MYRModel Year Report

2004 Pontiac Vibe

◆ Worse than typical
2004 Pontiac Vibe
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
266
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2004

Investigations
5

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Air bags

39% of complaints

Complaints per year

2000: 1 complaint 2000 2001: 1 complaint 2002: 1 complaint 2002 2003: 298 complaints 2004: 266 complaints 2004 266 2005: 301 complaints 2006: 177 complaints 2006 2007: 171 complaints 2008: 63 complaints 2008 2009: 527 complaints 2010: 58 complaints 2010 2014: 1 complaint
2000: 1 complaint 2000 2001: 1 complaint 2001 2002: 1 complaint 2002 2003: 298 complaints 2003 2004: 266 complaints 2004 266 2005: 301 complaints 2005 2006: 177 complaints 2006 2007: 171 complaints 2007 2008: 63 complaints 2008 2009: 527 complaints 2009 2010: 58 complaints 2010 2014: 1 complaint 2014
2000: 1 complaint 2000 2001: 1 complaint 2001 2002: 1 complaint 2002 2003: 298 complaints 2003 2004: 266 complaints 2004 266 2005: 301 complaints 2005 2006: 177 complaints 2006 2007: 171 complaints 2007 2008: 63 complaints 2008 2009: 527 complaints 2009 2010: 58 complaints 2010 2014: 1 complaint 2014

2004: 266 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
20001
20011
20021
2003298
2004266
2005301
2006177
2007171
200863
2009527
201058
20141

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Air bags

39% · 104 reports

Most commonly citing frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-05

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

NHTSA ODI report, 2019-12-11

Tl* 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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-08-15

Visibility

29% · 76 reports

Most commonly citing power window devices and controls and glass, side/rear.

INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Car was in park when I was in the process of putting down the driver side electric window. When it was going down it made a loud noise and then stopped going down any further.

NHTSA ODI report, 2014-08-09

I had two events of failed front door windows on 2004 Pontiac Vibe one with broken glass all over drivers seat, received only minor cuts cleaning up as far as I can tell the windows came out of the track and with great force shattered.

NHTSA ODI report, 2007-10-01

Driver's side power window began sticking at a certain point when rolled up or down. Rolled window up and window shattered while driving.

NHTSA ODI report, 2007-04-30

Structure

9% · 24 reports

Most commonly citing body and door.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle slid and crashed into a wall. The contact mentioned that the passenger side air bag deployed, but the seat was not being occupied.

NHTSA ODI report, 2015-02-02

Electrical system

5% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing 12v/24v/48v battery and interior/under dash.

Power train

5% · 12 reports

Most commonly citing manual transmission and clutch assembly.

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 5 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2004Complaint volume 266 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2007-09-27Preliminary evaluationClosed 2008-02-05 Side front window shatters
  3. I
    2008-02-05Engineering analysisClosed 2008-05-01 Side front power window shatters
  4. R
    2008-04-16Visibility08V162000 Toyota is recalling 662,178 my 2003-2004 corolla, corolla matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with power windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts may loosen and come off…

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts with newly designed bolts free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2008 to Toyota owners. The recall began on May 21…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2013-03-13Air bags13V029000 Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to…

    Remedy: Toyota will re-notify their owners who have already had their vehicles repaired with a noise filter, but did not receive a new airbag control module, and General Motors will re-notify theirs.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  7. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. R
    2015-07-13Air bags15V285000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March...

    Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2015-07-13Air bags15V286000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally...

    Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. R
    2015-08-24Air bags15V043000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29,...

    Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  11. R
    2019-01-23Air bags18V883000 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2020-02-19Air bags20V039000 General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the passenger air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2020. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2004 Pontiac Vibe — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Air bags: 104 reports on file for this year.
  • Visibility: 76 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 24 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 08V162000 · Visibility
  • Recall 13V029000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V285000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V286000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V043000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V883000 · Air bags
  • Recall 20V039000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2004 Pontiac Vibe reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2004 Pontiac Vibe is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Pontiac Vibe?
The most-reported component is air bags, accounting for 39% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2004 Pontiac Vibe have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.