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.
2003 Pontiac Vibe transmission problems
49 complaints (16% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 65,000. 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 49
- of this car's complaints
- 16%
- typical mileage
- 65,000
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Manual transmission18
- Clutch assembly14
- Automatic transmission7
- Axle assembly1
- Automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Pontiac Vibe transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2003 Pontiac Vibe transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Power train: axle assembly
- What is wrong
- On certain two-wheel drive (2wd) passenger vehicles, it is possible for the bolts that join the rear brake and hub assembly to the rear axle carrier to be loose due to insufficient tightening during the assembly process.
- Risk
- If the vehicle is operated in this condition, one or more of the four bolts could come loose, causing an abnormal noise from the rear axle area. In the event that all four bolts loosen completely, separation of the rear brake and hub assembly from the rear axle carrier could occur, which could lead to a loss of vehicle control.
- Remedy
- Dealers will properly tighten the bolts. Owner notification began march 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737.
Recall number 02V074002 · Recall details
What 2003 Pontiac Vibe owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Questions about the 2003 Pontiac Vibe transmission
Does the 2003 Pontiac Vibe have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 49 complaints about the transmission of the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, 16% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2003 Pontiac Vibe transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 65,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Pontiac Vibe transmission?
Yes, 1 recall: 02V074002. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Pontiac Vibe have bad transmission?
The Pontiac Vibe model years with the most transmission complaints are 2003 (49 complaints), 2005 (34 complaints) and 2009 (13 complaints).
Other 2003 Pontiac Vibe problems
Visibility 77Airbags 66Body 24Electrical 23Lights 18Acceleration 13Engine 11Seat belts 9Tires 8Brakes 6Steering 5Suspension 5Fuel system 4Locks 4Seats 1Wheels 1
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