2003 Pontiac Vibe Window & Wiper Problems

Which parts fail

• Glass, side/rear
  37
• Power window devices and controls
  24
• Windshield
  3
• Windshield wiper/washer
  1

Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  712%
• 25k–50k
  1118%
• 50k–75k
  2237%
• 75k–100k
  1322%
• 100k–150k
  58%
• 150k+
  23%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Pontiac Vibe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. While attempting to lower the front driver's side power window, it sounded like grinding glass. The same noise occurring when raising the window back up. The contact had the window switch disconnected by an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 9-5058739349. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 208,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the front driver side window suddenly dislodged and collapsed inward. While inspecting the vehicle, the contact discovered that the plastic clips used to secure the window failed, which caused the window to become unsecured. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.

Recall on Pontiac Vibe # 07273a, May 28, 2008 I own a 2003 Pontiac Vibe, which has the above recall. The recall consists of defective bolts, which attach the front door windows to the window regulator. The recall states that the defective bolts could loosen and the window May become loose and shatter. The above-mentioned problem occurred to my Vibe January 8, 2008, before the recall was announced. The glass did drop out of the track and I brought it to a dealer for repair. The window glass was scratched when the window fell from the track. I have an extended warranty and the repair was completed but the glass was not covered. In early June I received a recall note on the Vibe describing the exact problem and brought the vehicle in to have the work completed. I advised the service consultant of the previous repair and showed him the scratch in the glass. …

The passenger side window on my 2003 Pontiac Vibe jumps out of position when the power windows are operated. I have had the factory recall on the bolts on this window which the dealer did, but when the dealer gave me back the car from replacing the bolts, the window was worse at jumping out of the window and almost broke. I can not operate the window because it jumps out at an angle and makes a loud noise. The dealer said they think the power window regulator on that side broke although it was not that way when we brought it in. It also looks as if the door stop May be hitting the window when the power windows are operated. This window has made some noises or not operated properly off and on since I bought the car new and I brought it in to the dealer a couple times while under warranty, but since the problem was off and on at that time, they could not find the problem. …

In May of 2009 while driving my car on the throgs neck bridge I heard a crash and a thump from the drivers side door. I grabbed onto the glass and held it in place. I was able to lock the window so it would not go down and proceeded on my way. I took it to a Pontiac dealership in massachuttes and I was told all damages would be covered because it was due to the recall number 08V162000 the door bolts that hold the window in place broke causing the window to crash and the glass to shatter. I was unable to get the window fixed in massachuttes so I brought the car to the dealership in old westbury, new york. This dealership GM Pontiac in hicksville told me nothing was covered except the bolts. I called the Pontiac dealership and one person told me that the Pontiac will cover the window. …

I drove on a main hwy in a more remote location at about 100km when all the sudden I heard a big bang. After collecting myself I realized I could not see forward at all the back mirror was knocked of the windshield and the side mirrors where marginally usable due to too much water and salt on the roads. We barely missed a big truck that was oncoming. I managed to pull partially off the road to then pull down the hood so I could see where I was going after which I pulled over to the shoulder. A nice person pulled over and tied down the hood so we could drive to the next city to call caa and not get stuck on the hwy in the dark, a safer place to be. We made it, but we could have hit the oncoming truck just as easily, we came really close to hitting him head on judging by looking out the side window. …

My Pontiac Vibe was involved in a recall because screws were becoming defective and causing damage to the window regulator, and broken windows. The local Pontiac dealership replaced the screws, put the door back together, and informed me that the regulator was bent. When I took the car to the dealership the main problem was that the window would fall when I would attempt to roll the window down, and put great pressure on the window. They told me that the regulator was my problem, and that it would costs me $300 to repair. Although this was the potential hazard leading to the recall. I am ashamed that GM and their dealers have no more concern for the safety of their customers than they demonstrated to me. I very strongly feel that GM should replace the regulator in the driver door of my Vibe. …

Condensation builds up on the inside of all windows of vehicle while parked for 6 hours. So much so, condensation was running down the inside of the windshield. This problem is unusual as I''ve owned numerous new vehicles in this geographical area. And none has had this amount if any condensation build up on the inside of the windshield. As I''m not sure if this is a valid complaint. Because yes after about 10 minutes of running the defroster the condensation clears. But I can''t imagine what would happen if the outside temperature went below freezing. Would I have a sheet of ice on the inside of my windshield? This is a brand new vehicle; there shouldn''t be any frost on the inside of the windows. I will contact the dealer to see if they''ve had any complaints of this nature or if they have any ideas of the cause. …

There was a recall to replace bolts that hold the front windows onto the door window regulator of the 2003 Pontiac Vibe. I had the bolts replaced at the dealer, so the window would not shatter while driving or fall into the door frame. Well, replacing the bolts does not prevent this from happening. The window still fell into the door frame anyway and can shatter at anytime. The plastic clips that the replacement bolt screws into breaks easily which results in either the window shattering while driving and/or falling into the door frames. Therefore, the recall did not prevent this very unsafe event from happening. Please institute a recall for the plastic clips on the front windows to solve the problem that the initital recall was supposed to have addressed, but did not.

Tl contact owns a 2003 Pontiac Vibe. The contact hears a horrific popping and squeaking sound whenever the front passenger side window is rolled halfway down. In May of 2008, she received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 08V162000 (visibility:glass, side/rear). The vehicle was repaired according to the recall, but the failure recurred one year later with the same window. The dealer stated that they would have to take apart the window to diagnose the failure; however, they would not be responsible for the repair cost. The contact believes that the diagnostic repair should be free since the vehicle was included in the recall. The failure mileage was 50,000 and current mileage was 60,000. Updated 08/14/09. Updated 08/17/09/

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Window & Wiper complaints in other Vibe years