2003 PONTIAC VIBE Complaints

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE 2003, IN 2008 I HAD FAILURE OF THE POWER WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, IT WAS FIXED BY THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD TO RETURN IF PROBLEMS OCCURRED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW. YESTERDAY I HEARD THE FAMILIAR CLUNK OF THE WINDOW AND KNOW IT IS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL IN 2008. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE AT GMC (COLIN) VIA EMAIL AND WAS TOLD THIS RECALL IS NO LONGER VALID. IS THIS TRUE, I THOUGHT RECALLS WERE GOOD FOR 10 YEARS. WHAT TO DO? PONTIAC IS OUT OF BUSINESS? *JS

OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, MY BATTERY GOES DEAD WHEN THE TEMPERATURE APPROACHES OR GOES BELOW FREEZING. I REPLACED THE BATTERY ABOUT A YEAR AND HALF AGO BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY THE INCIDENTS HAVE CONTINUED. I USED TO KEEP MY CAR IN THE GARAGE AND THE INCIDENTS WERE MORE LIMITED. I NOW KEEP MY CAR OUTSIDE AND THE FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED TO ALMOST EVERY TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW FREEZING. SUCH AN INCIDENT IN JANUARY 2011 CAUSED MY CD PLAYER TO STOP WORKING. DECEMBER 2011 AND JANUARY 2012 THE INCIDENTS CONTINUED. I REMOVED THE STEREO HEAD UNIT IN CASE THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THE INCIDENTS OF THE BATTERY GOING DEAD HAVE CONTINUED WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE IS AROUND OR BELOW FREEZING.

I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 PONTIAC VIBE FROM A LOCAL PONTIAC DEALER BACK IN MARCH OF 2003. I USE THE CAR AS A SERVICE VEHICLE FOR THE COMPANY I WORK FOR AND HAVE KEPT THE MAINTENANCE UP ON IT FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS WITH GREAT DEPENDABILITY. ON 11/17/10 AROUND NOON MY ODOMETER FINALLY REACHED THE 299,999 MILE MARK AND I WAITED FOR IT TO CHANGE OVER TO 300,000 BUT IT NEVER DID. I WENT ON LINE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS. THE ONLY SOLUTIONS I FOUND WERE TO EITHER HAVE THE ODOMETER SET BACK TO ZERO, OR PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE IT REPLACED. MY CONCERN IS BREAKING ANY ODOMETER FRAUD LAWS IF I WERE TO SELL OR TRADE IT IN. IT SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO ME, I FEEL. I PLAN ON DRIVING THE CAR AS LONG AS IT LASTS. THANKS FOR YOUR SITE. *TR

WHILE LEAVING A STOPLIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND LOCKED UP BOTH FRONT WHEELS/AXLES COMPLETELY STOPPING THE CAR AND MAKING IT NOT MOVABLE EXCEPT BY A WRECKER TRUCK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE A READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2003 PONTIAC VIBE 5-SPEED. TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GRIND ITSELF UP AND STRAND THE CAR. FLUID CHANGED EVERY 30K MILES. FIRST TRANSMISSION DIED AT 70K MILES AND THE SECOND ONE NOW DIED AT 110K MILES. THIRD TRANSMISSION GETTING INSTALLED TO CORRECT A FAULTY DESIGN. BUYING A BRAND NEW ONE THIS TIME AND IT HAS COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SO FAR. *TR

2003 PONTIAC VIBE. UNIT #1 WAS TRAVELING EASTBOUND ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE AT MILE POST 90 IN THE CENTER LANE. #1'S RIGHT TIRE FAILED CAUSING #1 TO SPIN OUT, DRIVING OFF RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD BACKWARDS AND SIDE SWIPED THE GUARDRAIL. *LN ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDE WALL WAS BLOWN OUT WITH WIRES PROTRUDING FROM A HOLE. NO DEBRIS WAS STRUCK IN THE ROAD. THE TIRE FAILED WHILE IN OPERATION. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0384-90)*JB

WHILE DRIVING HOME ON THE EXPRESSWAY (DURING RUSH HOUR) AT AROUND 65 MPH THERE WAS A SUDDEN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THIS WAS AND LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED. IT BEING MICHIGAN AND IN THE 30'S IT HAS BEEN CLOSED THE ENTIRE SEASON. I WAS NOT DRIVING NEAR OR UNDER AN OVERPASS AT THE TIME SO I DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING WAS DROPPED ON IT. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I DISCOVERED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS HAPPENED TO THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SAFETY RECALL (07273) WITH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS AS THEY WOULD SUDDENLY BREAK AS WELL. THIS SERVICE WAS COMPLETED. COULD THIS BE RELATED? *TR

MARCH 12, 2011 THE MAIN HOOD LATCH FAILED TO MAINTAIN A LATCH LOCK ON A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WHILE VEHICLE WAS MERGING ON A HIGHWAY AND THE SAFETY CATCH FAILED TO "CATCH" AND THE HOOD OPENED. THIS ACTION PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM SEEING THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A SAFE STOP. *TR

THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT WINDOWS ONTO THE DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR OF THE 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. I HAD THE BOLTS REPLACED AT THE DEALER, SO THE WINDOW WOULD NOT SHATTER WHILE DRIVING OR FALL INTO THE DOOR FRAME. WELL, REPLACING THE BOLTS DOES NOT PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. THE WINDOW STILL FELL INTO THE DOOR FRAME ANYWAY AND CAN SHATTER AT ANYTIME. THE PLASTIC CLIPS THAT THE REPLACEMENT BOLT SCREWS INTO BREAKS EASILY WHICH RESULTS IN EITHER THE WINDOW SHATTERING WHILE DRIVING AND/OR FALLING INTO THE DOOR FRAMES. THEREFORE, THE RECALL DID NOT PREVENT THIS VERY UNSAFE EVENT FROM HAPPENING. PLEASE INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR THE PLASTIC CLIPS ON THE FRONT WINDOWS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT THE INITITAL RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ADDRESSED, BUT DID NOT. *LN