10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,981 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
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, 844-879-6715) 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. I was told a new regulator for the window would solve the problem. After window regulator was replaced the clunking sound still happens. Updated 10/18/18
- Macedonia, IA, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign id number: 08V162000 (visibility). The contact mentioned that after the repairs were completed, the door glass became separated from the window regulator and caused the window to become stuck. The technician advised the contact that the regulator was fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact felt that the failure was due to the recall not rectifying the initial failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 200,000.
- Las Vegas, NV, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the drivers side power window would make a loud grinding sound when she was attempting to close it. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA recall campaign number: 08V162000 (visibility) which specified that the regulator bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 89,000. The current mileage was 178,000. Updated 06/30/14 MA updated 07/1/2014
- San Carlos , CA, USA
My car was taken for repair for the front driver, passanger windows according to the recall letter. After the repairs were done they will not stay on track now I tried to take them back to have them fixed I was told it will cost $500 dollars. Also all four of my door handles broke off what are the odds of that happening.I'm sure their is a defect with the door handels.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal banging from the front driver side window. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 08V162000(visibility:glass, side/rear) and the vehicle was repaired under the recall. The failure recurred one year after the repair. The vehicle was not further repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Pittsford, NY, USA
2004 Vibe had a recall for the popping of the drivers' side window. Took it 3 times to D & G Pontiac in port jervis. Problem still happens. Window got stuck then went off track. Took it to royal Pontiac in sussex, NJ and they said it wasn't the recall problem. It's still not fixed. I have to pay over $100 to have it fixed when I feel it still is a defect problem. Apparently, looking over the complaints, people still have the problem with the car and the service departments for Pontiac are saying that it's not a recall problem. The service manager at royal Pontiac basically told me that other people complained about the same problem and they won't do anything about it.
- New Hampton, NY, USA
My passenger window kept falling, once the window shattered. There was a recall notice to replace the bolts. This was completed in May 2009. Today, it happened again. I rolled the window down and was rolling it back up and it became completely dislodged, to the point the entire window came out. I was able to get it back into the door. They are going to charge me again for the same problem they have already "fixed". the dealer attempted to charge me $675 window did not end up shattering, but they said entire window needed to be replaced but was not part of the recall however it's the same issue as twice before. The dealer said the bolts and sash are faulty, but something else has to be wrong for this to continue happening. I believe the problem may be faulty "guides" for the glass.
- Wilmington, NC, USA
I received a recall notice (notice 07273) from Pontiac informing me that my windows had the potential to shatter. That explained why the windows rattled and I heard a loud metallic clanking sound every time I opened the driver's side window. I took the vehicle into a local Chevy dealer and they said they performed the needed service. They lied. The dealer faked the repair. The windows still rattle and the metallic clank (think of taking a wrench in each hand and smashing them together) is still there every time I open the window. The dealer who faked the repair says they've done all that they are going to do. I'm left with windows that Pontiac says could shatter at any time.
- San Rafael, NM, USA
Drivers side window makes a popping sound when rolled down. My indications were identical to complaint 10245483. I determined the door strap was hitting the glass when the door was closed. I removed the strap and ground the T shaped metal as instructed in the above complaint (see my complaint #10269413). This eliminated the loud popping sound but I still had some scraping noise. I went to the dealer to get a new retaining strap. I was quoted $175. I asked to look at it and discovered the design is different than the one on my vehicle. The T bracket is no longer square and the edge facing the glass is now at a 45 degree angle. I removed the strap once again and ground the bracket to 45 deg. This fixed the problem. Pontiac apparently has recognized this problem and has changed the design of this bracket.
- Seaford, VA, USA
I have the age old problem of the popping sound when I open or close the drivers side window. I have had the bolts replaced per the recall and there was no change. After reading report #10245483 I did as suggested. There is no problem when the door is open only when it is closed. I removed the door limit strap and could see shiny metal where the T part had been rubbing. I removed this restraining strap and ground about 1/8 inch off the T section. This corrected the problem. Thanks to the author of complaint #10235483.
- Seaford, VA, USA
My driver's side window and passenger window kept falling. Once the driver's side window shattered. There was a recall notice to replace the bolts. This was completed in May 2008. Today, it happened again. I rolled the window down and was rolling it back up and it became completely dislodged, to the point the entire window came out. I even saw "black glue (poss cement)" on the bottom if the glass. I was able to get it back into the door, but it did not go all the way up. So now it is raining (severely) and my window wont roll up again. I am just wondering if they are going to try and charge me again for the same problem they have already "fixed". the dealer attempted to charge my insurance in 2008 for the window shattering, but they received their claim funds back after the recall notice. They (GM) said it's the bolts, but something else has to be wrong for this to continue happening. Also, part of the problem may be faulty trim that "guides" the glass. Mine has been scrunched in parts since I received it.
- Monroe, LA, USA
If the air recirculation button is disabled and the power to the car is on, a clicking nose begins. The clicks occur more frequently than every second, continuously until the car is powered off. The clicking will continue regardless of whether or not the engine is running. The source of the clicking is the actuator that opens or closes the air recirculation vent behind the glove box.
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
Front passenger side power window made loud popping noise going up or down until window came off track. Driver side soon began making the same noise but didn't come off the track. Took vehicle to dealer to have recall repair GM recall no. 07273, dealer replaced the bolts per the recall and stated that the problem was not related to the recall and would require replacement of the window regulator on both windows as well as a new window and motor for the passenger side. Upon further research I determined that the root cause of the problem is interference between the door check and the window--and for anyone else who has a similar problem--you can confirm this by opening the door fully and rolling the window up and down--if the problem goes away while the door is fully opened, then the cause is the door check interference. To remedy the problem, I modified the door check by removing about 1/8 inch of material from the T-shaped part of the door check that was causing the interference--this fixed the problem on the driver side. Replacing the door check may also fix the problem--but maybe only temporarily unless the design of the door check is changed to prevent interference. Unfortunately, because the passenger side window had already come off the track, the regulator was also damaged and the clips that mount the glass to the regulator will also need to be replaced at the very minimum.
- Santa Maria, CA, USA
After receiving a recall notice about the front side window on our 2004 Pontiac Vibe the window became misaligned after making a noise. We had an appt for the morning of 7/31/08 for the recall repair. We had gotten the window manually back in the track and the window was shut. When shutting the door the window shattered on my daughter cutting her legs. I notified the dealership and they said that the breakage was not covered by recall or warranty and canceled the appointment to order the glass. I can't understand how when an incident happens exactly as described in the recall on the way the have the repair done the recall does not cover the incident and to have an injury involved as well.
- Harpers Ferry, WV, USA
I drive a 2004 Pontiac Vibe. I would roll the driver side front window and it would make a popping sound. Before I could get it fixed I received the recall notice from Pontiac for the door bolts. So I took it to the dealer and they replaced the bolts and it still made the noise. With this I took it upon myself to find the problem. I found it was the door check causing the problem. It was hitting on the bottom of the window, pushing the door check down making it snap back up and hit the window with the corner of the check. I make my living as a firefighter I know how car windows break and I am amazed that it hadn't broken! I replaced the part before it had a chance to break the window.
- Watkins Glen, NY, USA
I received my 2004 Pontiac Vibe as a birthday present. Ever since the day of purchase whenever the front driver side power window is lowered or raised there is a loud popping noise. I have heard about the windows shattering while driving. I am very concerned because I have a very young child in the back seat, and am afraid my window shattering and causing an accident.
- Mansfield, OH, USA
Passenger side window of our 2004 Pontiac Vibe making popping noise when opening or closing. Sounds like it's off the track and snagging on something. We stopped using the window and contacted the Pontiac dealer. They want over $100 just to look at it. Newspaper article says other Vibe owners have experienced shattered windows which is what I fear is going to happen to ours. Pontiac should fix this design defect asap.
- Rio Rancho, NM, USA
- Plymouth, MN, USA