There are 50 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Vibein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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
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.
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 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 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?
"TAKATA RECALL", I HAVE HAD MY AIRBAGS REPLACED PER TAKATA REQUEST HOWEVER THE AIRBAG INDICATOR IS STILL INDICATING A PROBLEM; IS IT SAFE OR NOT, THE MECHANICS HAVE NO ANSWER FOR ME?
TAKATA RECALL. BEEN WAITING FOR 6 MONTHS OR MORE FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN FROM DEALERSHIP..BACKORDER.
TAKATA RECALL-HAD THE CARE SERVICED FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL. TIME HAS PASSED; NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME,
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.
TOOK MY CAR FOR THREE RECALLS AT HERB CHAMBERS IN WARWICK THEY KEPT ME THERE FOR HOURS IN DID NONE OF THEM THEN TOLD ME THEY WOULD CALL THE NEXT DAY AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM IT'S BEEN OVER A WEEK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE DETAILS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. TH APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR 13030. AFTER THEY 'FIXED' IT MY AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I RECEIVED A RECALL FOR 14877. I TOOK IT TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. THEY ARE NOW FIGHTING WITH ME SAYING THAT THEY DID NOT DO THIS AND THEY WILL NOT FIX IT AS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. AFTER ARGUING WITH THEM, THEY DID RUN A FREE DX TEXT WHICH WOULD OF COSTED ME $90.00. AS OF TODAY MY VEHICLE ITS NOW CODING B1181 AND THAT THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO CHARGE ME $1,000.00 TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG AND COIL. HOWEVER I DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH MY AIRBAG LIGHT BEFORE THEY DID THE RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ UPDATED 10/04/16.*JB
MY PONTIAC VIBE 2003 PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS REPLACE IN A RECALL DO TO THE AIR BAG CAN CUT YOU UP WITH METAL PIECES WHEN DEPLOYED. WITH SAME MANUFACTURE MAKING BOTH AIRBAG IN MY CAR, WHY IS THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT GET REPLACE. HERE A CASE FROM 2014 DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 11/18/2014 DATE OF INCIDENT: 09/25/2013 COMPONENT(S): AIR BAGS , STEERING , UNKNOWN OR OTHER NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10659129 CONSUMER LOCATION: NORTH CANTON, OH CRASH:YES FIRE:NO NUMBER OF INJURIES:1 NUMBER OF DEATHS:0 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS LLC VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): 5Y2SL62873Z... SUMMARY: MY HUSBAND WAS CUT OFF ON AN EXIT RAMP ON 62EAST. WHEN HE CRASHED HE HIT A TREE HEAD ON CAUSING THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY AND CUT OPEN HIS HEAD. HE STILL HAS PAIN AND ISSUES WITHIN HIS ACCIDENT AREA AND I THINK THIS IS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG RECALLS AND FEEL THAT IF THERE ARE CONTINUOUS CHECKS AND ISSUES THAT WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN ANY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR THE NEGLIGENCE UPON THE ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG. DO I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL I GET HURT OR KILL WHEN MY DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG GET DEPLOY.
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.
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026