Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Pontiac Vibe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 190,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. While the front driver's side window was going down, a clunking sound was heard. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (h&h Buick, 3400 s. Expressway st., council bluffs, ia, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the window regulator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 95,500. Consumer stated the previous recall notice was accomplished in May of 2017 but window problems were present after that was done. The dealer replaced the window regulator but it did not solve the problem. My drivers side still clunks when window is rolled down and it sounds like window could break at some point, this should not happen and is danderous. Replacing the belts on the original recall worked for a time but it came back. …
08-08-2018> vehicle drivers side window when rolled down makes a loud popping noise. Took it to GM dealership h&h in council bluffs, ia. They said it is the window regulator which is worn out. The car has 95,500 miles on it. In reading other owners comments/complaints they had a similar problem which was not associated with the recall for bolts. In several situations the window shattered due to this problem. This would happen whether the vehicle was stationary or driving on the road. I took it in for repair and they stated it was the window regulator which needed replaced as it was worn out, cost $240.00 and told me the passenger side window was also worn but was not making the noise yet. When vehicle gets out of repair shop I hope the problem is cured but from reviewing similar customer comments I believe it will happen again sometime. …
My daughter was driving to a dr. Appt in boston from gloucester. The car hydroplaned hitting the jersey barrier, spinning to the other side of the street hitting the guardrail, and further spinning to hit the jersey barrier again totaling the car. This is not a complaint as much as it is info for taking us off your recall list. We no longer own the Vibe. I do want to say, however, had my daughter not been in such a well-built vehicle, she would probably not have survived with just bruises where the seatbelt held her in place and bruising to her right knee because her knee hit the dashboard area. The drivers side airbag did not deploy, which we questioned why due to the severity of the accident. That being said, she was rather happy it did not deploy because she felt she would have had more physical issues had it deployed (burns). --- thank you.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that rear driver side door would not open or lock unless the master switch was pressed. The vehicle was broken into due to the door not automatically locking. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 05/20/16 the consumer stated all the doors opened and closed automatically, except the rear door behind the drivers seat. Updated 06/01/16.
All 4 door handles are broken off. I have to use a pair of pliers to open the door. Ive noticed almost every Pontiac Vibe has door handles broken off. To me this is a safety hazard because if I were to be in a wreck and become unconscious or trapped. There's no way for anyone to get into the car to help me.
Hood latch failed at highway speeds allowing the hood to open and bend backwards, breaking windshield, fully obstructing driver's view, and damaging the roof of the vehicle as well as the hood, hinges, and body panels
Dt: the contact stated the vehicle had many different problems and safety defects. The first problem started just seven days after purchasing the vehicle. While pressing on the brakes they sounded like they were falling apart. The next problem concerned the engine. At times there was noise and the vehicle shook very badly. Also, the vehicle lurched forward without warning. The third problem involved the electrical system. When the vehicle was started the radio made a cracking sound, and the power door locks worked intermittently. The interior lights flashed/turned off and on. Due to the lack of illumination, and the instrument cluster was very hard to see. When the power windows were rolled up one can hear a buzzing sound .while parked in a parking lot the keyless entry opened another vehicle that was 30 feet. Away. …
2004 Pontiac Vibe the rubber striping and molding on the driver's door keeps splitting and wearing out every 3500 miles. Also there are 2 spots on the inside of the door where the paint is gone in 2 exact round spots from the door vibrating. I was told by someone other then the dealer that his could be caused by one of two things. Either the body is flexing or there is a weld missing on the unibody. The flexing would be because of the sunroof. They (the factory) removes a beam to put the sunroof in and this causes a structure problem which is causing the possible flexing. The dealer replaced the molding once and GM is refusing to replace it gain. They had an engineer put the vehicle on a frame machine to see if it is straight. I have been advised that this is a safety and defect issue and should be extremely careful driving this vehicle.
Front passenger front door makes a popping grinding noise when you open it. I was never notified by GM or my dealer that there was a problem with the check strap hitting the door glass/regulator assembly and that the check strap should be replaced with a new design. They had my address and phone number on file. When I received the recall letter for the bolts and window regulator, I was not told about the check strap. The dealer said the track was bent and it was not covered under the recall. I was told it would cost me $600. To repair. I feel I'm getting a major snow job regarding the damage to the window regulator and the bent track.
Body complaints in other Vibe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2004 Pontiac Vibe?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the body & structure of the 2004 Pontiac Vibe, 9% of the model year's 266 complaints. The component named most often is body (11 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Pontiac Vibe body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2004 Pontiac Vibe, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Pontiac Vibe body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 50% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.