How do you feel about the quality of your Vibe?

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Feb 26, 2003 3:10 pm

Unfortunately, as far as I know, when the warranty runs out, it's out. You become SOL. But if you damaged something because you drove it after they told you it was ok to drive, it's their own fault, and they have to take responsibility. If the dealer can't properly diagnose a problem, and they give you the all clear, then pontiac needs to work on their training.I sprung for the 100,000 mile warranty...it's a couple thousand extra, but let's say, hypothetically, my tranny just dies at 80k...if it's a warranted repair (whcih if it just up and dies, it better the hell be), the extended just paid for itself. and maybe by the time i hit the 100k mark, i'll trade in. *shrug*

ngilbert · Post by **ngilbert** » Sat Mar 01, 2003 5:55 am

Hey, another Saskatchewan viber! I was beginning to feel alone. What dealership are you dealing with? Keep on their (removed) until you get satisfaction. It's a shame you had to go the complain route to get something done, but 3 months is ridiculous to wait for a part. They could have built up a whole tranny in less time.AS for the Sask. roads, you ain't kidding. Almost doesn't pay to get the rattles taken care of, since by the time you get home the roads would have shaken them out again. Pathetic. Explain to me why we pay gas taxes.....

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 2:53 am

I didn't want to name names, but since you asked...I bought the car from Carlyle Motor Products, Carlyle SK (SE corner of prov). I work about 30 minutes away, so it is definitely convenient.I looked at a Vibe at Capitol Pontiac in Regina. The only AWD they had was one that the manager had been driving around in -- she had 12000 km on it by July, and at the rate I'm racking up the clicks, I didn't need that!However, good news about my car's woes, I've gotten attention from a big-cheese at GM ... see "calling all cold weather drivers" for details.Roads here are brutal. I have all the potholes on the #1 memorized! We pay taxes so they can talk about repairing roads & twinning the #1 & #16. I can't believe it'll be twinned by 2007, but we'll see.So, where's In-Da-Vibe, SK??

kaybeejay · Post by **kaybeejay** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 5:29 am

quote:. Very frustrating, I would hope that NUMMI would have put SOME importance into quality. And maybe it's just me having unfortunate luck, but I sense there are a few people who are having similar experiences. Makes me question Pontiac's priorities -- quality vehicle, or bigger profits........Umm...NUMMI IS ALL ABOUT QUALITY... http://www.arvinsango.com/achievem.htmOh yeah, The Vibe may have "pontiac" badges, but its really a Toyota. You know that right? GM basically had next to nothing to do with the design and production of the Vibe. It was almost 100% Toyota R&D and manufacturering.My Vibe rolled off the assembly line on March 13th, 2002. Its been nearly a yr and I have had ZERO problems. Also, mines was one of the early batches that left the factory - so mines probably had a higher likelihood of having problems. Again, I have had zero problems.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Thu Mar 06, 2003 7:54 pm

quote:This is true, it is a Toyota down to the frame (literally).Only GM on it is the batttery and radio I think.dont' forget the logo on the steering wheel.

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Fri Mar 07, 2003 8:37 am

quote:This is true, it is a Toyota down to the frame (literally).Only GM on it is the batttery and radio I think.dont' forget the logo on the steering wheel. Yes because the gas cap is 100% Toyota. The Toyota logo is molded into mine, and probably everybody's. Don't know why I noticed this, but I did.

Lorin · Post by **Lorin** » Sat Mar 08, 2003 1:22 am

quote:Nohting but Poke-Mon or Dragon Ball Z Writing all over them You're killin' me! The good part is we have the opportunity to choose TRD accessories!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Sat Mar 08, 2003 2:36 am

I actually think GM played a good part in the design of the interior...though Toyota may or may not have manufacturerd the interior...but it has a lot of GM qualities to it...and the new Sunfire has similar seats...

Cubanpete · Post by **Cubanpete** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 10:43 am

No my battery has pokemon writing on it..It's Japaneese

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Fri Mar 21, 2003 10:47 am

quote:No my battery has pokemon writing on it..It's JapaneeseWeird. My battery is all-american.

NJVibe04Salsa · Post by **NJVibe04Salsa** » Sun Feb 01, 2004 2:07 am

Last week, when picking up our brand new '04 AWD Vibe, we discovered that the front passenger side door would not openfrom the inside. The dealer sent it to the service department, who told us thatit was a problem with the latch and they would need to replace it.4 days later the car was fixed (waiting on a part). I don't understand how something like this could make it through inspection,but I guess 1 problem is allowable. Upon arrival at the dealership the second time, we noticed a 6" scratch in the paint running across the gas lid and body of the vehicle. The sales person said that when we returned topick up our plates & registration, they would buff it out.I have noticed in the past few days of driving (car still has less than100 miles on it) that whenever I decelerate, the steeringwheel vibrates considerably. 2 days ago I went back to the dealer, to fix the scratch.I also asked the service person about the steering wheel vibration.He told me that sometimes rust develops on the discs of the brakesand that is probably what's causing the vibration and it would goaway in a few hundred miles. Does this sound consistent with your experiences or should I bring it back in to service and demand that it be fixed/inspected?

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 4:23 am

Quote, originally posted by NJVibe04Salsa Â»Last week, when picking up our brand new '04 AWD Vibe, we discovered that the front passenger side door would not openfrom the inside. The dealer sent it to the service department, who told us thatit was a problem with the latch and they would need to replace it.4 days later the car was fixed (waiting on a part). I don't understand how something like this could make it through inspection,but I guess 1 problem is allowable. Upon arrival at the dealership the second time, we noticed a 6" scratch in the paint running across the gas lid and body of the vehicle. The sales person said that when we returned topick up our plates & registration, they would buff it out.I have noticed in the past few days of driving (car still has less than100 miles on it) that whenever I decelerate, the steeringwheel vibrates considerably. 2 days ago I went back to the dealer, to fix the scratch.I also asked the service person about the steering wheel vibration.He told me that sometimes rust develops on the discs of the brakesand that is probably what's causing the vibration and it would goaway in a few hundred miles. Does this sound consistent with your experiences or should I bring it back in to service and demand that it be fixed/inspected? my vibe broke a clip for the door latch rod after a day. and yes it can happen I work for GM (hourly) and see stuff break for no reason all the time. its plastic. the scratch dealer should fix they probably did it.as for the vibration they should have looked at it.

NJVibe04Salsa · Post by **NJVibe04Salsa** » Tue Feb 03, 2004 6:11 am

I brought the car in to service for the vibration today. The rotors were warped. They resurfaced them and thevehicle brakes smoothly now. I'm guessing that this wasa manufacturing defect for 2 reasons:1) It was present when I took delivery of the vehicle at 10 mileson the odometer.2) When test driving the Vibe (a separate vehicle, not the onethat I purchased) it also exhibited the same vibration duringdeceleration. I would guess that the dealership received a bad batch ofcars .. could there have possibly been a miscalibration ofthe torque wrench used in assembly?1 more question.. How many times can a brake rotor beresurfaced? Should I have demanded new rotors? Thedealer told me they can not do that until it has reacheda minimum thickness, however this is a brand new vehiclethat I purchased, and now I have to accept shaved rotors??

tots · Post by **tots** » Sun Feb 08, 2004 7:50 am

Fish -Sorry to hear your having problems. I've got about 3500 miles and no problems (including paint, electrical, power, the prop rod ). Having said that, most major problems have a way of showing up after warrenty expiriation.I had such good luck with my Grand Prix (had it for 7 years, only failure was the water pump - Thanks to DexCool(?) coolant), that I felt good about a repeat buy.

Big_Red · Post by **Big_Red** » Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 am

I love my Vibe...no problems at all, but I do agree with the paint issue. My Vibe has more scratches after 1 year than my Civic did after 4....that's just not right. Other than that, I love it.

Caretaker · Post by **Caretaker** » Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:12 am

Hurray!!! My title arrived from the bank. I now own my Vibe straight up. My service dealer also said that he would test the output of my battery since the looking glass indicator is reading black, instead of the normal green

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Sat Mar 06, 2004 7:08 am

Quote, originally posted by NJVibe04Salsa Â»I brought the car in to service for the vibration today. The rotors were warped. They resurfaced them and thevehicle brakes smoothly now. I'm guessing that this wasa manufacturing defect for 2 reasons:1) It was present when I took delivery of the vehicle at 10 mileson the odometer.2) When test driving the Vibe (a separate vehicle, not the onethat I purchased) it also exhibited the same vibration duringdeceleration. 1) mileage was probably due to a Roll Test every car goes thru on the assembly line or audited 2) very well could be, it wouldn't be the first time[/QUOTE]I would guess that the dealership received a bad batch ofcars .. could there have possibly been a miscalibration ofthe torque wrench used in assembly?[/QUOTE]this would be not likely rotors are shipped in complete with caliper intact, only bolted on with spindle nut or wheel studs[/QUOTE]1 more question.. How many times can a brake rotor beresurfaced? Should I have demanded new rotors? Thedealer told me they can not do that until it has reacheda minimum thickness, however this is a brand new vehiclethat I purchased, and now I have to accept shaved rotors??[/QUOTE]No, you should demand new rotorshope this helps.

baltimore17 · Post by **baltimore17** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:34 am

Back in Dec 02, after having the Vibe for a month, I reported no problems. Well, the car's now 16 months old, has a little over 12K miles, and has not been back to the dealer a single time for any problem whatsoever.In cold weather, I'll occasionally hear one of those rattles that seems to come from the left side of the dash, but it doesn't last long enough to track down by poking various parts and areas. Not an irritant.I mentioned in some other thread that the paint chips way too easily. That's the only quality thing that I'd ding NUMMI about.So, still a real happy camper.

furrydogs · Post by **furrydogs** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:39 am

Approaching 32K and have not yet been to the dealer. I am planning on having them do an oil change and lube before it hits 36k just in case they happen to find something and can still fix it under warranty.

slingblade · Post by **slingblade** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:05 pm

My paint chips waaayy too easily. I am going to the dealer tomorrow, it's Frosty and I am noticing tiny corrosion spots all over when I look very close..I have 40,000km, mechanically fine, battery was good in -40 as well.

slingblade · Post by **slingblade** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:14 pm

I agree with you on the Aztec..they are cheap to buy, and GM better help with my paint issue, otherwise my Vibe will look like a leopard in a couple of years. Are Matrix's having the same paint problems?

Jahntassa · Post by **Jahntassa** » Sun Apr 04, 2004 2:12 pm

Quote, originally posted by slingblade Â»I agree with you on the Aztec..they are cheap to buy, and GM better help with my paint issue, otherwise my Vibe will look like a leopard in a couple of years. Are Matrix's having the same paint problems?I don't think we've seen any, just seems to be limited to the Vibe. I forget what else they assemble at NUMMI. You can look it up on their website.As for the Aztek...bleh. GM completely f'ed that one up when they went to production. I still have a brochure for the concept Aztek, which basically had the front end of the Vibe! If they had just kept the Concept model, it would've been perfect! But NOOOOO... Now, it's an ugly duckling.My personal opinion of course, please don't take offence to it. On the good side, the Aztek can HAUL. One of the engineers I worked with carried a bunch of stuff from Long Island to the Ikegami shop in New Jersey. We're talking big-ol metal cases with TV lenses and stuff...

vibe626 · Post by **vibe626** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:57 pm

My base Vibe has now 800 miles, and I've experienced the following:1. Center console problems;2. Difficulties when closing the rear liftgate;3. Off-center steering wheel, and all four wheels out of alignment.I love my Vibe, and I am confident that it will be a reliable car, but the initial quality is below my expectations.

themrfreeze · Post by **themrfreeze** » Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:59 pm

Base Vibe with about 600 miles on it now. No problems to speak of......everything works, no rattles, nothing loose. The sound system leaves much to be desired, so I've already replaced the head unit (and new speakers go in this weekend). I did find a plastic piece in the driveway that appears to have come from the car, but the part number doesn't jibe with anything in the Matrix crash book. It's shaped somewhat like a disk brake pad, and from the contours and tabs on it, it could very well be some sort of shim used in the factory to set the gap between panels. I'm going to the dealership tonight for my "new owner seminar" (and I'm only going because they give out free touch up paint), so I'll have them look the part number up and see if they know what it is.

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:18 am

The numbers stamped on the parts rarely coincide with actual GM or Toyota part numbers, from my experiences.

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Wed Apr 14, 2004 9:19 am

The stamped/cast number on a part is usually the one used for the production piece in the plant. When they put it in a box as a service part, they have to create a new P.N., which is often similar, e.g. last digit out by one.

noginsk · Post by **noginsk** » Sun Apr 18, 2004 10:06 pm

When I took delivery of a 2004 manual base with two tone salsa in august of 2003, I noticed a few problems. -The paint had a kind of weird looking 3D swirl effect in certain lighting conditions. I attributed this to too much waxing or whatever. Doesn't concern me too much. Does someone know of this being fixed under warranty?-The passanger side rear seat was misaligned and would not fold down properly, but was easily fixed by a trip back to the dealer, no problems since that.-There are occasional buzzes and vibrations coming from the dash area, I am not too concerned and will eventually get to taking off the dash and fixing this myself, unless anyone knows that it can be done under warranty also?-I had noticed some clutch burning a while back, but it is gone now. I attribute this to my inexperiecne with manuals.-Nothing else to complain about. -Went to the vibe from a 95 chevy lumina sedan with the base 3.1 in it. Loved that car. My wife dives it for the time being untill we get another new one. It has 212,000 miles on it. Only problems it ever had were minor things that you would expect from a car with high mileage. The head gasket blew once, the cruise control no longer works, the interior air vents don't switch modes correctly (legs to top to windshield etc...), the A/c doesn't work any more, the transmission skips gears sometimes, but has done that for over 100,000 miles now and still going. GM quality might not be the best, but I think they are built like tanks!

jawon · Post by **jawon** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:35 am

Based on the bar graph in the initial post, it seems about 1 out of 4 of you either have had an issue or anticipate an issue with the quality of the vibe.I'm thinking of buying a vibe but that seems like a lot of dissatisfied people. Being a "data analyst" type, I have to guess that people who are satisfied typically would not visit these forums. It seems most people come here to ask questions about a problem and therefore this sample of people is biased to being dissatisfied. Having said that, I was just wondering if people who are completely satisfied would speak up. It would reassure me as I think about making the purchase! Thanks.

kostby · Post by **kostby** » Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:32 pm

'Quality' is such a difficult term to define...Am I VERY satisfied with the QUALITY of my Vibe? YES.Am I VERY satisfied with my purchase of a Vibe? YES.Am I COMPLETELY satisfied with EVERY aspect of the Vibe? NO.Cars are a series of compromises, and I understood the compromises before I purchased the car, and the (used) Vibe I purchased was far and away the best choice for me.Since you're interested in statistics, consider these numbers I've derived from statistics posted elsewhere on the GenVibe site:There have been over 100,000 Vibes sold through March, 2004. 39,082 Vibes Sold in 200256,922 Vibes Sold in 200312,481 Vibes Sold 2004 YTD through 03/2004---------108,485 through 03/2004There were ~1800 GenVibe registered users during the first two years of the forum, which began 04/01/2002.So, less than 2 percent of ALL reported Vibe owners have EVER registered on this forum. (Registration is required in order to post messages here). The site moderators can verify or deny this, but I'd guess that less than half of all GenVibe registrants (~900 people or less) post messages on a regular basis (at least every 3 months), or ~1% of all Vibe owners.Is it safe to assume that the experiences of the ~1% who post here accurately reflect the views of the ~99% of Vibe owners who do not post here? Based upon user reviews of the Vibe posted here and in the edmunds.com auto forums, I do believe that at least 9 out of 10 Vibe owners are VERY satisfied with most aspects of their vehicles.I acknowledge that the nature of the internet is that ANY AND ALL thoughts of users, including extreme views, can be posted quickly, easily, and relatively anonymously. Some QUALITY issues have come up countless times in the GenVibe forums, listed as they occurred to me, in no particular order:1) 330 CCA Battery, particularly for those living in the northern US and Canada2) Paint chipping, particularly on the front surfaces of the car.3) Short tread life of Original Equipment tires, particularly Continental brand.Three other areas get frequent mention, but are not inherently QUALITY issues: 4) Upgrading/Replacing Factory Radio/CD head unit, amp and speakers5) Performance enhancements, such as Springs, Strut bars, Cold Air Induction, and Cat-back exhaust systems.6) Appearance enhancements, such as decals, wings, and wheels/tires.I think the desire to enhance these last three things is more due to the fact that the Vibe targets drivers in their 20's and 30's, than because of any substantial defects in the car.Do ANY of these six areas represent genuine SAFETY or RELIABILITY hazards?In my opinion, NO.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sat May 01, 2004 3:33 am

Quote, originally posted by kostby Â»So, less than 2 percent of ALL reported Vibe owners have EVER registered on this forum. (Registration is required in order to post messages here).The site moderators can verify or deny this, but I'd guess that less than half of all GenVibe registrants (~900 people or less) post messages on a regular basis (at least every 3 months), or ~1% of all Vibe owners.sometimes I play with the Member List A descending sort by last post date shows a little over 500 different members have posted in the last 3 months, and an ascending sort based on # of posts shows about 480 members have never posted.

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Wed May 26, 2004 7:14 am

Quote, originally posted by kostby Â» and the (used) Vibe I purchased was far and away the best choice for me.but your avatar says different. I bought my vibe and after almost 2 years I still love it. do i like the chipping paint on the hood? noam I satisfied with the quality of the vibe? yesnot everyone is perfect all car makers have the same problems just look at the J.D. powers reports.

5lbsofswisscheese · Post by **5lbsofswisscheese** » Wed May 26, 2004 1:07 pm

My 2003 Vibe only ever had 3 problems with it. Overall I was pretty happy with it once they were fixed. Here's the rundown of the stuff fixed on warranty:incorrectly installed driver's side front door switch (It never registered that the door was open)Catalytic converter needed replacingTransmission issues (never could get them to decide on what was causing it)After having dealt with Vista Ridge (who did nothing to my car, after claiming to replace my transmission) I'm pretty suspicious about the catalytic converter thing, too.But that's nothing for me to worry about now. I took it to a much more reputable dealer who I ended up buying a NEW 2004 Vibe GT from.So far this one hasn't been perfect, but it's problems are comparatively minor.It came with a couple of door dings which the dealer promised to remove at no charge, and a scratch on the instrument cluster.Also the gearshift boot is not properly attached, and something inside the driver's door is smearing grease all over the window.But then, I've never expected a car to be perfect right off the lot.

NJVibe04Salsa · Post by **NJVibe04Salsa** » Wed May 26, 2004 3:52 pm

Hrm... when I bought my Vibe, I expected it to be perfect right off the lot. That was one of the main reasons why I bought a new car (my previous 3 were bought used) so that I would not have to deal with any unexpected problems or repairs. To my great dissatisfaction,upon receipt of the vehicle, we discovered that it was missing a instruction manual and the passenger side door would not open (broken plastic latch inside the door chassis). The dealer brought the car into service and promised me that they would do a 50 point check on the vehicle to be sure it is in pristine and operable condition when we return to pick it up.The following Monday, I called the service department asking them about the vehicle and if they did the inspection. The service clerk told me that they had no order to do any inspection and were waiting for the part to fix the door.When we went to pick up the car a second time, there was an obviously large scratch running across the paint of the rear quarter panel. I pointed this out to the dealer who said that they would repair it when we came back to pick up our license plates. The first day of driving the vehicle, I noticed that the steering wheel would vibrate violently during braking. Upon our return to get the scratch buffed out, I brought up the vibration issue with the service dept. Without test driving the vehicle, they told me that it was rust on the rotor and it would go away with about 100 miles of driving. Well, the following week I drove the vehicle about 30 miles and the vibration only got worse, so I brought it back into service again. As advised to me by a few of my auto-savvy friends, it as confirmed that the brake rotors were warped. The service dept ground the rotors flat and put them back on the vehicle. I am curious, how is everyone's mileage on their '03 Vibe AWD?Mine started out with around 28mpg in the winter and has dropped to about 25mpg now in the summer. I drive about 30% city/ 70% highway and don't use the AC nor do I drive with all the windows down. Should I bring the vehicle back into service again, and if so what should I suggest to them as the problem?

cobra55 · Post by **cobra55** » Wed May 26, 2004 5:22 pm

even though i have had my vibe only a couple of weeksi decided not to take any chance's today i ordered a front-end cover package from the dealer at a cost of $86.00 i felt it would be worth it in the long run.the part # for the 03 or the 04 are the samepart # 12498126 at any pontiac dealer.

paul8488 · Post by **paul8488** » Wed May 26, 2004 11:23 pm

eeek! i went from fully wowed by my 2003 vibe just a few weeks back to being very disappointed. i got the car in may 2002, and have 78,000 kms on it (canadian guy here!). i even parked it for 6 months (the first winter). it's a base 5-speed. i have some serious front end problems, as-yet undiagnosed. there's a horrible rattle up front somewhere; more pronounced when i'm slowing and turning. this morning it was so bad i stopped to see if the wheels were falling off! i had it at the pontiac dealer yesterday, and took it for a drive with the technician, but he really couldn't notice (it wasn't as bad yesterday). it's getting louder and more noticeable... it's a very unnerving shaky, loose rattle. i'd guess ball joints, but he checked and said they're fine. he said i'll just have to drive it until it gets worse (warranties good to 100,000 kms). i'm taking it easy, but i really think i'm going to end up with my front end falling off.i drive lots (78,000 kms in 18 months!), and have a really good feel for my car. it's been smooth and tight up til now, so i really notice the difference. i can hear the shudder/rattle, but i feel it even more. i feel it under my left foot and through the clutch and brake pedal, but there's no question that it's not the brakes. any thoughts? anyone experience anything similar to this? i want to love the car (i love the driving dynamics and the utility of the car), but coupling this with a nasty squeal from my starter most days and an a/c system that was recharged last year and still hardly cools (and the paint chipping others here reported) and i'm on my way to becoming very unsatisfied. i don't think it's a maintenance thing either, as i get regular oil changes, lubrications, tire rotation,and generally drive the car moderately (no auto-crossing here!). as proof, i put about 3/4 of my km's on with the original (crappy, i have to say!) tires, and they're still useable and not showing ANY signs of uneven wear. any insight'd be appreciated. thanks!

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:18 pm

It just made a year yesterday I have my Vibe and besides some small paint chips I still love my Vibe. I have put 18 600kms on her the first year. 2 trips to Toronto and one to Michigan and I must say they were the most easy road trips I have ever made.So far so good

hesredbird · Post by **hesredbird** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:12 am

I've had my Vibe 2 years next month. I can honestly say I have had not one quality complaint or warranty issue. There are many things I don't like about the car but it is reliable. My dealer prolly doesn't even remember me, I bet.

kep427 · Post by **kep427** » Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:43 am

Hey all. When discussing your problems, or lack thereof; please identify the model year. From those that have posted the model year it looks to me like the '03s (first production year) have quite a few problems; most of which are not showing up in the '04s. I have an '04. My only problem was the Check Engine Light coming on at ~1700 mi and again at ~3000 mi. Both times the dealer couldn't find the problem and just reset the computer. I complained to GM/Pontiac and filed a complaint with NHTSA. About a month later the dealer was told of a way to fix it. I took it in; got a new hose on the evap canister and no more problems (now w/6700 mi).

kep427 · Post by **kep427** » Sun Jul 18, 2004 11:43 pm

Sorry to hear 'bout your "minor" inconveniences. These posts are useful for the rest of us to keep an eye out for trouble-spots.

ColonelPanic · Post by **ColonelPanic** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:23 am

Quote, originally posted by kep427 Â»Sorry to hear 'bout your "minor" inconveniences. These posts are useful for the rest of us to keep an eye out for trouble-spots.Not a problem... Admittedly, part of the issues my car has had could be due to the part between the seat and steering wheel. I'm overly sensitive when it comes to cars, to the point where it's probably a mental issue. I have spotted problems with other people's cars in ten seconds that they never knew existed since they've owned the thing. lolFortunately I've been working with a great dealer. No complaints there, those guys have been great for putting up with me. Most of the things I've brought it in for have been fixed, rather than sending me down the road with a "that's normal" diagnosis like I've had with other GM products at different dealers.And you're right on, forums as these make it easy to spot out potential quality issues. Good for the owners, and good for people wanting to do some research before they buy as well.

Dave_ca · Post by **Dave_ca** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:59 pm

The quality overall on my vibe has been great. It has only 25,000 KM's on her (2003 Vibe GT) However the only issues I have had are:1. In the winter when it gets cold (below -10 celcius) the car is harder to start then my old 1996 Firefly (heh)2. The Plastic Molding became discolored. The dealership repaired this issue without any problem (Wife's mother is a warrenty clerk at that dealership)3. Second Gear was grinding (for about 500 km) but stopped. I did not change anything for it to stop. Reported to dealship and they will look at it if it happenes again.

B18B · Post by **B18B** » Sun Jul 25, 2004 12:34 pm

Hello All! I've got an 04 base Vibe Auto, and have overall been pleased with the vehicle, however I am a little disappointed with the build quality of it. Its still very much in its "breaking in" stage (only 725 Kms!!), and i'm hoping things will settled down as the car ages. Some of the problems/annoyances i've encountered:1. Misaligned steering wheel. The car still tracks straight, but the wheel is tilted to the left a bit (its quite noticable!). A minor complaint, but a manufacturing defect nonetheless -- one that definitely should have been spotted by QA at NUMMI.2. Transmission whine. I'm hoping this one will die down once the transmission sees more km's. Its kinda like a high pitched whining noise in 1st and 2nd gear under 1/4 throttle. Anyone else have this?3. Miscellaneous squeeks and rattles from the dash. Again, not a big issue but something I don't expect from a brand new car. I'm hoping the plastic will settle down as the car ages.4. Excessive negative camber on the drivewheels (while the car is empty). I've read a lot of horror stories on these boards about uneven wear on their tires, so I spoke to the dealer right away who promptly told me to wait until the car had 1500 Kms (they didn't even bother to LOOK at the car)As a benchmark, we have 3 import cars in the family which we've owned from new. 2 made in North America and the other in Japan. In context of the Vibe, i'd say that it rates somewhere between the two domestically manufactured cars in initial quality, but a significant notch below the japanese made car. Just my $0.02!

TTopper · Post by **TTopper** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:58 pm

Hello All! For the most part I'm happy with my 04 Vibe GT. I do have some issues with rattling dashboard (radio) and the twitchy clutch. I swear, you'd think I was a novice at sticking, I stall the car almost every day, or smell burned clutch (I know that's going to be expensive) I've driven stick-shifts for over 20 years, and never burned out a clutch. If I do, I'll be trading in my Vibe for something a little more robust.I'm also a little concerned with the 'cheapness' feeling of the car. I've owned VW's for years, and they 'feel' much better... the way the clutch engages, the way the doors close. I ride down the road, and my Vibe is vibrating like a tin can. Don't get me wrong, I like the car, but the sensations are completely different from the German products.

kep427 · Post by **kep427** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:23 pm

Quote, originally posted by TTopper Â»I'm also a little concerned with the 'cheapness' feeling of the car. I've owned VW's for years, and they 'feel' much better... the way the clutch engages, the way the doors close. I ride down the road, and my Vibe is vibrating like a tin can. Don't get me wrong, I like the car, but the sensations are completely different from the German products. Just my opinion, but we're getting what we're paying for. No matter how we all feel about this car, I consider it an 'economy' catagory vehicle. It's relatively cheap compared to most other vehicles. I expect some "cheapness" on the quality. True, it's not a Huyundi (sp?), but it's not an Accord either (which costs thousands more).I think I got a great car for the price!

ToolGuy · Post by **ToolGuy** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 6:31 am

Quote, originally posted by TTopper Â»Hello All! For the most part I'm happy with my 04 Vibe GT. I do have some issues with rattling dashboard (radio) and the twitchy clutch. I swear, you'd think I was a novice at sticking, I stall the car almost every day, or smell burned clutch (I know that's going to be expensive) I've driven stick-shifts for over 20 years, and never burned out a clutch. If I do, I'll be trading in my Vibe for something a little more robust.I'm also a little concerned with the 'cheapness' feeling of the car. I've owned VW's for years, and they 'feel' much better... the way the clutch engages, the way the doors close. I ride down the road, and my Vibe is vibrating like a tin can. Don't get me wrong, I like the car, but the sensations are completely different from the German products. Interesting because up until recently VW had the worst warranty in the auto business and poor market share. My wife used to work for VW and could tell you lots of stories. Just because it is German does not make it good. My Vibe is not the best car in the world but it has not been to the dlr yet and I am very happy with it. Like the person posted above, you do get what you pay for, meaning for $20,000 more quality would go up too. Interesting though...

sensfanrk · Post by **sensfanrk** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:42 pm

I have an '04 Base Model Vibe, and it will be 6 months on Nov. 6/04. I already have 17000kms on it, and things are generally good (touch wood!). However, I only have one big complaint...When waxing my car, i noticed that my clear coat was pitted where bugs hit the front of the car. I have to drive through a "bug alley" on the way to work, and I pick up thousands in one drive. I went to the dealership awhile back, and they immediately booked me in for a repaint on Oct. 12/04 on the nose of the car. There are a few rattles here and there, but it's expected. It's an economy car, so what can you do?

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 6:43 am

04 Vibe 2 months old 2800 miles. It's been in and out of the shop for the last 2 weeks (it's there now). I'm having problems starting the car. Is it bad when you have the roadside assistance and dealership #s in your speed dial? I also have my VIN # memorized now for everytime I call roadside assistance.I wouldn't mind so much except motorcycle season is ending (brrrr), and I haven't been able to go grocery shopping for 3 weeks.

MadBill · Post by **MadBill** » Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:36 am

My '03 Base two tone will be 2 years old next month and at 56,000 Km (35,000 mi) has had zero warranty visits to the dealer. (Although I'm not happy about the ease with which the paint chips, I don't figure they'll do anything about it, so...)

Big_Red · Post by **Big_Red** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:16 am

My Vibe turned 2 years old end of September, and except for the paint issue (which seems to be a given for the Vibe), it has not given me any problems.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Wed Oct 13, 2004 5:53 am

I'm at 60K miles, and my problems have been:- a few paint chips on the hood, but they don't bother me as much as the rock chip in the windshield.- some odd looking dash brace fell off, and rattled around the glove box till I found it. Haven't bolted it back in yet.- Driver door weatherstrip worn, replaced under warranty even though I thought it was probably my fault.I haven't had a lot of the problems that others are reporting.