repaired · 2021 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An air bag that does not inflate properly increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
2003 Pontiac VibeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 298 owner complaints about the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, most often about the visibility. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-039 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 14, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Bill Crittenden assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5.
Complaints by system
Where the 2003 Pontiac Vibe has problems
298 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
74Visibility6 crash/fire/injury
66Air bags17 crash/fire/injury
49Power train1 crash/fire/injury
24Structure1 crash/fire/injury
23Electrical system
14Exterior lighting
13Vehicle speed control
9Seat belts
9Engine and engine cooling
4615 other systems11 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 74 | 6 |
| Air bags | 66 | 17 |
| Power train | 49 | 1 |
| Structure | 24 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 14 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 5 |
| Seat belts | 9 | 3 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 46 | 11 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2003 Pontiac Vibe recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2021 Q3
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2021 Q3
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
repaired · 2021 Q3
Air bags
Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle…
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2016 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash.
no report yet
Air bags
Risk. Inadvertent deployment of the airbags or the seat belt pretensioners may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash.
no report yet
Visibility: glass, side/rear
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.
no report yet
Power train: axle assembly
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.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.
Mileage at failure
When do visibility problems start?
58kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 58 visibility complaints. 93% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles54under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Power train
10 owners mentioned a cost$1,450median
Middle half: $1,250 – $2,000
Visibility
9 owners mentioned a cost$250median
Middle half: $130 – $300
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2003 vs. every other Vibe year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Vibe median. How we score
'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'14
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2003 Pontiac Vibe safety ratings
2003 Pontiac Vibe 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (0.0% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, and the recalls they led to.
- SIDE FRONT POWER WINDOW SHATTERSLed to recall 08V-162
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 15E-041
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
- SIDE FRONT WINDOW SHATTERSNo recall
- Air Bag Inflator RuptureLed to recall 14E-073
In owners' words
What Vibe owners report
Recent visibility complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
INITIAL RECALL (#08V162000) FOR LOOSE WINDOW BOLTS CONDUCTED IN 2008. RECENTLY NOTICED DRIVER SIDE FRONT DOOR WINDOW AGAIN LOOSE AND RATTLING WHEN WINDOW IS PART WAY DOWN (AS BEFORE WITH ORIGINAL RECALL IN 2008). CONCERN IS THE WINDOW GLASS COULD BECOME DISENGAGED FROM LIFTING TRACK AND SHATTER…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOW WOULD BECOME STUCK AND WAS UNABLE TO BE CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE REGULATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW GLASS BOLTS LOOSENED AND SEPARATED FROM ITS HOUSING CAUSING THE WINDOW TO SEPARATE FROM THE MANUAL WINDOW REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BOLTS NEEDED TO…
Own a 2003 Vibe?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.