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

2004 Pontiac Vibe

Typical pattern

7.7% of complaints about the 2004 Pontiac Vibe came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2004 vehicle — around the middle of the 236 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 8.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (104 complaints), typically at 11.8 yr or about 109,000 miles.

Complaints
313
Median age at failure
8.8 yr
Median mileage
74,396 n=169
Crash / fire / tow
11.2% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
104 reports · 109,000 mi
11.8 yr
13.5%
Visibility
76 reports · 75,000 mi
4.1 yr
14.5%
Structure
24 reports · 40,000 mi
4.9 yr
8.3%

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.

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.

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.

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.

In owners’ own words

Visibility mileage not reported 2 mo in service
ON MY 2004 PONTIAC VIBE, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS LINED WITH A CHROME FINISH THAT REFLECTS INTO THE WINDSHIELD MAKING VISIBILITY REDUCED. RALPH NADER CRITICIZED THIS OVER 30 YEARS AGO WHEN CAR MANUFACTURES WERE USING CHROME FINISHES THAT CAUSED NOTICEABLE GLARE. APPARENTLY, PONTIAC FORGOT DRIVER VISIBILITY WHEN THEY ADDED CHROME AND BRUSHED ALUMINUM TO THEIR INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. *LA
Visibility 51,950 mi 2.8 yr in service
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.
Visibility mileage not reported 3.0 yr in service
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
Structure mileage not reported 8 mo in service
NEW CAR HAS VERY BAD PAINT PROBLEMS - CHIPS AND CRAZING - ONLY 12,000 MILES ON ODOMETER. *AK

Other Vibe model years

20102009200820072006200520042003

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