2003 PONTIAC VIBE Complaints

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:*JB

AIRBAG MODULE FAILURE AT 49000 MILES....DEALER NOR PONTIAC WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT PROBLEM UNLESS I PAY THE $520.00. *JB

THE RED INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURN ON INITIALLY WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED BUT THEN TURN OFF, OCCASIONALLY TURNING BACK ON FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE OFF THE ODOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND ALL OTHER DASHBOARD GAUGES CANNOT BE SEEN IN DAYLIGHT OR AT NIGHT. I NOTICED THAT THIS STARTED OCCURRING AFTER I HAD THE CAR WASHED AND THE OIL CHANGED (HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY USED THIS GARAGE). IT APPEARS TO BE POSSIBLY A SENSOR PROBLEM. THE ONLY PROBLEMS THAT IT HAS CAUSED IS NOT KNOWING THE HOW FAST I AM DRIVING AND HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE. THE LIGHT WORKS THAT SHOWS THAT THE GAS IS CLOSE TO EMPTY. HAVE NOT TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER YET. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A FRONTAL IMPACT. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED. THERE ARE POLICE REPORTS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED WOBBLING. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE AND BOTH REAR TIRES WERE FLAT. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE TIRES HAD PRESSURE OF 12 PSI. A HAND PUMP WAS USED TO INFLATE ALL THREE TIRES. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 30 MILES THE TIRES WERE FLAT AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REQUESTED THAT THE TIRES BE SENT BACK TO THEM FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE TIRE IS A PROXES TPT AND THE TIRE LINE IS P205/55R16. UPDATED 02/26/04. *JB

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 - *NM

DT: THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. UPON INSPECTION THEY ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN AND IT SHATTERED. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO PAY FOR THE LABOR BUT NOT THE PARTS TO FIX THE WINDOW.*AK

2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT - REPLACED CLUTCH ONCE AND DEALERSHIP AFTER 25K MILES THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 10K MILES LATER IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AGAIN. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE THAT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS INTO A TREE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THAT TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE WITHOUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. A COLLISION WAS PREVENTED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS WERE MADE . THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH GM, WHO OFFERED NO EXPLANATION. GM HAS NOT RETURNED THE CONSUMER'S CALL AT THIS TIME. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH CONFIDENCE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK (12/01/05) THE CONSUMER EXPECTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CAR RENTAL. *SC

THE CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED I WOULD NEED A NEW CLUTCH AND PLATE. ASKED WOULD NOT THIS BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY 47,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM SO IT WOULD NOT COVER IT, EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH SHOULD NOT OF WORN OUT THIS FAST. THE MECHANIC AGREED WITH ME ON THIS ISSUE. IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE REPAIRED IT COST $1000 FOR THE LABOR, CLUTCH, AND PLATE. *NM