What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Pontiac Vibe

Typical pattern

14.9% of complaints about the 2003 Pontiac Vibe came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is visibility (74 complaints), typically at 4.9 yr or about 58,259 miles.

Complaints
323
Median age at failure
5.4 yr
Median mileage
62,000 n=218
Crash / fire / tow
13.9% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Visibility
74 reports · 58,259 mi
4.9 yr
8.1%
Air bags
66 reports · 87,000 mi
12.2 yr
25.8%
Power train
48 reports · 65,000 mi
5.3 yr
2.1%
Electrical system
22 reports · 70,000 mi
3.8 yr
0%
Structure
20 reports · 46,263 mi
5.4 yr
5%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

20V039000 2020-01-23
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The replacement air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation in high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

An air bag that does not inflate properly increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

18V883000 2018-12-12
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

15V285000 2015-05-13
Air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

15V286000 2015-05-13
Air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe,

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

15V043000 2015-01-28
Air bags:frontal

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, to December 20, 2004, and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured January 18, 2002, to April 27, 2004. Due to electrical noise, a component in the air bag control module may fail, causing the front air bags, side air bags, and/or seatbelt pretensioners to deploy inadvertently while the

Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.

13V029000 2013-01-30
Air bags

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can damage the circuits. This could result in an inadvertent deployment of the front airbags and/or seat belt pretensioners.

Inadvertent deployment of the airbags or the seat belt pretensioners may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.

08V162000 2008-04-10
Visibility:glass, side/rear

TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS.

THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.

02V074002 2002-03-11
Power train:axle assembly

ON CERTAIN TWO-WHEEL DRIVE (2WD) PASSENGER VEHICLES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE BOLTS THAT JOIN THE REAR BRAKE AND HUB ASSEMBLY TO THE REAR AXLE CARRIER TO BE LOOSE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS.

IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, ONE OR MORE OF THE FOUR BOLTS COULD COME LOOSE, CAUSING AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE AREA. IN THE EVENT THAT ALL FOUR BOLTS LOOSEN COMPLETELY, SEPARATION OF THE REAR BRAKE AND HUB ASSEMBLY FROM THE REAR AXLE CARRIER COULD OCCUR, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

In owners’ own words

Structure 1,100 mi 6 mo in service
I NOTICED MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HANDLE WELL AT ALL IN SNOWY WEATHER. IN 4 INCHES OF SNOW I GOT STUCK THREE TIMES AND FINALLY JUST HAD TO STAY HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THIS AND IT WAS STATED TO ME THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED BY THIS, IF I HAD KNOWN THE VEHICLE HANDLES SO POORLY I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED IT.*JB
Structure mileage not reported 7 mo in service
VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO RUST ON AND AROUND THE ''VIBE'' EMBLEMS.
Structure 21,875 mi 1.3 yr in service
2003 PONTIAC VIBER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSATATE TODAY AT 70 MPH NO OVER HANGING OBJECTS, NO CARS INSIGHT, SUNROOF EXPLODES, SHOWERING GLASS ON US, AND STARTLING US WITH LOUD NOSIE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS.*AK THANKS
Air bags mileage not reported 8 mo in service crash / fire / tow
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *JB

Other Vibe model years

20102009200820072006200520042003

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