2003 Pontiac Vibe headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DASH LIGHTS GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME

NHTSA complaint #11338299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE. AFTER WE GOT THE LAST RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE COMPLETED, ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT. THE OWNER MANUAL TELLS ME THIS IS A DANGER AND THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND MULTIPLY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING THEY DID. NOW THEY WANT $1000 TO FIX THE ISSUE. SOUND BOGEYS TO ME> I DO NOT HAVE ANY PHOTOS BUT I DO HAVE MY PAPER WORK

NHTSA complaint #10934249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE. AFTER WE GOT THE LAST RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE COMPLETED, ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT. THE OWNER MANUAL TELLS ME THIS IS A DANGER AND THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND MULTIPLY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING THEY DID. NOW THEY WANT $1000 TO FIX THE ISSUE. SOUND BOGEYS TO ME> I DO NOT HAVE ANY PHOTOS BUT I DO HAVE MY PAPER WORK

NHTSA complaint #10934252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE COMPLIED WITH THE RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE. AFTER WE GOT THE LAST RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE COMPLETED, ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT. THE OWNER MANUAL TELLS ME THIS IS A DANGER AND THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND MULTIPLY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THEM AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING THEY DID. NOW THEY WANT $1000 TO FIX THE ISSUE. SOUND BOGEYS TO ME> I DO NOT HAVE ANY PHOTOS BUT I DO HAVE MY PAPER WORK

NHTSA complaint #10934253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED BY NHTSA REGARDING INABILITY TO READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT ON EARLY MODEL PONTIAC VIBES. RE: 567158, 767385, 10005009, 10034473, 10056016, ETC. I AM UNAWARE OF ANY SOLUTION BEING OFFERED BY GM FOR THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW WHICH SHOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS A SAFELY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10598596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

AN OVERLY SENSITIVE AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND DIMS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY ON A BRIGHT SUNSHINE DAY IF THE SHADOW FROM THE A-PILLAR FALLS ACROSS THE SENSOR. THE DIMMING OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY LEADS TO AN INABILITY TO READ THE INSTRUMENTS ON A BRIGHT SUNSHINE DAY, THUS CREATING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE 2003 PONTIAC VIBE AND ITS SISTER CAR, THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. TOYOTA HAS A TSB ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM (EL007-02), GM DOES NOT HAVE ONE FOR THE VIBE.

NHTSA complaint #10259099 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHENEVER THE CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT, AND THE AIR TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW ABOUT 30 DEGREES F, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE OFF POSITION. THIS LEADS TO A DEAD BATTERY AND AN INABILITY TO START THE CAR THE FOLLOWING MORNING. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM, THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE 2003 PONTIAC VIBE AND ITS SISTER CAR, THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. TOYOTA HAS A TSB ON THE PROBLEM FOR THE MATRIX (EL003-03), GM DOES NOT HAVE ONE FOR THE VIBE.

NHTSA complaint #10259094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10256904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS OF HIS VEHICLE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY DIMMER. ON FURTHER INSPECTION HE REALIZED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE HEADLIGHT WAS BECOMING CLOUDED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN THE LENS IT'S SELF AND TIRED TO BUFF THE LENS CLEAR TO NO SUCCESS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SELL HIM NEW LENS AT A COST OF $100.00 APIECE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,981. UPDATED 4/25/08

NHTSA complaint #10223230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLAMP BULBS (EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT) 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE BOUGHT THE MORE EXPENSIVE ONES THINKING THAT THE CHEAPER BULBS WERE THE PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL DOING IT. HAVE HAD 2003 VIBE SINCE NOVEMBER 2002 AND HAVE 125,000 MILES ON IT. FIRST SET OF HEADLAMPS LASTED 2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10175109 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT. THERE IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE VISIBILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DURING SUNNY TIMES WEARING SUNGLASSES AND DURING MORNING AND EVENING HOURS WHEN THE LIGHT SENSOR TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND DIMS THE PANEL LIGHTS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO READ READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION SUCH AS SPEED! I CAN'T AVOID DRIVING MY CAR IN CERTAIN LIGHTNING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10162123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

I OWN A PONTIAC VIBE, PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE I NOTICED HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO READ THE RED LIGHTED INSTRUMENT PANEL ON SUNNY DAYS. THE SPEEDOMETER NUMBERS AND ODOMETER READINGS ARE SOMETIMES WASHED OUT ON SUNNY DAYS. I RECENTLY TOOK A FOUR THOUSAND MILE TRIP THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST, AND WAS VERY CONCERNED OVER MY INABILITY AT TIMES TO READ HOW FAST I WAS GOING ON THE SPEEDOMETER, AND HOW FAR I WAS FROM MY DESTINATION DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY READING THE ODOMETER. TRYING TO READ THIS INFORMATION GOING AT SPEEDS UP TO 75 MILES AN HOUR WAS VERY NERVE-WRACKING AND DANGEROUS. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL AT MY LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO INCREASE THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, ADDING, NOBODY ELSE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. I HAVE SEEN, HOWEVER ON ONE WEBSITE, SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TROUBLESOME DASHBOARD DESIGN. I AM CURRENTLY STUCK WITH THE VEHICLE AND AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. IT IS A NICE CAR, BUT PONTIAC NEED TO REDESIGN THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. IT IS THE MOST UNUSUAL, AND UNSATISFACTORY INSTRUMENTATION I HAVE SEEN ON A CAR, AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 56 YEARS. BY THE WAY, I PASS MY ILLINOIS DRIVER'S LICENSE VISION TEST WITHOUT THE NEED OF GLASSES. THANKS FOR READING THIS. SINCERELY:

NHTSA complaint #10158738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS. THE GAUGES WERE DIGITAL AND UNABLE TO BE READ. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO REPAIR AVAILABLE SINCE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED. *JB UPDATED 2/28/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10148010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SENSOR IS TOO SENSITIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10056871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

CHRONIC PROBLEM OF OVERLY SENSITIVE "AUTOMATIC" HEADLIGHTS TURN ON DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS MAKING INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UNREADABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10056417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS TURN ON IN DAYLIGHT - CAN'T SEE DASH. IN THE MORNING AND EVENING WHEN THE SUN IS LOW AND IN YOUR EYES, I WEAR SUNGLASSES LIKE MOST DRIVERS. THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS COME ON AND DIM THE DASH MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. YOU CAN FIDDLE WITH THE DASH INTENSITY AND READ IT AGAIN, BUT IT IS ANNOYING TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME. THE RADIO STAYS DIM AND IS UNADJUSTABLE BY THE DASH INTENSITY LIGHTS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. YOU HAVE TO MOVE YOUR HEAD TO FUNNY ANGLES OR REMOVE YOUR SUNGLASSES TO SEE THE RADIO. I FEEL FIDDLING WITH THE DASH LIGHTS AND/OR REMOVING YOUR SUNGLASSES TO OPERATE THE RADIO ARE DISTRACTIONS TO THE DRIVER AND INCREASE RISK OF ACCIDENT. THE DASH LIGHTING ON THE VIBES IS CRITICAL AS IT IS BECAUSE THE DASH LIGHTS MUST STAY ON ALL THE TIME. THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN A TUNNEL AND YOU CAN NOT SEE THEM, EVEN IN BRIGHT LIGHT, WITHOUT THE DASH LIGHTS ON. COUPLE IN THE FACT THAT PONTIAC USES RED BACKLIGHTING FOR THE DASHBOARD AND THE DASH GAGES ARE ALREADY AT A SIGHT DISADVANTAGE. THROW IN A TOUCHY LIGHT SENSOR THAT TURNS ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS (AND DIMS THE DASH) AND IT IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION. THE SENSOR IS TOO SENSITIVE AND I NOTICED COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS SUCH AS GENVIBE.COM AND MATRIX-VIBE.NET THAT MAKE MENTION OF THE SAME PROBLEM. SENSOR SHOULD BE DISACTIVATED OR REPLACED WITH LESS SENSITIVE TYPE. I HAVE A 2000 PONTIAC MONTANNA WITH AUTOMATIC LIGHTS AND IT WORKS FLAWLESS. ONLY COMES ON AT DUSK. NEVER COMES ON WITH A LOW SUN (DAWN, DUSK) SHINNING IN YOUR EYES. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY LIGHT SENSOR IN MY VIBE IS IN THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF DASH AND IT IS NOT BLOCKED IN ANY MANNER. THIS LOCATION SEEMS STUPID FOR A LIGHT SENSOR ALSO, AS SHADOWS FROM THE A-PILLAR MAKE IT COME IN OF THE SUN IS BLOCKED FROM THE A-PILLAR. KEITH NELSON

NHTSA complaint #10005009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

2003 PONTIAC VIBE. VEHICLE HAS A SENSOR THAT TURNS ON THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS ARE NOT ILLUMINATED UNTIL 15-20 SECONDS ELAPSE. I NOTED MY WIFE DRIVING AWAY WITH HEADLIGHTS BUT NO TAIL LIGHTS AFTER SHE STARTED THE CAR AFTER SUNSET. THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME ON AS SHE WAS TWO BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET. I BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY DANGER DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. THANKS

NHTSA complaint #10003144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SENSOR IS MOUNTED ON LEFT SIDE DASH. SHADOWS CAUSED BY LEFT SIDE ROOF PILLAR AND/OR TEXAS INSPECTION AND REGISTRATION STICKERS CAST SHADOWS OVER SENSOR AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY AND ORIENTATION OF THE SUN CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO TURN ON WITH RESULTANT DIMMING OF DASH LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENTS TO AN UN-READABLE LEVEL. THE EFFECT IS QUITE SHOCKING AND LEADS THE DRIVER TO INITIALLY BELIEVE THAT THE CAR HAS LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. DEALER HAS INDICATED NO KNOWN FIX HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. A SIMILAR SENSOR ON MY BUICK RENDEVOUS IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH WHERE SHADOWS DON'T PRESENT SUCH A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #767385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.