2003 Pontiac Vibe
The Verdict
The 2003 Pontiac Vibe has 308 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (130 complaints) and electrical (99 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 43/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Pontiac Vibe, consider the 2010 model year which has 81% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2010 has 81% fewer complaints
View the 2010 Pontiac Vibe dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 5
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 intern...
Risk
Inadvertent deployment of the airbags or the seat belt pretensioners may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Toyota will re-notify their owners who have already had their vehicles repaired with a noise filter, but did not receive a new airbag control module, and General Motors will re-notify theirs. Deal...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 v...
Risk
Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Toyota owners ...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 ...
Risk
An air bag that does not inflate properly increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the passenger air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2020. Owners may contact Pontiac customer ser...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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, CAU...
Risk
THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 200...
Reported Oct 4, 2008
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 DURIN...
Risk
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,...
Remedy
DEALERS WILL PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FR...
Reported Nov 3, 2002
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
The 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe was manufactured by Toyota and is for all intent and purposes is a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The 2003-04 Pontiac Vibe should be included in the "Do not drive" advisory issued by Toyota 20 Jan 30th 2024. Only the body is different than the Toyota Matrix and everything internal is the same. Please do not let this model fall through the cracks. January 30, 2024, Toyota issued a "do not drive" advisory for certain 2003–2005 car models due to concerns about their Takata airbags: 2003–2004 Corolla 2003–2004 Corolla Matrix 2004–2005 RAV4 The company says the Corolla and Matrix models are under a separate recall because their airbags can be deployed without a crash. The Takata air bag inflators are at risk of exploding and hurling shrapnel. Customers can check if their Toyota has a recall at www.toyota.com/recall or by contacting the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.
BUCKLE CAME UNLATCHED AND LATCH WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL DRIVER AND PASSENGER
The secondary safety hood latch failed causing the hood to fly up and shatter the windshield while also obstructing visibility on the road. The complete obstruction of the windshield presented a dangerous situation putting myself and others at risk of death of severe injury. In addition this caused glass shards to enter the driver/passenger compartment if the vehical further presenting risk to the occupants. The secondary hood latch mechanism appears to be extremely rusted and stuck in the "open" position. I am aware the NHTSA has issued a recall for a similar defect in the past (Nissan affecting 1.9 million vehicles).
I HAVE A2003 PONTIAC VIBE WHICH HAD ATAKATA RECALL. IN JANUARY 2020, I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER CALLED"QUALITY BUICK GMC OF ENGLEWOOD" LOCATED AT"406 GRAND AVE ENGLEWOOD NJ 07631 US" TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. SINCE THE DAY OF THE REPAIR THE LID ON TOP LEFT SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD HAD POPPEDUP AND DID NOT CLOSE FULLY. THAT IS WHERE THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG IN THE UPPER LEFT OF THE DASHBOARD IS LOCATED.I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A COSMETIC ISSUE THAT COULD BE IGNORED. THE CAR STARTEDMAKING INTERMITTENTNOISES SIMILAR TO A CLOCK SOUND SHORTLY THEREAFTER. I HAVE RARELY DRIVEN THE CAR DUE TO THE PANDEMIC SINCE THE REPAIR WAS DONE. BUT RECENTLY THE NOISE HAS BECOME STEADY. I HAD MY MECHANIC WHO SPECIALIZES IN TOYOTA CARS CHECK THE CAR IN APRIL 2021. MY MECHANIC HAPPENS TO BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAG ISSUE. HE SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG REPAIR DONE ON THE CAR IN 2020 IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THAT IS TO SAY MY CAR WAS MESSED UP AS A RESULT OF THIS SO CALLED RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER NOW REFUSES TO CHECK THE CAR TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THE RECALL REPAIR HAS BEEN DONE CORRECTLY.
BLOWER MOTOR NOT CLOSING OR OPENING ALL THE WAY MAKES NOISE GOES AWAY WHEN RECIRCULATION IS ENGAUGED COMES RIGHT BACK WHEN TURNED OFF
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPS WHEN GOING DOWN AIR RECIRCULATION LOWER MOTOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY DOES THIS ALL THE TIME ITSEEMS LIKE THE WINDOW IS GOING TO SHATTER
DASH LIGHTS GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME
REFERENCE GM RECALL NO. 07273: WINDOW REGULATOR BOLTS: RECALL REPAIR DONE IN 2008, RECALL WORK FAILED IN 2016 AND $311 WAS SPENT ON WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY AND LABOR. 2019/2020 THE REGULATOR IS FAILING AGAIN. WINDOW IS RATTLING, SLOW TO MOVE UP AND DOWN, INCLUDING LOUD SCRAPING NOISES. THIS HAPPENS IN ALL MODES OF MOVEMENT AND NON-MOVEMENT.
BUCKLE CAME UNLATCHED AND LATCH WILL NOT LOCK AT ALL
TAKATA RECALL TWO TIMES TRIED TO GET THIS RECALL FIXED FOR AIR BAGS, AS MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. BEEN SCREWED AROUND FROM THE DEALERSHIP. WASTED SO MUCH TIME ON THE PHONE AND TAKING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER. BOTH TIMES THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX THE RECALL SAYING THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT PART. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL IS A FAKE AND GM IS GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS ONLY TO APPEASE THE NHTSA, THE REALITY IS VEHICLES ARE NOT BEING FIXED AS PROMISED! SO DISAPPOINTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER BEING REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS). GARBER BUICK (5925 STATE ST, SAGINAW, MI 48603, (989) 497-4444) PERFORMED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. TWENTY DAYS LATER, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER A THIRD TIME WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUPPLEMENTAL INFLATABLE RESTRAINT (SIR) STEERING WHEEL MODULE COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WHICH WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,908.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. HOLIDAY AUTOMOTIVE (321 N ROLLING MEADOWS DR, FOND DU LAC, WI 54937) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A TAKATA RECALL. AFTER THE WORK WAS DONE, MY SRS LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORK THEY DID. THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY DIDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST SAID IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT, BUT I COULD PAY TO HAVE THEM HOOK UP THEIR COMPUTER TO DIAGNOSE THE CODE. I DIAGNOSED THE CODE MYSELF AND IT IS FOR AN "AIRBAG STAGE 2- OPEN CIRCUIT." I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER (AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER - BILL PIERRE CHEVROLET IN SEATTLE) WORKED ON MY AIRBAG SYSTEM AND THEIR WORK HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM FAULT THAT POPPED UP AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED. THEY DIDN'T DIAGNOSE THE CODE, THEY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE CAR, THEY JUST DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT, AND TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED OR EVEN LOOKED AT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. WALSER BUICK (2775 LONG LAKE RD, ROSEVILLE, MN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOWER THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW, IT SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING GLASS. THE SAME NOISE OCCURRING WHEN RAISING THE WINDOW BACK UP. THE CONTACT HAD THE WINDOW SWITCH DISCONNECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5058739349. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 208,000.
TAKATA RECALL RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR AIR BAG BEING FAULTY; HOWEVER HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTIFICATION WHEN OR WHERE TO HAVE IT REPLACED OR ANY MONETARY COMPENSATION, CAR RENTAL AND ALL THAT IS LISTED ON THE CLASS ACTION FILED?
I RECENTLY FOUND OUT FROM OTHER PONTIAC VIBE AND TOYOTA MATRIX OWNERS THAT THE ODOMETER STOPS RECORDING AT 299,999 MILES...THIS WAS A FACTORY GOOF AND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO GET WITH THEIR MANUFACTURER ABOUT IT AND SAID THAT IT WAS THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED/ODOMETER REFLASHED AT OWNERS EXPENSE...WE KNOW THAT THE OTHER VEHICLES THAT ARE BEING DRIVEN TODAY, THEIR ODOMETER CAN MAX OUT AT 999,999 MILES...IN MOST TO ALL STATES, IT IS ILLEGAL TO ALTER THE ODOMETER IN ANY WAY AND SHOULD HAVE CORRECT MILEAGE STATED EVERY TIME WE RENEW OUR REGISTRATION, BUT HOW CAN WE WHEN THEIR IS STILL ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, BUT CANNOT TRULY ADDRESS THEIR CORRECT MILEAGE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER PROGRAMMED THE ODOMETER INCORRECTLY....PLEASE OPEN A CASE AND CONSIDER A RECALL TO HAVE THE MANUFACTURER FIX THEIR PROBLEM....THANK YOU
TAKATA RECALL; I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION DIRECTING ME TO GO TO KOOL CHEVROLET FOR REPAIRS. PARTS WERE ORDERED AND A SERVICE PERSON CALLED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE. THE SERVICE MANAGER JASON IMMEDIATELY CALLED ME TO SAY THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE APPOINTMENT AND WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT AT KOOL TOYOTA NEXT DOOR RELATING TO INCOMPETENT WORK PERFORMED ON MY 2012 TOYOTA RAV4 TWO YEARS AGO. ARE TOYOTA AND GM NOW ONE AND THE SAME? WHY SOLICIT MY BUSINESS AND THEN REFUSE TO DO IT AFTER ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE? CAN A GM DEALER "BLACKBALL" A CONSUMER TRYING TO COMPLETE A LIFE THREATENING RECALL REPAIR? I WILL CONTEST IN ADVANCE ANY EXCUSE THAT KOOL CHEVROLET COMES UP WITH THAT THEY SAY JUSTIFIES THEIR INACTION TO PERFORM THIS LIFE THREATENING RECALL REPAIR.
TAKATA RECALL. BEEN WAITING FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN FROM DEALERSHIP..BACKORDER.
I JUST WISH TO INFORM YOU THAT THIS CAR WAS TRADED IN AT BASIL GM IN FREDONIA NYY THIS WAS IN AUG. 2015. I APPROACHED THEM BUT I STILL KEEP GETTING THESE RECALLS.
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