NHTSA — Engine Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

CarComplaints.com Notes: The Pontiac Vibe is the mechanical twin of the Toyota Matrix.

Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.

1.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
132,330 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Pontiac Vibe engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments

problem #2

Jul 272013

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 144,660 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I purchased this 2003 Pontiac Vibe for $4000 on 7/27/2013 from 49th street auto sales & repair. This car had incorrect engine installed. VIN: [xxx] was installed when I purchased. GM dealer verified the engine VIN # is from a 2007 Pontiac Vibe 4 cyl 1.8 L automatic transmission engine. Not a 16 valve 6 speed vehicle. Therefore thermostat sensor can't be attached, temperature sensor for radiator can't be attached, engine light has been disabled and transmission errors can't be corrected. Warning ask owner why he this vehicle was advertised to have a 4 cylinder Toyota Celica GT-S motor installed. Per mechanic ([xxx]) inspection my son was assured by him it only had 900 miles on it. It did not after $1241.20 in repairs just to make it safe to drive after the axle shaft fell out of the transmission at 70 mph. I'm from Michigan and drove this death trap of a car home with intense shaking on front right because axle wasn't even attached. My mechanic had to weld the axle. I have documentation from GM stating this engine should not be installed into this vehicle. Video from mechanic who identified engine VIN detailing all problems. I received a refund from this dealer through mediation with consumer protection Agency of pinellas county. This dealer is trying to sell this dangerous vehicle again!.49thstreetautosales.com/view/1427/tan-2003-Pontiac-Vibe-in-clearwater-fl information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #1

Sep 292014

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
I had been having problems with acceleration on my 2003 Pontiac Vibe and I was leaving my place of business a few days after the problem started and my rpms dropped to 0 while driving approximately 35mph and then it seemed to of "caught" and I drove to where I needed to go, I took my car to the shop and once it turned off it wouldn't restart. They seemed to think it was the fuel pump and recommended I take it back to where I originally got the vehicle 6 months ago since it was covered under warranty, so I did and they agreed it was the fuel pump they changed the fuel pump and was still having the same problem with not starting they took it to a dealer and after it sat there for 3 weeks leaving me without a car, I was then told it was the main computer for the car and will cost me $1100 to fix. However I still don't have my car back since I don't have the money to fix it. However I just received a recall notice for my car and one of the 3 recalls is for the ECM. Isn't that the same as the 'main computer' in the car and shouldn't the dealer fixed it at no charge and been made aware of this. So now I have been without a car for a month for what should of been fixed before I even bought the car.

- East Stroudsburg, PA, USA

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