2003 PONTIAC VIBE Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE OVERDRIVE FEATURE FAILED TO DISENGAGE ON COMMAND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,334.

Mileage: 173,334

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL, WORKING VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEARS. IT APPEARS TO BE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY THAT IS THE DEFECTIVE PART. CAR ISN'T DRIVABLE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PICK UP AND GO. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS HAVE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. *TR

Mileage: 148,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. AFTER ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000.

Mileage: 199,000

2003 PONTIAC VIBE 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. BEARINGS FAILED RESULTING IN GRINDING NOISE. MECHANIC SAYS THIS COULD'VE RESULTED IN CATASTROPHIC LOCK-UP OF TRANSMISSION LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO BE KILLED BEFORE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE ENDEMIC TO PONTIAC VIBE AND TOYOTA MATRIX 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. *JS

Mileage: 62,000

JUST LEAVING FOR A TRIP FROM MICHIGAN TO TENN. DRIVING 70 MPH ON I-75 SOUTH WHEN COMING DOWN A STEEP OVER PASS, I HEARD RATTLING IN MY ENGINE AND THUMPING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SPOT ON I-75 WITH MANY TRUCKS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED COMING DOWN FROM THIS OVERPASS. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, IT WAS A FLAT TIRE. WHEN I BARELY COASTED TO A SEMI-SAFE SPOT MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT AND SAID THE TIRE IS NOT FLAT. I SHIFTED MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 6 SPEED VIBE GT INTO 1ST GEAR LET OFF THE CLUTCH ONLY TO FIND IT DIDN'T RESPOND. UPSET BECAUSE I HAD JUST BECOME UNEMPLOYED 3 MOS PRIOR AND VOLUNTARILY RETURNED MY 2012 CHEVY SONIC BACK TO THE CREDIT UNION. WITHDREW WHAT I HAD IN MY 401K TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE TO ENSURE TRANSPORTATION THAT WAS PAID IN FULL ONLY 6 WEEKS AGO. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH THIS YEAR PONTIAC VIBE. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WHICH IS AN OBVIOUS FLAW AT THE MANUFACTURER LEVEL. *TR

Mileage: 141,000

MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 225,000 MILES ON IT. 3 TIMES AT APPROXIMATELY 70,000, 140,000, AND 215,000 MILES, MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD GOING DOWNHILL AT 40MPH. THE SECOND TIME I HAD JUST MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN AT @ 20MPH TO GET ON THE FREEWAY, THE THIRD TIME I WAS GOING STRAIGHT DOWN A CITY STREET AT 10MPH. IN EACH CASE, THE CAR JUST STOPS WHILE DRIVING AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR CAN BE STARTED UP AFTER WITHOUT A PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC BELIEVES IT IS A COMPUTER ISSUE, OUTSIDE OF THAT, HE CAN'T COME UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE. NO ERROR GETS LOGGED ON THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED OVER THE YEARS VERY WELL. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE I DRIVE A LOT OF FREEWAY MILES AND IF THIS OCCURS WHILE I AM IN TRAFFIC I AM SURE A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WILL OCCUR. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING A STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

Mileage: 65,000

WHILE LEAVING A STOPLIGHT, THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND LOCKED UP BOTH FRONT WHEELS/AXLES COMPLETELY STOPPING THE CAR AND MAKING IT NOT MOVABLE EXCEPT BY A WRECKER TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 134,567

2003 PONTIAC VIBE 5-SPEED. TRANSMISSION BEARINGS FAILED, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GRIND ITSELF UP AND STRAND THE CAR. FLUID CHANGED EVERY 30K MILES. FIRST TRANSMISSION DIED AT 70K MILES AND THE SECOND ONE NOW DIED AT 110K MILES. THIRD TRANSMISSION GETTING INSTALLED TO CORRECT A FAULTY DESIGN. BUYING A BRAND NEW ONE THIS TIME AND IT HAS COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SO FAR. *TR

Mileage: 70,152

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/13/10

Mileage: 75,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT NOTICED A RATTLING SOUND FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 49,000.

Mileage: 49,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD, HUMMING NOISE WHICH SEEMED TO COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 02V074002 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY) AS HE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,800.

Mileage: 125,000

2003 PONTIAC VIBE. HAS A TOYOTA ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY QUIT PULLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY,WITH NO WARNING. THE COMPLETE FAILURE LEFT THEM STRANDED IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOW LOCATION WHERE A COLLISION WAS PROBABLE. NEITHER WERE INJURED AND A COLLISION WAS AVOIDED. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE WEB I FOUND A LOT OF SIMILAR STORIES REPORTED IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TOYOTA TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

A SLIGHT NOISE WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WORSENED OVER THE COURSE OF A 800-MILE TRIP. THE NOSE WAS A RHYTHMIC SOUND THAT WAS DETECTABLE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN GEAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. THE MECHANICS WERE FAMILIAR WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL YEAR CAR WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. UPON INSPECTION, THEY FOUND A CLUSTER SHAFT BEARING WAS DESTROYED. WE WERE LUCKY AND HAD STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR SOON ENOUGH THAT THERE WAS NO COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION. HAD WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT IS LIKELY THE BEARING WOULD HAVE BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED SENDING BALLS AND FRAGMENTS INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ULTIMATELY, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH, IN A WORST CASE SITUATION, COULD HAVE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE. HAD THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A CRASH WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY. ONCE THE DAMAGED CLUSTER SHAFT BEARING WAS FOUND IN OUR TRANSMISSION, IT WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW PART. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REASSEMBLED AND RETURNED TO SERVICE. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

GRINDING NOISE BEGAN TO OCCUR UNDER VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION IN ONLINE FORUMS, MANY OTHER TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE OWNERS HAD THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE RESULTING IN TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE MAIN SHAFT BEARING. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

HAD A CODE P0770 SHOW UP. NEEDS NEW SHIFTER SOLENOID. COST IS VARIABLE BUT UPWARDS OF $2,000. HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON INTERNET, LOTS OF OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEMS ON THE '03 VIBE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2003 PONTIAC VIBE (5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) RESULTED IN DIFFICULT VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE PULLING TO THE SIDE OF I-95. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED AS DUE TO FAULTY BEARING IN TRANSMISSION. CORRELATES WITH MANY REPORTS IN ONLINE FORUMS OF SAME VEHICLE HAVING TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 100,00 +/- 20,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 98,812

PONTIAC VIBE WITH ABOUT 80,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEIZED CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCK AND THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL TEMPORARILY. LUCKILY NO INJURIES DUE TO LACK OF SPEED AND TRAFFIC SITUATION. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO GENERAL MOTORS, AND THEY MADE NO OFFER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE LOCAL GM DEALER WANTED $3500 TO DO THE REPAIR. I DID NOT HAVE THAT MONEY, SO I OPTED TO BY A USED TRANSMISSION AND HAVE A LOCAL SHOP INSTALL IT FOR A TOTAL OF $1300. I DO NOT HAVE THE BROKEN TRANSMISSION ANYMORE. I NOW HAVE ABOUT 140,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SEIZED AGAIN. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS THAT SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED AS A RESULT OF ON OF THESE TRANSMISSIONS SEIZING AND CAUSING THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HEARD OF MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE ACT BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE ON THE FREEWAY THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROZE UP CAUSING SUDDEN DECELERATION AND THE ENGINE TO DIE. I BRIEFLY LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NARROWLY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BEFORE GETTING THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND DESCRIBED IT AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE ISSUE IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2003 TRANSMISSIONS MADE BY TOYOTA IN PONTIAC VIBES AND MATRIX. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE JUST STOPPED RUNNING IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. BY SEARCHING THE WEB THERE APPEARS TO BE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF THESE TRANSMISSION FAILURES 2003 PONTIAC VIBE, AWD. *TR

Mileage: 114,263

2003 5 SPEED TRANS WENT OUT AT 103,000 MILES AFTER I WAS TOLD WAS DUE TO FAULTY BEARINGS. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

TRANS WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME AFTER 55,000 MILES. CURRENTLY 158,000 MILES ON CAR AND HAVE TO REPLACE WITH A 3RD TRANS. *TR

Mileage: 155,000

WITH NO ADVANCE WARNING, MANUAL TRANSMISSION CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE JERKED TO STOP AND WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. MECHANIC FOUND A BROKEN TRANSMISSION DRUM REQUIRING COMPLETE TRANSMISSION REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 58,030

WE HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE WITH THE STANDARD 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED (BY MYSELF, NOT THE DEALER). TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT ROUGHLY 82,000 MILES. YES, THIS REALLY RUINED OUR CHRISTMAS IN 2006 AS IT HAPPENED ON CHRISTMAS EVE WITH MY WIFE AND (THEN) 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. YES, IT REALLY STUNK THAT IT WAS JUST ENOUGH OUT OF WARRANTY TO NOT GIVE US ANY PROTECTION. HERE'S A FUNNY THING, THOUGH, THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING. WHEN WE WENT TO GET THE CAR AFTER BEING REPAIRED (AT A LITTLE COUNTRY GARAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE) THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THE PREVIOUS MONTH WITH ANOTHER PONTIAC VIBE WITH THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. STRANGE COINCIDENCE IN A TOWN WHERE THE POPULATION IS LESS THAN 2000, I THINK. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $3000 AND STILL HAVE THE OLD ONE- THINKING THAT IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL A RECALL WAS PLACED ON THIS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE (TOYOTA MATRIX SISTER VEHICLE) TRANMISSION FAILED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM RELATED TO A DEFECTIVE OUTPUT BEARING IN MANY/ALL 2003/2004 VIBE/MATRIX VEHICLES EQUIPED WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THIS IS NOT IS NOT A HIGH VOLUMN VEHICLE OR COMMON CONFIGURATION BUT DISCUSSIONS ON THE INTERNET LEAD ME TO BELIEVE TOYOTA AND GM ARE IGNORING A MAJOR (EXPENSIVE) VEHICLE RECALL INCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE.

Mileage: 100,000

WE WERE DRIVING TO MY PARENTS HOME FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. ON THE INTERSTATE, IN FIFTH GEAR, AT A SPEED OF 65 TO 70 MILES/HR, THE CAR STARTED MAKING A HIGH WHINING SOUND WHICH WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY A CLUNK AND GRINDING NOISE. WE PULLED OVER. NOTHING WAS VISIBLE. WE LIMPED TO THE EXIT AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. UPON INSPECTION, THE REAR PINION SHAFT BEARING HAD FAILED IN THE TRANSMISSION, RUINING THE REAR CASE ASSEMBLY, PINION SHAFT AND BOTH FIFTH GEARS. BOTH FIFTH GEARS HAD BROKEN TEETH AND WERE REPLACED. THE INITIAL REPLACEMENT SET OF 5TH GEARS WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED ( THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF 5TH GEAR). THE SECOND REPLACEMENT SET WAS INSTALLED AND FOUND TO BE THE WRONG RATIO AND HAD TO BE REORDERED. THE THIRD SET OF REPLACEMENT FIFTH GEARS WAS INSTALLED ON FEB. 12TH 2008 AND SEEMS TO BE WORKING CORRECTLY AS OF TODAY. THE WHOLE PROCESS TOOK 7 WEEKS TO COMPLETE. *TR

Mileage: 86,700

2003 PONTIAC VIBE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. SHE WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT BECAUSE A USED TRANSMISSION WILL COST HER ABOUT $2,000. *KB

MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 58,000 MILES. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE. TWO BLOCKS LATER IT CAME TO A DEAD STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND COULD NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY. PONTIAC WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. THIS IS THE SAME CAR AS A TOYOTA MATRIX. THERE ARE MANY, MANY INCIDENTS OF BOTH MATRIXES AND VIBES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT LOW MILEAGE. *TR

Mileage: 58,500

CLUTCH ON 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT BURNED OUT AT 52,000 MILES. PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER 2 WEEKS AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS, I PICKED THE CAR UP AND IT WAS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. RETURNED CAR TO DEALER. THE SECOND CLUTCH THEY INSTALLED IN CAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE THIRD CLUTCH WAS OK, BUT CAR IS STILL NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. CALLED PONTIAC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID I SHOULD CHECK WITH THE DEALER ABOUT ANY PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD NO FACTORY WARNING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. CLEARLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH FLY WHEELS. *JB

Mileage: 51,000

CLUTCH FAILURE AT 39,980 MILES. *AK

Mileage: 39,980

2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT - REPLACED CLUTCH ONCE AND DEALERSHIP AFTER 25K MILES THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. 10K MILES LATER IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AGAIN. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE THAT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT ACCELERATED BACKWARDS INTO A TREE. THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THAT TIME. THIS HAS HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE WITHOUT HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. A COLLISION WAS PREVENTED BY TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS WERE MADE . THE CONSUMER SPOKE WITH GM, WHO OFFERED NO EXPLANATION. GM HAS NOT RETURNED THE CONSUMER'S CALL AT THIS TIME. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT SHE COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH CONFIDENCE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK (12/01/05) THE CONSUMER EXPECTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE CAR RENTAL. *SC

Mileage: 58,000

THE CLUTCH STARTED TO SLIP SO I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED I WOULD NEED A NEW CLUTCH AND PLATE. ASKED WOULD NOT THIS BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAVE ONLY 47,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH IS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM SO IT WOULD NOT COVER IT, EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH SHOULD NOT OF WORN OUT THIS FAST. THE MECHANIC AGREED WITH ME ON THIS ISSUE. IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE REPAIRED IT COST $1000 FOR THE LABOR, CLUTCH, AND PLATE. *NM

Mileage: 47,000

BOUGHT CAR WITH 500 MILES, COULD EASILY SLIP MANUAL CLUTCH AND RESULT IN 'BURNING SMELL'. COULD EASILY SLIP CLUTCH ANYTIME AFTER PURCHASE. AROUND 24K MILES CLUTCH HAS HARD TIME HOLDING IN GEAR, VERY EASY TO SLIP CLUTCH. AT 26K MILES, CLUTCH NO LONGER HOLDS UPHILL IN HIGH GEAR. ON WAY TO HONEYMOON THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AT SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING THE CAR TO JUMP TO RED-LINE ON THE TACHOMETER FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE I MANUALLY CLEARED THE CRUISE CONTROL. MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE CLUTCH ON THIS CAR (2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT) TO BE HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC WITH A SHORT LIFE-SPAN. GM WOULD NOT COVER THE CLUTCH AND CALLED IT 'USER WEAR AND TEAR', EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE, AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE HAVE HAD CARS WHOSE CLUTCHES HAVE LASTED 100K+ (INCLUDING MYSELF). DEALER CHARGED $600 TO REPLACE CLUTCH (LABOR), AND WANTED ANOTHER $800 IN PARTS, WHICH WERE FOUND FOR AROUND $150 ELSEWHERE. GM KNOWS THE CLUTCH IN THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE YET DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM ON NEWER MODELS, AS WELL. *NM

Mileage: 26,000

MY CLUTCH HAS BEEN ACTING UP WITH A STRONG BURNING ODOR SINCE JUNE 2004 AROUND 32,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 53,000 MILES AND IT CONSTANTLEY SLIPPING. ON JUNE 26TH 2004 GENVIBE.COM HAD A MEET AT JOSEPH PONTIAC IN FENTON, MI. JEFF STRAUSSER, THE VIBE BRAND QUALITY MANAGER, CAME TO THE MEET ALONG WITH 7 OTHER GM NUMMI ENGINEERS. I HAVE PHOTOS TO PROVE IT, THERE POSTED AT GENVIBE.COM! JEFF STRAUSSER ADMITTED AT THE MEET GM KNEW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH FAILING IN THE VIBE GT MODELS AND HE WAS IN CONTACT WITH TOYOTA TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HE ALSO TOLD ME WHEN MY CLUTCH GOES OUT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. I INFORMED JEFF STRAUSER MY WARRANTY WAS RUNNING OUT, HE STOPPED ME AND SAID DON'T WORRY ABOUT WE KNOWS THERE'S A PROBLEM, I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT. JEFF STRAUSER HAS BEEN RECENTLY PROMOTED TO ANOTHER MODEL, AND NOW GM REFUSES TO ADMIT TO ANY ISSUES, OR TO COVER IT THE REPAIR. BUT THEY'LL FIX IT FOR $1,400.00. MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE OR HAVE HAD IT REPLACED, MANY MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE UNTIL THEY CHANGE THERE FLAWED DESIGNED PARTS. WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY TO FIX THERE DEFECTS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ANYONE IN MY VIBE GT, WE'LL LET A JURY HEARD ABOUT IT. *NM

Mileage: 53,000

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT. I EXPERIENCED CLUTCH SLIPPAGE/FAILURE AT 30,000 MILES. I CONTACTED GM (FILE NUMBER 1-357754321) AND EXPLAINED THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO GM DEALER AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT A) MY CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES AND B) IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR". THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT WAS ROUGHLY $1400 AND WHEN I COMPLAINED TO GM I WAS TOLD, VERY NICELY, THAT IT WAS "UP TO MY DISCRETION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT I APPROVE THE DIAGNOSTIC ($700) AND SUBSEQUENT REPAIR" . OF COURSE, NOT REPAIRING THE PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PART BECOMES MORE WORN. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SEVERAL VIBE GT OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ... ON YOUR WEB SITE ALONE, 5 OF THE 15 POSTINGS REGARDING THE VIBE COMPLAINED OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ANOTHER SITE HTTP://FORUMS.GENVIBE.COM/ HAS SEVERAL POSTINGS THAT ADDRESS THE ABOVE PROBLEM. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE VIBE CLUTCH AND COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CLUTCH FAILS ON AN INEXPERIENCED AND/OR UNAWARE DRIVER ... GIVEN THE FACT THE GM MARKETS THE VIBE TO COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS THIS SCENARIO IS VERY LIKELY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION DRIVER, HAVING OWNED 3 (INCLUDING THE VIBE) AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT ANY OF THEM HAVE NEEDED A CLUTCH REPLACEMENT BEFORE 80,000 + MILES. *NM

CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING IN FALL 2004. I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2002 WITH 325 MILES ON IT. SOLD TO ME AS NEW WITH FULL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THAT OF COURSE EXCLUDED BRAKE PADS AND CLUTCH LINER. I DRIVER WITH ALMOST 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MY 4TH VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AFTER BEING ADVISED IN MARCH 2005 THAT VEHICLE COULDN'T PASS NY STATE INSPECTION DUE TO CLUTCH PROBLEM. INSPECTOR WOULD NOT EVEN HOOK IT UP TO MACHINE. OF COURSE DEALER SERVICE SAID THEY NEVER HEARD A NOISE OR ANY VEHICLE NEEDING CLUTCH REPLACEMENT AT 30000 MILES. THEY WOULD NOT ABSORB COST, AND I HAD TO REPLACE TO THE TUNE OF $1300.00 AFTER THEIR GENEROUS DISCOUNT OF 10%. AFTER I COMPLAINED ABOUT ORIGINAL QUOTED PRICE OF NEARLY $1500.00. I SAY THIS, WITHOUT SARCASM, THEY WERE VERY NICE, JUST WOULDN'T ALLOW WARRANTY COVERAGE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IT WAS AFTER HAVING A DIFFERENT ONE OVERNIGHT THAT I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH LESS THAN 15 MILES ON ODOMETER THAT EXHIBITED PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. DEALER TRIED TO SAY IT JUST NEEDED AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT I REFUSED TO KEEP THE CAR, AND HAD SERVICE MANAGER AT THAT TIME CHECK VEHICLE. HE ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VEHICLE WHEN I REFUSED REPAIR. THAT SERVICE MANAGER IS NO LONGER WITH THAT DEALERSHIP, SO I HAD NO WAY TO COLLABORATE THIS INFORMATION WITHOUT GOING BACK TO SALES. I AM HALFWAY THROUGH A FOUR YEAR LEASE. DID NOT DRIVE MUCH BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND FEBRUARY 2003 AS I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 29,000

CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING IN FALL 2004. I PURCHASED VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2002 WITH 325 MILES ON IT. SOLD TO ME AS NEW WITH FULL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, THAT OF COURSE EXCLUDED BRAKE PADS AND CLUTCH LINER. I DRIVER WITH ALMOST 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS MY 4TH VEHICLE WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AFTER BEING ADVISED IN MARCH 2005 THAT VEHICLE COULDN'T PASS NY STATE INSPECTION DUE TO CLUTCH PROBLEM. INSPECTOR WOULD NOT EVEN HOOK IT UP TO MACHINE. OF COURSE DEALER SERVICE SAID THEY NEVER HEARD A NOISE OR ANY VEHICLE NEEDING CLUTCH REPLACEMENT AT 30000 MILES. THEY WOULD NOT ABSORB COST, AND I HAD TO REPLACE TO THE TUNE OF $1300.00 AFTER THEIR GENEROUS DISCOUNT OF 10%. AFTER I COMPLAINED ABOUT ORIGINAL QUOTED PRICE OF NEARLY $1500.00. I SAY THIS, WITHOUT SARCASM, THEY WERE VERY NICE, JUST WOULDN'T ALLOW WARRANTY COVERAGE. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IT WAS AFTER HAVING A DIFFERENT ONE OVERNIGHT THAT I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH LESS THAN 15 MILES ON ODOMETER THAT EXHIBITED PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. DEALER TRIED TO SAY IT JUST NEEDED AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT I REFUSED TO KEEP THE CAR, AND HAD SERVICE MANAGER AT THAT TIME CHECK VEHICLE. HE ADMITTED THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VEHICLE WHEN I REFUSED REPAIR. THAT SERVICE MANAGER IS NO LONGER WITH THAT DEALERSHIP, SO I HAD NO WAY TO COLLABORATE THIS INFORMATION WITHOUT GOING BACK TO SALES. I AM HALFWAY THROUGH A FOUR YEAR LEASE. DID NOT DRIVE MUCH BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND FEBRUARY 2003 AS I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 29,000

CLUTCH SLIPPAGE / FAILURE -- AT 43,000 MILES (BOUGHT USED CERTIFIED AT 30,000). HUGE NUMBER OF SAME PROBLEM LISTED ON MATRIXOWNERS.ORG AND VIBEMATRIX SITES. DROVE 1984 HONDA ACCORD 115,000 MILES WITH NO CLUTCH REPLACEMENT -- NOT AN OPERATOR PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE $1200 FOR REPLACEMENT CLUTCH.*AK

Mileage: 43,500

I'M FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT INSUFFICIENTLY ENGINEERED CLUTCHES IN PONTIAC VIBE GTS/TOYOTA MATRIX XRS. MY GIRLFRIEND (WHO'S NAME THE CAR IS UNDER) AND I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT THAT WE PURCHASED NEW. WE'RE BOTH EXPERIENCED STICK DRIVERS, AND HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR CONSERVATIVELY, BUT BY 10,000 MILES THE CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING. OUR DEALER CLAIMED THAT IT WASN'T POSSIBLE THAT IT WAS SLIPPING. IT STARTED LIGHTLY, BUT THE CLUTCH WAS COMPLETELY GONE BY 12,000 MILES. NOW IN THE SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT, WE'VE BEEN INCONVENIENCED BY DAYS OF HAVING ONLY ONE CAR (NO LOANER CAR IF THEY THINK IT'S YOUR FAULT), AND ALSO HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS REPAIR WILL NOT BE A WARRANTY REPAIR BECAUSE IT'S OUR INABILITY TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROPERLY THAT HAS RESULTED IN THE PREMATURE WEAR. I HAVE MANY YEARS WITH STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS, AND HAVE NEVER KNOWN AN ABUSED CLUTCH TO GO AS FAST AS THIS ONE DID. *AK

Mileage: 12,000

CLUTCH SLIPPAGE/ FAILURE @ 27K MILES ESPECIALLY WHEN MANEUVERING DIFFICULT TRAFFIC AND NEIGHBORHOODS WITH THE INCREASING INSTANCE OF SMELLING CLUTCH PARTICULARLY IN REVERSE INTO A DRIVEWAY. PROBLEM WAS RECTIFIED BEFORE CRITICAL FAILURE WITH A CENTER FORCE DUAL FRICTION CLUTCH. THERE WAS SOME CONCERN THAT MY TEMPOR MAY HAVE OVER BOUGHT, BUT I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN HAPPIER. *JB

Mileage: 27,000

THE CAR HAS A HORRIBLE RATTLING SOUND WHEN BACKING UP OR AT A LOW IDLE. *AK

Mileage: 30,000

2003 VIBE WITH 33K MILES. CLUTCH FAILED. HAVING NEW CLUTCH ASSEMBLY INSTALLED. WHY WOULD A CAR WITH ONLY 32K MILES NEED THIS? THANK GOODNESS MY DEALER IS COVERING THE REPAIR. *JB

Mileage: 31,000

CLUTCH SLIPPING AND IS NEARING FAILURE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 15000 MILES. APPEARS MANY ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE WITH THE 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. *AK

Mileage: 15,000

PONTIAC VIBE GT 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION INFERIOR OR DEFECTIVE, FROM THE SHOW ROOM TO 20,000 MILE THE CAR SHIFTED FUNNY AND REV. HIGH SERVICE SAID IT WAS FINE AND THEN I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW CLUTCH AT 20,000 SAID THAT I BURNT THE CLUTCH UP AND THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE CLUTCH. YOU WILL SEE ALOT OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE GT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 20,980

I HAVE A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT AND AM EXPERIENCING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLING/GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE GEARBOX THAT BEGAN AT APPROXIMATELY 13K MILES. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE A GRINDING SOUND OR SOMETHING LOOSE IN THE GEARBOX ON DECELERATING OR CONSTANT SPEEDS IN FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FORTH GEARS. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE GRINDING/RATTLING NOISE GOES AWAY. THE NOISE CAN BE REPLICATED BY KEEPING THE ENGINE SPEED AT 1600 RPM'S I SENT A FAX TO THE SERVICE MANAGER OF PARKS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC ON 09/23/2003 DESCRIBING THE GEARBOX PROBLEM IN DETAIL AND I SPOKE WITH HIM VIA THE TELEPHONE. HE ASSURED ME THE PROBLEM WOULD BE ADDRESSED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO PARKS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC ON 09/24/2003 AT 0740 HOURS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 0945 HOURS CONTACTED ME AND THEY STATED THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS FIXED. THE SERVICE REP STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH A LOOSE CLIP. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY FOUND CARGO FASTNER CLIPS IN THE REAR CARGO AREA THAT WERE THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THEY HEARD THE NOISE FROM THE GEARBOX WHEN THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND IT WAS NORMAL. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TEST DRIVEN BY TWO PEOPLE AFTER THE CARGO FASTNER CLIPS WERE REMOVED AND THE NOISE WAS GONE. I SPOKE WITH A PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTIVE ON 09/25/2003. THE SERVICE REP CONTACTED THE SERVICE MANAGER IN REGARDS TO THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. THE SERVICE REP AGREED WITH ME THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS NOT LOGICAL FOR A NOISE COMING FROM THE GEARBOX. THE NOISE WAS NOT CAUSED BY CARGO FASTNER CLIPS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. IN REGARDS TO THE CARGO FASTNER CLIPS THEY HAVE BEEN REMOVED SINCE SEPTEMBER 2002; THE CLIPS SCREW INTO A RAIL ON THE FLOOR OF THE TRUNK AND COME WITH STRAPS TO SECURE CARGO IN THE TRUNK. SINCE PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FROM PARKS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC ON 09/24/2003, THE NOISE FROM THE GEARBOX STILL EXISTS AND NOTHING WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP.

Mileage: 13,000

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FAILURE ON VIBE GT (6SPEED MANUAL) AT 32,000 MILES. FLYWHEEL REQUIRES EXTENSIVE RESURFACING ACCORDING TO DEALER. DEALER HAS DECLINED TO COVER REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, CLAIMING THIS IS NORMAL WEAR ON A 15-MONTH-OLD VEHICLE. CLUTCH BEGAN EXHIBITING SYMPTOMS OF DIFFICULTY AS EARLY AS 10,000 MILES, BUT NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE US. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL (HYDRAULIC AND CABLE) FOR 20+ YEARS, AND THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR.

Mileage: 32,000

CONSUMER NOTICE WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT VEHICLE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR DOES NOT LIGHT UP CAUSING CONSUMER UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS WITHOUT DEFAULT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DESCRIBES THAT WHILE THE GEAR IS ON PARK THE VEHIICLE WILL ROLL. DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. MR