NHTSA — Air Bags Problems

2004 Pontiac Vibe (Page 1 of 6)

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.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
12 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
19 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,003 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.

2004 Pontiac Vibe seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2004 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments (Page 1 of 6)

problem #102

Jan 302024

Vibe

  • miles

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

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?

- Maumee, OH, USA

problem #101

Oct 052023

Vibe

  • 100,000 miles
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 police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact-??s residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer nor the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not available.

- Toledo, OH, USA

problem #100

Jun 292023

Vibe

  • miles
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 repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Fenton, MI, USA

problem #99

Dec 122018

Vibe

  • 0 miles

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

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V883000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called the baker Cadillac of charleston dealer, located at 1621 savannah hwy, charleston, SC 29407) and it was confirmed that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Charleston, SC, USA

problem #98

Jan 212020

Vibe

  • 0 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 (air bags) and 15V043000 (air bags) the vehicle was taken to the john hiester Chevrolet dealer (919-552-4942, located at 3100 N main St, fuquay-varina, nc 27526) where the recalls were repaired. However, the contact was told that the driver's side air bag 'was high pressured' and needed to be repaired. The contact was told that the failure was not covered by the recall. The manufacturer not made aware of the failure. The failure was not repaired. The failure mileage was not provided.

- Willow Springs, NC, USA

problem #97

Dec 132011

Vibe

  • 135,000 miles
This vehicle's air bags were not properly deployed in the fatal accident totalling the car, and my injuries were more pronounced.

- Oak Forest, IL, USA

problem #96

Nov 142019

Vibe

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received recall notices for NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 (air bags) and 15V043000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall remedy. An unknown dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Santa Rosa, CA, USA

problem #95

Dec 182018

Vibe

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V883000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Lindsay Buick GMC (250 w shirley ave, warrenton, va 20186, (540) 987-2082) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the parts were available; however, no action was taken. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Warrenton, VA, USA

problem #94

May 282019

Vibe

  • 0 miles
Takata recall. Multiple attempts to update info at GM 'update your info ' page on website fail, claiming pin and name entered properly 'does not exist'. attempts to report are per the instructions on mailer from GM. I called GM, told me to go to website. Called dealer, told me to call GM. Endless dysfunctional loop. I sold the subject vehicle to woburn Toyota in woburn, MA 3 years ago. Obviously GM fails to update ownership searches, fails to operate reporting mechanisms properly (subject website and phone service).

- Cabot, VT, USA

problem #93

Apr 302019

Vibe

  • 81,000 miles
Took my car to kenny ross in North huntingdon, Pennsylvania 5 years ago to have the recalls done they had to order the parts never called saying the parts where in called several times said they didn't have the part. Took the car back to kenny ross Chevy dealership on Tuesday 4/30/2019 they said they would order the parts again. They called a few days later saying they couldn't fix the safety recall on my car cause of it being an older car. I believe this is wrong it is a safety recall that they refuse to fix cause it's older the car is still in good condition lower miles and they won't fix it I don't think I should have to ride all over the state to find a dealership to fix it they carry the GM name the are supposedly a certified service dealership but they will not fix a safety recall this has been going on for 5 years I think they need to be shut down and not carry the GM name totally ridiculous.

- Westmoreland City, PA, USA

problem #92

Feb 012019

Vibe

  • 0 miles

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

I am a 100% disable service-connected vietnam veteran with a ser-connected nervous condition, and GMC including the CEO has cause negligent infliction of emotional distress during my demand for them to answer my questions! GMC has been, what I believe to be intentionally & criminally with-holding demanded information that I request by 10S + 10S emails requested for the safety of my family lives, to reply to the question does my car now have a driver or passenger side airbag that contain ammonium nitrate with or without a drying agent! in an email I received from execreferral@GM.com General Motors received the letter you sent our CEO dated February 1, 2019, as well as the emails you have sent this week. I am responding on her behalf. --it is my understanding that you claim to have sustained emotional distress presenting your vehicle for airbag-related service at two different dealerships. According to your letter, you had a negative experience at bones Toyota, followed by a negative experience at white motors. Based upon these negative experiences, you expressed concern for your safety and stated your intention to contact attorneys about representing you in a lawsuit, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. I was told at white motors GMC and GMC that did not and would report my car to the NHTSA, for its faulty ignition switch where the ignition comes out while driving and ignition key does not unlock the door or hatch, creating a dangerous situation, such as in the faulty ignition switch issue in which GMC was Sep 20, 2018... a U.S. judge has dismissed a GM ignition switch criminal case after... safety of its vehicles, leading to 124 deaths from a faulty ignition switch.!

- Roanoke Rapids, NC, USA

problem #91

Feb 192019

Vibe

  • 156,026 miles
Takata recall I have a 2004 Pontiac Vibe that was part of two takata recalls, one which was done before I purchased the car. Recently after the GM dealership worked on it and replaced the passenger airbag on the vehicle, the red airbag light on the tachometer started glowing and has glowed since. I have another 2005 Vibe that has a similar issue that I just reported. GM and the dealership refused to fix the issue. This light was triggered after the recall was performed at the dealership. Why wouldn't this be covered and fixed if during the recall? instead GM and their dealership say that it isn't under warranty and their would be a diagnostic charge of $99 plus a cost to fix the issue. Seems like a safety issue and it was caused by the recall work.

- Niles, MI, USA

problem #90

Jan 032019

Vibe

  • 188,000 miles
Takata airbag. I took my 2004 Pontiac Vibe to capitol chev in austin, tx to have the airbags replaced iac with the recall. When I got it back, the air bag warning light was flashing. I asked the service adjustor and he said it came in that way. Well, I contact GM customer service and explained to them that the car has very been in an accident or the airbags have experience any problems till now. I advised them I can prove it as the car was serviced a month prior by Firestone. Well they said they will charge me $75 to do a check and I said no. Finally they decided to look at it again. Well, they could not find the problem. The service adjustor said the airbag and module is not connecting to the car computer to report it ready, armed, and on stand by. They found some corrosion on several plugs but that did not clear up the problem. Well now they want $750 to test the whole system to determine what is the problem. The problem did not start until I took it in for the airbag recall. I google GM recall and it appears they are only covering the airbags and modules, nothing after that if any problem arises from the incompability of new parts interfacing with old computers. So I picked up the car and parked it. So much for GM doing the right thing.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #89

Aug 152018

Vibe

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owned a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. While making a left turn at an unknown speed, the contact was involved in a front end collision with another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000. The VIN was invalid.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #88

Dec 182016

Vibe

  • 145,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received an unknown recall notice for the air bags and received the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated a yellow light prior to the recall repair. Afterwards, the air bag warning indicator illuminated a red light. The contact called the dealer that performed the recall repair (thurston auto plaza, 2800 N state street, ukiah, ca 95482; 707-832-4106) and was informed that the repair was completed and the warning indicator may indicate a separate failure. The dealer advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.

- Ukiah, CA, USA

problem #87

Oct 312017

Vibe

  • 180,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the air bag indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to ross Pontiac GMC (14 E main St, granville, NY 12832) where it was diagnosed that the air bag module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 180,000.

- Franklinville, NY, USA

problem #86

May 132015

Vibe

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 and 15V043000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called edd rogers Chevrolet Buick at (877) 789-3004 (674 w bockman way, sparta, tn 38583) on several occasions and was informed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Sparta, TN, USA

problem #85

Jun 272017

Vibe

  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 and 15V043000 (air bags); however, the parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called (carson motors, 200 buchanan St, carthage, il 62321, phone number: (217) 357-2925) and was informed that the parts were on backorder and would call when the parts became available. The manufacturer was not contacted and made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Warsaw, IL, USA

problem #84

Sep 202015

Vibe 4-cyl

  • miles
On 2/20/2015 my husband and I was in a real bad car accident in denham springs, la and yeah the accident was my husband's fault but my husband and I still really feel that the airbags caused our injuries and we can't even proof it was the airbags that caused our injuries and we would like to know how long the 2004 Pontiac Vibe has been under recall and here is the VIN number [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Thermopolis, WY, USA

problem #83

Feb 202015

Vibe 4-cyl

  • miles
2 years ago my husband and I was in a real bad car accident in denham springs, la on February 20, 2015 and yeah it was my husband's fault the injuries my husband got was a hurt knee and the injuries I got was a broken right pelvic and a broken right hip and arm and now I have foot drop real bad nerve testing and I was told that my head was in the glove box but I can't proof that and my husband and I really still feel that the airbags caused all injuries but there is no way to proof that either because my husband or my dad no longer has the car and it is really frustrating and upsetting and if someone would like to call me at [xxx]. from [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). ## VIN passed ## 2014 Pontiac Vibe ##

- Thermopolis, WY, USA

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