THEY CHECK CHECKED THEIR TORQUE STICK AND USED TWO OTHER STICK WHICH CONTINUED TO SNAP OFF THE LUGS. THEY SENT THE CAR OVER TO MIDAS TO HAVE REPAIRED AND DAYS LATER WHEN WE WENT TO PICK IT UP I HAD THEM CHECK ALL THE LUGS AGAIN, AND AGAIN AT 80 FTLBS. ONE MORE LUG SNAPPED. SO AGAIN WE WAITED FOR A NEW LUG TO ARRIVE. A TOTAL OF 5 LUGS SNAPPED OF THE BACK END OF THE CAR WELL BEFORE 80 FTLBS. OF TORQUE WAS APPLIED. I WORK AT A STEEL PLANT AND HAD OUR LAB CHECK A BROKEN LUG AND THEIR RESULTS WERE THAT THE LUGS WERE TO BRITTLE THAT THERE WAS NO LONGATION OF THE BOLT BEFORE IT BROKE. DISCOUNT TIRE DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB IN TAKING CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMER, I AM CONCERNED WITH HOW MANY MORE LUGS OUT ON THE ROADS ARE TO BRITTLE AND MAY SNAP. *NM

DT: THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT TWISTED AROUND THE CHILD'S ABDOMEN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. EVERY TIME THE CHILD MOVED IT CLICKED TIGHTER. THE CHILD HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE SEAT BELT. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT BEFORE.*AK *JB

2004 PONTIAC VIBE UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON THE BACK TIRES "CUPPING". DEALER WAS NOT WILLING, OR UNABLE TO TELL ME THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. HAVE FOLLOWED MY OWNERS MANUAL, TIRE ROTATIONS. HAVE VISITED ANOTHER DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE SEEN MY PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT KNOW CAUSE. I NEED TO REPLACE THE TIRE, WITH 25000 MILES ON THEM. *JB

WHY IS THERE NO RECALL INFORMATION ON YOUR SITE REGARDING THE PONTIAC VIBE AND TOYOTA MATRIX. *JB

DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB

EXTREME TIRE WEAR ON 2004 PONTIAC VIBE GT WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES. TIRES TO WEAR MARKERS AT 19,000 MILES. WEAR CONSISTENT ON ALL (4) TIRES. MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS OF ROTATION, INFLATION FOLLOWED, AND PERFORMED BY GM DEALER. DEFECT REPORTED AT 19,500 MILES TO LOCAL DEALER. PONTIAC HAS REFUSED TO ACT ON ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE TIRES TO WINTER-ONLY DUE TO WEATHER. CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE WITHOUT ALTERNATIVE TIRES, AND THAT WORN TIRES COULD CAUSE PROPERTY/LIFE INJURY IN CRASH. *NM

MY PONTIAC VIBE 2004 WITH SUN ROOF PACKAGE FIRST OF ALL THE FLOORING IN THE CAR HAD MILDEWED AND MOLDED. THE CARPET WAS REPLACED AFTER MANY TIMES GOING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED AT. THE FLOORING IN THE CAR IS WET ONCE AGAIN NOT FROM MOON ROOF THIS TIME BUT POSSIBLE AIR CONDITIONING TUBING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE DAMAGED. THE CAR STILL HAS A VERY STRONG ODOR OF MOLD IN IT THAT WILL NOT DECREASE. I AM AFRAID THAT THERE MAY BE HARMFUL MOLD SPORES THAT MAY HAVE ALREADY GROWN FROM THE LAST TIME IT WAS SATURATED WITH WATER DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON DRAIN TUBING FOR MOON ROOF. I PURCHASED MY NEW VEHICLE ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES LOOKED AT TWICE SINCE THEY WERE WARPED, THE LEAKAGE THROUGHOUT MY VEHICLE, AND THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED. I THINK THIS CAR IS A LEMON. THE DEALERSHIP SIEMANNS OF BRIDGEMAN MICHIGAN DID REPLACE SOME PARTS ON IT BUT ONLY AFTER BEGGING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CARS STANDING WATER IN VEHICLE STARTED TO MOLD.*AK

PONTIAC VIBE 2004, BODY SEEMS TO BE HIGHER ON PASSENGER SIDE WHEN VIEWING IT FROM THE REAR. *BF *JB

A DRONE NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, ESPECIALLY DURING DAMP OR COLD WEATHER, FALL AND WINTER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS A ?CHARACTERISTIC OF THE PONTIAC EVEN THOUGH THIS CHARACTERISTIC WAS NOT PRESENT WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR IN THE SUMMER, AND IT WAS NOT TOLD TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. GMC CONFIRMED MY OWN BELIEF THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE MUFFLER ASSEMBLY.*AK

DT: THE STRAPS THAT HOLD THE PADDING IN PLACE ON THE CHILD SEAT ARE FALLING APART. NOW THE PADDING UNDERNEATH THE PLASTIC BAR THAT KEEPS IT IN PLACE AT THE BOTTOM AND TOP ARE BROKE. THE CONSUMER HAS TRIED GLUE AND SEWING IT AND IT, BUT KEEPS COMING APART. GRACO MODEL # 45600 LJT AND EITHER AND I OR A 1, D.O.M. 2003 02 08M. *JB *NM

INSULATION BETWEEN ROOF AND HEADLINER COMMING UNGLUED AND LAYING ON HEADLINER. *JB