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.
2004 Pontiac VibeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 266 owner complaints about the 2004 Pontiac Vibe, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 7 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 March 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2004 Pontiac Vibe has problems
266 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
104Air bags14 crash/fire/injury
70Visibility10 crash/fire/injury
24Structure2 crash/fire/injury
12Power train
12Electrical system
11Vehicle speed control
8Engine and engine cooling
8Latches/locks/linkages
7Tires
4316 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 104 | 14 |
| Visibility | 70 | 10 |
| Structure | 24 | 2 |
| Power train | 12 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 12 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 8 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 1 |
| 16 other systems | 43 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2004 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 3 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.
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 air bags problems start?
107kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 26 air bags complaints. 42% were reported before 100,000 miles.
0under 30k miles11under 100k miles15100k 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.
Visibility
10 owners mentioned a cost$335median
Middle half: $194 – $550
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
2004 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
2004 Pontiac Vibe safety ratings
2004 Pontiac Vibe 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (14.0% risk)
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2004 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 air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
As there is a NHTSA recall notice on the 2004 Toyota Matrix for a Takata air bag risk of explosion with shrapnel, should there also be a similar notice on the 2004 Pontiac Vibe, which is practically the same vehicle and was manufactured at the same plant in CA?
The contact’s father owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that after her father started the vehicle, the air bag inadvertently deployed without warning. As a result, the contact’s father sustained a mild concussion, and burns to the left and right arms that required medical attention. A…
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Own a 2004 Vibe?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.