2003 Pontiac Vibe Body & Structure Problems

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).

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

I DROVE ON A MAIN HWY IN A MORE REMOTE LOCATION AT ABOUT 100KM WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN I HEARD A BIG BANG. AFTER COLLECTING MYSELF I REALIZED I COULD NOT SEE FORWARD AT ALL THE BACK MIRROR WAS KNOCKED OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE SIDE MIRRORS WHERE MARGINALLY USABLE DUE TO TOO MUCH WATER AND SALT ON THE ROADS. WE BARELY MISSED A BIG TRUCK THAT WAS ONCOMING. I MANAGED TO PULL PARTIALLY OFF THE ROAD TO THEN PULL DOWN THE HOOD SO I COULD SEE WHERE I WAS GOING AFTER WHICH I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. A NICE PERSON PULLED OVER AND TIED DOWN THE HOOD SO WE COULD DRIVE TO THE NEXT CITY TO CALL CAA AND NOT GET STUCK ON THE HWY IN THE DARK, A SAFER PLACE TO BE. WE MADE IT, BUT WE COULD HAVE HIT THE ONCOMING TRUCK JUST AS EASILY, WE CAME REALLY CLOSE TO HITTING HIM HEAD ON JUDGING BY LOOKING OUT THE SIDE WINDOW. THIS IS A POSSIBLY DEADLY FLAW IN THE HOOD CLOSING MECHANISM I BELIEVE THAT WILL SOME DAY COST SOME PERSON THERE LIVE!! WE WHERE LUCKY. IN THE END THE HOOD IS TOAST, THE WINDSHIELD IS FRIED AND THE ROOF IS DENTED, WE ALSO NOW HAVE A KNOCKING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH WAS NOT PRESENT BEFORE. *TR

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE FRONT HOOD AND THE WHOLE ROOF OF MY CAR HAS ALL OF IT'S PAINT ALMOST GONE.THE REST OF THE CARS PAINT IS GOOD BUT NOT THE FRONT HOOD AND WHOLE ROOF. THANK YOU *TR

MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WAS INVOLVED IN SAFETY RECALL 07273: "THE BOLTS IN THE FRONT DOOR THAT ATTACH THE WINDOW TO THE WINDOW REGULATOR MAY BEGIN TO LOOSEN, RESULTING IN A POPPING OR CLICKING SOUND WHEN THE WINDOW IS OPERATED. THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING WINDOW OPERATION, WHICH COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE INJURY." THE DATE ON THE RECALL NOTICE IS MAY, 2008. THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY VEHICLE WAS IN FACT MAKING A "POPPING" SOUND WHEN OPERATED. I FIRST SCHEDULED AN APPT. WITH THE PONTIAC DEALER (DID NOT INCLUDE NAME OF DEALER HERE, AS INSTRUCTIONS STATE NOT TO INCLUDE NAMES) ON JUNE 20, 2008. MY CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR 1 - 1 1/2 HOURS; HOWEVER, WHEN I RECEIVED IT BACK FROM THE DEALER, THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S STILL MADE THE SAME "POPPING" SOUND WHEN OPERATED. THE DEALER AGREED TO LOOK AT THE CAR AGAIN, AND I TOOK IT BACK ON JULY 22, 2008. THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT TO FIX THE "POPPING" SOUND, I MUST PAY APPROXIMATELY $230 FOR A "LINK" IN THE DOOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY IN FACT DID ANYTHING AT ALL TO REPAIR MY CAR FOR THE SAFETY RECALL. *TR

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

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

NUMBER 2 ABOVE - OUR PONTIAC MONTANA 2003 VAN HAS THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. THE DOOR SLIDES BACK INTO PLACE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED. IT IS SUPPOSE TO GO BACK TO AN OPEN POSITION WHEN THE DOOR TOUCHES A PERSON OR AN OBJECT. OUR CONCERN IS IT TAKES ALL OF MY BODY WEIGHT FOR THIS DOOR TO GO BACK. SO IF OR WHEN A CHILD MIGHT GET HIS ARM OR EVEN HEAD IN BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE DOOR CLOSING IF HE WERE STARTING TO GET OUT OF THE VAN IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY SINCE THE DOOR WOULD NOT JUST GO BACK AS IT SHOULD. OUR GRANDSON DID GET HIS FINGERS/HAND CAUGHT IN IT AND THE BUTTON HAD TO BE PUSHED TO RELEASE HIM. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. IT IS NOT WHEN THE CHRYSLER VANS WHICH MY NIECE OWNS HAS THE SAME TYPE SET UP AND WHEN YOU JUST TOUCH HER DOOR AS IT'S CLOSING IT GOES RIGHT BACK OPEN. WE REALLY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE THIS COULD CAUSE A CHILD. I WAS TRYING TO DEMONSTRATE TO SOME FRIENDS WHEN WE FIRST GOT THE VAN HOW THE DOOR WOULD GO BACK NOT KNOWING IT WOULD TAKE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE DOOR FOR IT TO GO BACK AND IT BRUISED MY ARM. THE WAY THIS DOOR WORKS NOW WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER MONTANA UNLESS THIS FEATURE IS CORRECTED. WE WOULD DEFINITELY GO TO A CHRYSLER VAN NEXT. THEIRS IS MUCH SAFER. WE HAVE 8 GRANDCHILDREN AND THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN EVERYTIME THEY GO WITH US IN THE CAR. *NM

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

2003 PONTIAC VIBER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSATATE TODAY AT 70 MPH NO OVER HANGING OBJECTS, NO CARS INSIGHT, SUNROOF EXPLODES, SHOWERING GLASS ON US, AND STARTLING US WITH LOUD NOSIE. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED THIS.*AK THANKS

I OWN A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT. THERE IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE VISIBILITY OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, DURING SUNNY TIMES WEARING SUNGLASSES AND DURING MORNING AND EVENING HOURS WHEN THE LIGHT SENSOR TURNS ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND DIMS THE PANEL LIGHTS. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO READ READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION SUCH AS SPEED! I CAN'T AVOID DRIVING MY CAR IN CERTAIN LIGHTNING CONDITIONS. *NM

IN AUGUST OF 2004 WHILE CAMPING MY 18 MONTH OLD SON WAS GETTING OUT OF OUR 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA WHEN HE INSTINCTIVELY REACHED BACK INTO THE VAN TO GRAB HIS SIPPY CUP THAT HE DROPPED WHILE THE DOOR WAS STARTING TO CLOSE, HIS HAND BECAME PINCHED IN THE SLIDING DOOR. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HE HAD DROPPED HIS CUP, SO I LOOKED AWAY TRYING TO GRAB HIS TWIN BROTHER BEFORE PEOPLE IN NEIGHBORING CAMP SITES YELLED IMMEDIATELY THAT THE DOOR HAD ACTUALLY CLOSED COMPLETELY ON HIS HAND. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS BROKE BECAUSE HIS HAND WAS SO SMALL AND IT HAPPENED JUST UNDERNEATH THE PROTECTIVE STRIP SO IT ACTUALLY CLOSED COMPLETELY. I CONTACTED SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS AND SPOKE TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE AT GM REGARDING THIS MATTER AND THEY PRETTY MUCH ALL TOLD ME (AFTER HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS FROM THEM) THAT I SHOULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING MY KIDS BETTER AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE TO STOP COMPLETE CLOSURE OF OBJECTS UNFORTUNATELY LARGER THAN MY 18 MONTH OLD SONS HAND. ALSO I HEARD A LOT OF SORRY AND THIS IS UNFORTUNATE THAT IT HAD TO HAPPEN BUT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO FOR ME. *JB

THEY MADE THE 2003 VIBE WITH SEE THROUGH PLASTIC MOLDING, YOU CANT SEE IT UNLESS YOU ARE UP CLOSE, ANY SMALL THING THAT HITS IT IT DAMAGES THE PLASTIC AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS CHIPPED SEVERELY...GM WILL NOT HONOR THE BUMBER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FOR THAT SHE SAID THATS WHAT ITS THERE TO DO...HOW CAN IT PROTECT THE PAINT IF IT CANT PROTECT ITS SELF....ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. RON HERNANDEZ

VEHICLE IS ONLY 7 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO RUST ON AND AROUND THE ''VIBE'' EMBLEMS.

I NOTICED MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HANDLE WELL AT ALL IN SNOWY WEATHER. IN 4 INCHES OF SNOW I GOT STUCK THREE TIMES AND FINALLY JUST HAD TO STAY HOME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THIS AND IT WAS STATED TO ME THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED BY THIS, IF I HAD KNOWN THE VEHICLE HANDLES SO POORLY I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED IT.*JB

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS UNREADABLE IN DAYLIGHT WHILE WEARING SUNGLASSES.*AK

DASH LIGHTING IS VERY HARD TO SEE DURING BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS. *PH *NM

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

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE SUN SHINE REFLECTED ON THE DASHBOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. *AK IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT THE DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, ENGINE MONITOR GAUGES, AND THE RADIO WERE NOT VISIBLE DUE TO THE DESIGN AND RED ILLUMINATION. *SCC *JB

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