2003 PONTIAC VIBE Complaints

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS RESULT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. *AK

WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT, THE WARNING THE REAR GLASS SHATTERED. *AK WHEN THE REAR GATE WAS TOUCHED TO OPEN THE WINDOW, IT EXPLODED. PONTIAC REPLACED THE WINDOW AND SAID THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE WHY THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. *SC THE CONSUMER AND ANOTHER PERSON WERE SLIGHTLY INJURED. *JB

STRONG SULPHUR ODOR FROM EXAUST, SEEMS WORSE IN THE WARMER MONTHS. DEALER INITIALLY SAID IT WAS THE TYPE OF GAS, BUT NOW CLAIMS ALL VIBES HAVE THE ODOR AND THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS CAR! I CALLED CUSTOMER CARE AT PONTIAC WHO CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEN AGREED WITH THE DEALER. *MR

INSTRUMENT PANEL CHROME PLATING IMPAIRS VISIBILITY WHEN SUN REFLECTS OFF IT. *AK

WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, THE INTERIOR GEAR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. (1) HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. (2) ENGINE IS STARTED IN THE DARK (NO DAYLIGHT) WHEN THE ENGING IS STARTED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATE BUT THE GEAR LIGHTS (P,R,N,D.L) DO NOT. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON (EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH REMAINS IN THE OFF POSITION...THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE AUTOMATIC LIGH SENSOR)BUT THE GEAR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THERE IS A 30-45 SECOND DELAY FOR THE GEAR LIGHTS TO APPEAR. THIS MEANS I AM SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE OPTION OF PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, BUT THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE GEAR LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE DASH LIGHTS. NOW, THERE IS AN INCREASING DELAY. I BELIEVE EVENTUALLY THE GEAR LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. TO ME, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE GEAR LIGHTS SHOULD BE VISIBLE. MY DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS TELL ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT. MY SISTER'S 2004 PONTIAC VIBE DOES NOT OPERATE THIS WAY. *AK

THE WINDOWS DIDN'T "WIPE" CLEAN OF THE RAIN DROPS WHEN THE CONSUMER ROLLED THEM DOWN. *PH THE RUBBER WINDOW GUARDS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW DID NOT WIPE THE WINDOW WHEN THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. THIS CONDITION CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY OUT OF ALL FOUR WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL COVERED UNDER IT'S 36000 MILE TWO YEAR WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM

ROTTEN EGG SMELL IN CABIN OF 2003 VIBE. THE DEALER SAID THAT GM IS AWARE OF ISSUE, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. THIS SMELL IS UNACCEPTABLE, WE ARE GOING TO SELL THE CAR. NO MORE GM'S FOR US. *AK

CLUTCH SLIPPING AND IS NEARING FAILURE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 15000 MILES. APPEARS MANY ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE WITH THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING SUN GLARES ON THE DASHBOARD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER CONTROLS ON THE DASHBOARD. DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM. *AK

PONTIAC VIBE GT 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION INFERIOR OR DEFECTIVE, FROM THE SHOW ROOM TO 20,000 MILE THE CAR SHIFTED FUNNY AND REV. HIGH SERVICE SAID IT WAS FINE AND THEN I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH AT 20,000 SAID THAT I BURNT THE CLUTCH UP AND THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE CLUTCH. YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE GT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK