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2003 Pontiac Vibe: problems, recalls and fuel economy
The 2003 Pontiac Vibe has 8 recalls on file with NHTSA, and 6 of them involve air bags[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. Before buying or keeping one, check the VIN for open recalls, then look at the complaint patterns below[8].
Most reported problems
NHTSA lists 298 owner complaints for the 2003 Vibe[8]. Of those, 27 mention a crash, 35 injuries are reported, and none mention a fire or a death[8]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.
| Component group | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Visibility[10] | 74 |
| Air bags[11] | 66 |
| Power train[12] | 49 |
| Structure[13] | 24 |
| Electrical system[14] | 23 |
| Exterior lighting[15] | 14 |
| Speed control[16] | 13 |
| Engine[17] | 11 |
Visibility. This is the biggest group, with a median mileage at failure of 58,259[10]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe window or rear glass that broke while parked or while a window was moving, and windshields that crack from small stones or scratch easily. A few describe a defroster that quit or windows that fog up inside. Seven injuries are tied to this group[10].
Air bags. This group has 16 crashes and 18 injuries among 66 complaints[11]. In a sample of complaints we read, 10 of the 12 texts are owners saying the air bags did not deploy in a collision[11]. One describes air bags going off without a crash. These are owner accounts, and we cannot confirm the cause of any of them[11].
Power train. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe a clutch that slipped or failed early, in some cases before 15,000 miles[12]. Several of those texts mention a GT with a six-speed manual, and some owners say the dealer did not cover the repair[12]. The median mileage at failure for the group is 65,000[12].
Other groups. In a sample of complaints filed under structure, 7 of the 12 texts are about an instrument panel that is hard to read in bright sun[13]. Speed control has 13 complaints, with 5 crashes and 3 injuries[16]. The engine group has 11 complaints and no crashes or injuries[17].
Recalls
NHTSA lists 8 recalls for this model year[1]. Newest first:
- Passenger air bag module (20V039). Issued January 23, 2020[2]. It covers cars whose passenger air bag was replaced under an earlier recall. The replacement may not inflate properly in high heat, which raises injury risk in a crash. Dealers inspect the module and replace it as necessary, free of charge. 554 vehicles are potentially affected[2].
- Passenger air bag inflator (18V883). Issued December 12, 2018[3]. The inflator can explode as its propellant breaks down, sending metal fragments at occupants with a risk of serious injury or death. Dealers replace the inflator or the whole air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall also includes cars that had their air bag replaced before[3].
- Passenger air bag inflator (15V286). Issued May 13, 2015, for cars sold or registered in Florida, along the Gulf Coast and in several other listed areas[5]. The inflator can rupture in a crash and throw metal fragments, with a risk of serious injury or death. Dealers replace the passenger front air bag, free of charge[5].
- Passenger air bag inflator (15V285). Issued May 13, 2015, for all other US states[4]. The risk is the same as above, an inflator that can rupture and cause serious injury or death. Dealers replace the front passenger air bag[4].
- Air bag control module (15V043). Issued January 28, 2015[6]. Electrical noise can make a part of the control module fail, so front air bags, side air bags or seat belt pretensioners may go off while driving. That raises the risk of injury or a crash. Dealers replace the control module, free of charge. Cars that got only a noise filter under earlier campaigns need the new module[6].
- Air bag circuits (13V029). Issued January 30, 2013[7]. Internal shorting in the air bag circuits can cause the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to go off by mistake, with a higher risk of injury or a crash. Dealers replace the control module, free of charge. Cars that earlier got only a filter harness are covered too[7].
- Door glass bolts (08V162). Issued April 10, 2008, for cars with power windows[18]. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts can loosen, so the glass can separate from the window regulator, bind and shatter. That can distract or injure the driver. Dealers fit newly designed bolts, free of charge[18].
- Rear axle bolts (02V074). Issued March 11, 2002, for certain two-wheel drive cars[19]. Bolts holding the rear brake and hub assembly may be loose from assembly. If all four came off completely, the assembly could separate and the driver could lose control. Dealers tighten the bolts[19].
None of these facts say how many cars were repaired, so a used car may or may not have had the work done. Ask the seller for proof, or check the VIN on the NHTSA recall site.
Fuel economy
EPA lists five versions of the 2003 Vibe, all with a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine[20][21][22][9][23].
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | EPA annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Front-wheel drive, automatic 4-spd, regular[20] | 25 / 31 / 27 | $2,500 |
| All-wheel drive, automatic 4-spd, regular[21] | 22 / 29 / 25 | $2,700 |
| Front-wheel drive, automatic 4-spd, premium[22] | 23 / 28 / 25 | $3,300 |
| Front-wheel drive, manual 5-spd, regular[9] | 25 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 |
| Front-wheel drive, manual 6-spd, premium[23] | 22 / 28 / 24 | $3,400 |
The manual 5-spd is the most efficient at 28 combined MPG[9]. The all-wheel drive version gives up 2 MPG combined against the front-wheel drive automatic on regular[20][21]. The EPA fuel cost uses today's fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.
Safety ratings
NHTSA gives the 2003 Vibe a rollover rating of 4 stars[24].
Engine and size
The EPA lists a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine for every version[20][21][22][9][23]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US cars.
How 2003 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 298 | 8 |
| 2004 | 266 | 7 |
| 2005 | 301 | 5 |
| 2006 | 177 | 5 |
| 2007 | 172 | 5 |
| 2008 | 63 | 4 |
| 2009 | 528 | 9 |
| 2010 | 58 | 8 |
Here are the complaints and recalls NHTSA has on file for each Vibe model year[1]. The numbers are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 298 | 8 |
| 2004 | 266 | 7 |
| 2005 | 301 | 5 |
| 2006 | 177 | 5 |
| 2007 | 172 | 5 |
| 2008 | 63 | 4 |
| 2009 | 528 | 9 |
| 2010 | 58 | 8 |
All figures in the table come from[1]. By complaints, 2003 is third highest of the eight years, behind 2009 and 2005[1]. By recalls, 2003 ties with 2010 for second place, behind 2009[1].
Should you buy a used 2003 Vibe?
The recall list is the main thing to sort out. Six of the 8 recalls involve air bags, and three of them warn of serious injury or death if an inflator ruptures[3][4][5][1]. A car with proof that these recalls were completed is a very different purchase from one without it. Fuel economy is reasonable, from 24 to 28 MPG combined depending on version[20][21][22][9][23]. Owners in the complaint sample describe early clutch wear on the manual cars[12], so it is fair to have the clutch checked on a manual, and a pre-purchase inspection is still worth doing because our data does not cover repair costs or reliability ratings.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Pontiac Vibe?
- By complaint count, visibility leads with 74 complaints, then air bags with 66 and power train with 49[10][11][12]. In the complaint texts we read, owners describe broken glass, air bags that did not deploy and early clutch wear[10][11][12].
- How many recalls does the 2003 Pontiac Vibe have?
- NHTSA lists 8 recalls, and 6 involve air bags[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The others cover door glass bolts and rear axle bolts[18][19].
- What is the gas mileage of the 2003 Pontiac Vibe?
- EPA ratings run from 24 to 28 MPG combined[23][9]. The manual 5-spd gets 28 combined, and the all-wheel drive automatic gets 25 combined[9][21][23].
- Is the 2003 Vibe the year with the most problems?
- No. Of the eight model years, 2009 has the most complaints at 528, ahead of 2005 at 301 and 2003 at 298[1].
Facts and sources
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Pontiac Vibe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- Recall 20V039, filed January 23, 2020: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 18V883, filed December 12, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V285, filed May 13, 2015: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V286, filed May 13, 2015: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V043, filed January 28, 2015: Air Bags › Frontal. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 13V029, filed January 30, 2013: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
- NHTSA has 298 owner complaints on file for the 2003 Pontiac Vibe (27 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 35 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA rating for Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 33 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 74 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 58,259). NHTSA vehicle records
- 66 complaints name the air bags component group (16 crashes, 0 fires, 18 injuries, median mileage at failure 87,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 49 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 65,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 24 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,444). NHTSA vehicle records
- 23 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 67,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 14 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 13 complaints name the speed control component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 34,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 11 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 08V162, filed April 10, 2008: Visibility › Glass, Side / Rear. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 02V074, filed March 11, 2002: Power Train › Axle Assembly. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 31 highway / 27 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,500. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Vibe AWD, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 23 city / 28 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 28 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: rollover 4 stars. NHTSA vehicle records
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VIBE / BASE: length 172 in, width 70 in, height 62 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 2,705 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VIBE / GT: length 172 in, width 70 in, height 62 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 2,806 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VIBE/ AWD: length 172 in, width 70 in, height 62 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 2,981 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov