63 of the
2,133 complaints filed about the Pontiac Vibe
are about the body and structure —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
Air bags failed to deploy and vehicle is not available for inspection. Vehicle was a total loss and is in the proces of becoming proprty of Copart.com for auction (I assume). I hit my head very hard from the T-bone type of collision and my side airbags did not deploy. I have a severe concussion and internal brain bleed. ICU stay was required. Problem was confirmed by the police report, etc. Nothing has been inspected to the best of my knowledge in any great detail (I assume). No warning lamps, messgaes, or other symptoms prior to the failure.
NHTSA complaint #11535214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The secondary safety hood latch failed causing the hood to fly up and shatter the windshield while also obstructing visibility on the road. The complete obstruction of the windshield presented a dangerous situation putting myself and others at risk of death of severe injury. In addition this caused glass shards to enter the driver/passenger compartment if the vehical further presenting risk to the occupants. The secondary hood latch mechanism appears to be extremely rusted and stuck in the "open" position. I am aware the NHTSA has issued a recall for a similar defect in the past (Nissan affecting 1.9 million vehicles).
NHTSA complaint #11467179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPS WHEN GOING DOWN AIR RECIRCULATION LOWER MOTOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY DOES THIS ALL THE TIME ITSEEMS LIKE THE WINDOW IS GOING TO SHATTER
NHTSA complaint #11338296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA complaint #11302868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11144937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11118524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #11118587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11080086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, AFTER OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW VIA THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR PANEL, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE DOOR PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE SMOKE DISAPPEARED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT OF A RECALL INVOLVING THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT. THE DEALER REMOVED THE DOOR PANEL AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. THE POWER WINDOW CONTROL UNIT ALSO NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V491000 (VISIBILITY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
NHTSA complaint #10969529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOOK MY CAR FOR THREE RECALLS AT HERB CHAMBERS IN WARWICK THEY KEPT ME THERE FOR HOURS IN DID NONE OF THEM THEN TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL THE NEXT DAY AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK.
NHTSA complaint #10949778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OR LOCK UNLESS THE MASTER SWITCH WAS PRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN INTO DUE TO THE DOOR NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 05/20/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED ALL THE DOORS OPENED AND CLOSED AUTOMATICALLY, EXCEPT THE REAR DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVERS SEAT. UPDATED 06/01/16.
NHTSA complaint #10852738 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO A DR. APPT IN BOSTON FROM GLOUCESTER. THE CAR HYDROPLANED HITTING THE JERSEY BARRIER, SPINNING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET HITTING THE GUARDRAIL, AND FURTHER SPINNING TO HIT THE JERSEY BARRIER AGAIN TOTALING THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT AS MUCH AS IT IS INFO FOR TAKING US OFF YOUR RECALL LIST. WE NO LONGER OWN THE VIBE. I DO WANT TO SAY, HOWEVER, HAD MY DAUGHTER NOT BEEN IN SUCH A WELL-BUILT VEHICLE, SHE WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE SURVIVED WITH JUST BRUISES WHERE THE SEATBELT HELD HER IN PLACE AND BRUISING TO HER RIGHT KNEE BECAUSE HER KNEE HIT THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH WE QUESTIONED WHY DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT. THAT BEING SAID, SHE WAS RATHER HAPPY IT DID NOT DEPLOY BECAUSE SHE FELT SHE WOULD HAVE HAD MORE PHYSICAL ISSUES HAD IT DEPLOYED (BURNS). --- THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10747614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE FRONT HOOD AND THE WHOLE ROOF OF MY CAR HAS ALL OF IT'S PAINT ALMOST GONE.THE REST OF THE CARS PAINT IS GOOD BUT NOT THE FRONT HOOD AND WHOLE ROOF. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10736174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE INTERNAL DOOR HANDLE (FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) OF MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE BROKE INTO PIECES. NO EXTREME FORCE OR AGGRESSION WAS APPLIED TO THE DOOR HANDLE - IT WAS SIMPLY USED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT BROKE INTO PIECES.
NHTSA complaint #10681273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE SEAT WAS NOT BEING OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.
NHTSA complaint #10680683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I DROVE ON A MAIN HWY IN A MORE REMOTE LOCATION AT ABOUT 100KM WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN I HEARD A BIG BANG. AFTER COLLECTING MYSELF I REALIZED I COULD NOT SEE FORWARD AT ALL THE BACK MIRROR WAS KNOCKED OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE MIRRORS WHERE MARGINALLY USABLE DUE TO TOO MUCH WATER AND SALT ON THE ROADS. WE BARELY MISSED A BIG TRUCK THAT WAS ONCOMING. I MANAGED TO PULL PARTIALLY OFF THE ROAD TO THEN PULL DOWN THE HOOD SO I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS GOING AFTER WHICH I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. A NICE PERSON PULLED OVER AND TIED DOWN THE HOOD SO WE COULD DRIVE TO THE NEXT CITY TO CALL CAA AND NOT GET STUCK ON THE HWY IN THE DARK, A SAFER PLACE TO BE. WE MADE IT, BUT WE COULD HAVE HIT THE ONCOMING TRUCK JUST AS EASILY, WE CAME REALLY CLOSE TO HITTING HIM HEAD ON JUDGING BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. THIS IS A POSSIBLY DEADLY FLAW IN THE HOOD CLOSING MECHANISM I BELIEVE THAT WILL SOME DAY COST SOME PERSON THERE LIVE!! WE WHERE LUCKY. IN THE END THE HOOD IS TOAST, THE WINDSHIELD IS FRIED AND THE ROOF IS DENTED, WE ALSO NOW HAVE A KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH WAS NOT PRESENT BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10664096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE RECALL IS ON THE BOLTS OF THE WINDOW AND SO AS I WAS TRYING TO GET THE WINDOW TO CLOSE IT JUST SHATTERED...THERE ARE 2 OTHER RECALLS ON IT ....THEY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING TO IT YET...AND AS I UNDERSTAND THEY WONT FIX THE WINDOW..CAN YOU HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10654787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INITIAL RECALL (#08V162000) FOR LOOSE WINDOW BOLTS CONDUCTED IN 2008. RECENTLY NOTICED DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WINDOW AGAIN LOOSE AND RATTLING WHEN WINDOW IS PART WAY DOWN (AS BEFORE WITH ORIGINAL RECALL IN 2008). CONCERN IS THE WINDOW GLASS COULD BECOME DISENGAGED FROM LIFTING TRACK AND SHATTER RESULTING IN DISTRACTING THE DRIVER AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10638298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DOOR STOP ON MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR ON MY 2004 VIBE GETS HIT BY THE WINDOW AND PREVENTS THE WINDOW FROM GOING DOWN ALL THE WAY. IT HAS ALSO PREVENTED ME FROM OPENING THE DOOR IF THE WINDOW IS DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10604856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS PARKED ALL DAY. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR I STARTED IT, ROLLED DOWN THE FRONT (POWER) WINDOWS, LEFT IT IN PARK TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES. RETURNED AND THE INSIDE DRIVER DOOR WAS IN FLAMES.
NHTSA complaint #10583403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.