NHTSA has 266 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Pontiac Vibe[1]. The air bags group is the biggest, with 104 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.
- Air Bags. 104 complaints[2]. Owners describe warning lights that come on with no warning, worries that the bags might not work in a crash, and repair parts that were not available when a notice arrived.
- Visibility. 70 complaints[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe glare from shiny dash trim, damp carpets, and side windows or sunroofs that cracked or shattered.
- Structure. 24 complaints[6]. Owners describe paint that chips and pits early, loose roof insulation, and door trim that wears out.
- Electrical System. 12 complaints[7]. The stories are few, so we say little here.
- Engine. 12 complaints[8]. Again the stories are few.
- Power Train. 12 complaints[9]. Owners describe clutches that wore out sooner than they expected and transmissions that failed and needed a tow or a replacement.
- Speed Control. 11 complaints[10].
- Unknown Or Other. 10 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2004 Vibe is necessarily included.
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (20V039), January 2020. About 554 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V883), December 2018. About 168,993 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
- Air Bags (15V285), May 2015. About 1,973,468 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended.[14]
- Air Bags (15V286), May 2015. About 1,069,055 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
- Air Bags › Frontal (15V043), January 2015. About 1,006,849 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[16]
- Air Bags (13V029), January 2013. About 887,709 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[17]
- Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear (08V162), April 2008. About 662,178 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, parts separating. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[18]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[19] | 25 / 31 / 27 | $2,500 |
| Vibe AWD, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive[20] | 22 / 29 / 25 | $2,700 |
| Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] | 25 / 33 / 28 | $2,400 |
| Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive[21] | 22 / 29 / 25 | $3,300 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR None[22] | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4 | 14.0% |
Engine and size
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
How 2004 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 |
NHTSA's counts for the Vibe show 266 complaints and 7 recalls for 2004[3]. Among the 8 model years listed, 4 have fewer complaints than 2004 and 3 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2010 (58) and the most are for 2009 (528)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2004 Vibe?
The 2004 Pontiac Vibe has 266 complaints on file[1]. Air bags and visibility lead the list[2][5]. Owners also describe paint and trim wear[6] and clutch or transmission trouble[9]. These are unverified owner reports, not adjusted for sales, and the by-year facts list 7 recalls[3]. If you are shopping for one, ask for service records and have a mechanic check the air bag system, the clutch and the paint.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Pontiac Vibe?
- Owners filed 104 complaints about air bags[2] and 70 about visibility[5]. Structure, with paint and trim wear, has 24[6].
- Does the 2004 Pontiac Vibe have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year facts list 7 recalls[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for each one.
- Is the 2004 Pontiac Vibe reliable?
- NHTSA has 266 complaints on file[1]. They are unverified and not adjusted for sales, so use them as a guide and not a verdict.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2004 Pontiac Vibe?
- See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
- Is the 2004 Pontiac Vibe a good year to buy?
- See the by-year comparison on this page. Complaint counts for this year are in[3].
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Pontiac Vibe
Compare all model years of the Pontiac Vibe
Other Pontiac models from 2004
Similar cars from 2004: station wagons
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 266 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Pontiac Vibe (18 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 33 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 104 complaints name the air bags component group (13 crashes, 1 fires, 19 injuries, median mileage at failure 106,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Pontiac Vibe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- 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
- 70 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 10 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 24 complaints name the structure component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the engine component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 18,500). NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,250). NHTSA vehicle records
- 11 complaints name the speed control component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 53,200). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 89,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 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
- Recall 08V162, filed April 10, 2008: Visibility › Glass, Side / Rear. 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, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 29 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.0%. 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