GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

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Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Mazda are recalling about 3.3 million vehicles worldwide because the passenger-side air bag could deploy with too much force, sending shards of metal into the passenger area, the automakers said Thursday.
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The 2001 Honda Civic was among the vehicles worldwide affected by the recall. Almost 1.4 million of the vehicles are in the United States.
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Worldwide, the recalls announced in Tokyo include about 1.7 million Toyotas, 1.1 million Hondas, 480,000 Nissans and 20,000 Mazdas. Almost 1.4 million of the vehicles are in the United States.

Among the automakers, Honda has had the most serious, continuing problem with air bag. Before Thursday’s action, Honda had already recalled almost two million vehicles since 2008 for an excessively powerful driver’s air bag.

In a news release Thursday, Honda said it was not aware of any injuries related to the defect, which involves the inflaters on passenger-side air bags. But late in 2011, Honda acknowledged 18 injuries and two deaths linked to two million vehicles recalled because of the problem with the driver’s air bag.

Chris Martin, a Honda spokesman, wrote in an e-mail that the passenger-side air bag deploys differently. Instead of sending metal fragments directly at the driver, the passenger’s air bag “could propel metal fragments upward toward the windshield or downward toward the front passenger’s footwell.”

The bags were produced by the Japanese supplier Takata Corporation, which also sold some of the defective products to General Motors and BMW, according to a report Takata filed Thursday with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington. An estimated 48,000 2003 Pontiac Vibes, which is a mechanical sibling of the Toyota Matrix, will be recalled, a G.M. spokesman, Alan Adler, wrote in an e-mail.

A Toyota spokeswoman, Cindy Knight, said in an interview that only 170,000 of the company’s vehicles would need a repair, but it has to inspect 510,000 vehicles to find them. The models are the 2001-3 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia and Tundra, and Lexus SC 430.

The Hondas being recalled are 43,000 2002-3 CR-V models; 426,000 2001-3 Civics; and 92,000 2002 Odyssey minivans. The Mazdas are the 2003-4 Mazda 6 and 2004 RX-8.

The Nissans being recalled are the 2001-3 Nissan Maxima, Infiniti FX, Infiniti QX4, Nissan Pathfinder and Nissan Sentra, a Nissan spokesman, Steve Yaeger, wrote in an e-mail.

Yep, read that today... Not looking forward to this.

We've been putting off the other various recalls, but this one sounds serious enough that we probably should break down and let them monkey around with the car.

Does anyone know how this recall business works when the car is now in the hands of a second, third or even later buyer? Does GM somehow have access to the most recent purchaser of a 2003 Vibe?

That's a good question since I'd guess most 2003's are well into their third or more owner by now... I would hope they can somehow can get state assistance for database registration queries or something... I would really like to know this myself!

Kari's 2003 is one owner of course but the question is, can they track us down after moving a few times? Still haven't seen anything on the first air bag recall that's likely applicable, but not sure if GM has sent notifications yet.

I know with the Hyundai I used to have, those guys weren't so great about finding even the original owner that had moved once. The car was always serviced at dealers, so several had my current address. I had a recall on it and they never bothered to send me the notice, fortunately I was well aware of the problem and had already fixed it myself before the recall was even issued... But for those who aren't so connected, how would they know?

i am still the original owner of my 03 vibe. the airbag light has been on recently. i am hoping that with this recall they can fix that as well.

They found me after owning for only two months. At least 3-6 owners I guess.

received my preliminary letter in the mail yesterday. looks like they are going to install some kind of electronic noise filter. nothing major, it seems.

ken wrote:received my preliminary letter in the mail yesterday. looks like they are going to install some kind of electronic noise filter. nothing major, it seems.

I am the original owner of my 2003, and I received my letter today!

Received letter for my 2004 Vibe. Wonder how long it will take before the recall is actually performed?

Received mine over the week. Anyone hear of anybody else's airbag deploying inadvertently? Makes me a little paranoid that it could go off at any point. Too bad there aren't any parts available yet. I wouldn't mind them giving me a loaner while they find a part. You've gotta think it's super dangerous to have these cars on the road (not that it stops me from driving...since it's my only car).

Got my notice last month. Called gm no return call...after leaving 3 messages. I guess I should contact them online ?
Like saying there's a tiger in the room thst can jump out at any time, but we can't restrain it at this time !
Just found out from reading here , that it is passenger airbag ! Since the recall I haven't had anyone in my car. Do we just wait ? Thanks ...

I just got my letter yesterday, saying "... when parts are available ..."

I will let it go for a while. Over the last 11 years, genvibers have put on millions of vibe*miles and nobody here has experienced an inappropriate air bag deploy. After some time, if I don't hear from GM directly, I'll call the dealership that I want to do the work and see if I can register with them for when the parts are available. Still, it's a discontinued Toyota based GM car. I don't know how complicated the repair is, but it might be better to not be the first one the tech fixes

joatmon wrote:I just got my letter yesterday, saying "... when parts are available ..."

I will let it go for a while. Over the last 11 years, genvibers have put on millions of vibe*miles and nobody here has experienced an inappropriate air bag deploy. After some time, if I don't hear from GM directly, I'll call the dealership that I want to do the work and see if I can register with them for when the parts are available. Still, it's a discontinued Toyota based GM car. I don't know how complicated the repair is, but it might be better to not be the first one the tech fixes

So do we know for sure that it is the passenger side airbag? I don't know if there is a direct correlation with the Honda or not. If it's passenger side, that means I can stop wearing a helmet while driving, right?

The letter I got says the "front airbag(s) and/or seatbelt pretensioners could inadvertently deploy" Based on the "(s)", sounds like they do not think it is limited to only the passenger side

joatmon wrote:The letter I got says the "front airbag(s) and/or seatbelt pretensioners could inadvertently deploy" Based on the "(s)", sounds like they do not think it is limited to only the passenger side

Yep, that's the first recall -- anything can inadvertently deploy.

Then there's the second recall, where projectiles from the passenger air bag can cause injury.

I just received (05-15-13) the safety recall notice saying "this letter is to inform you that parts for the remedy are now available".

So I guess it's time to call the dealer and get an appointment set up.

Have my appt with the dealer on 5/21/13 for my 04 and they needed to order the parts which should be in today. Also stated it could take as long as 2 hours for the work.

noeldale wrote:Have my appt with the dealer on 5/21/13 for my 04 and they needed to order the parts which should be in today. Also stated it could take as long as 2 hours for the work.

Curious as to which brand dealership is doing your work. Will any type GM dealer (Buick, Chevy, Caddy, etc.) be able or willing to do it?

Does anyone think it matters picking one over another?

Thanks

Guy in PHX wrote:

noeldale wrote:Have my appt with the dealer on 5/21/13 for my 04 and they needed to order the parts which should be in today. Also stated it could take as long as 2 hours for the work.

Curious as to which brand dealership is doing your work. Will any type GM dealer (Buick, Chevy, Caddy, etc.) be able or willing to do it?

Does anyone think it matters picking one over another?

Thanks

Any GM dealer should perform the recall work. I personally go to the local Buick/GMC dealer since the used to also sell Pontiacs. I guess I would recommend going to a dealer that sold Pontiacs since they would have experience working on Vibes.

Curious as to which brand dealership is doing your work. Will any type GM dealer (Buick, Chevy, Caddy, etc.) be able or willing to do it? Does anyone think it matters picking one over another?

DeClercq wrote: Any GM dealer should perform the recall work. I personally go to the local Buick/GMC dealer since the used to also sell Pontiacs. I guess I would recommend going to a dealer that sold Pontiacs since they would have experience working on Vibes.

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That makes sense to me.

Thanks for the reply!

FYI I did not get a notice that my 2003 Pontiac Vibe was included in the recall (my VIN # was not on their list) however, on April 8, 2013 my airbag spontaneously deployed while going 20 miles per hour. It was VERY scary and I am glad we never made it onto the interstate ramp because at 65 MPH the results could have been very different!

It took them 2 months to figure out what to do with my car. They had a GM investigator look at it to make sure that the airbag defect was indeed the culprit (and to make sure the owner of the vehicle was being forthright probably too). Just make sure you all get it checked even if GM does not notify you. A US Dept of Transportation Rep on my case said that my car might be the first that spontaneously deployed for that recall.

Pennsylvania Viber

I had the recall fixed a couple weeks ago (03 Vibe) and in the process my radio display stopped working. I told the dealer, they tried to fix it, but it only partially worked. They called the zone rep and he OK'd a "new" radio - so I got a free "new" radio out of the deal, too.

Just had the recall completed and now the left half (clock area) of the radio lights are out. Has any one else experienced similar electrical problems after the recall? So far the dealer claims this was a coincidence.

I'm getting this one done as I type this, sitting in the waiting room, they (motorworld group.com) had the wire harness but had to go get a couple other parts to finish, I see some had problems with the radio display after, any word of this affects aftermarket units as wel?

I got the recall as we'll but is it really that serious to take it in???

GoodVibes1 wrote:I got the recall as we'll but is it really that serious to take it in???

Here's a quote from the first comment in this thread.
"the passenger-side air bag could deploy with too much force, sending shards of metal into the passenger area".

So yes, it's important.

I'm the 3rd owner of my 2003 Vibe and I somehow got the recall notice (via snail mail) for the driver side airbag harness (?) issue a few months back... Took the letter into a GM dealership and they fixed it.

I haven't gotten anything about this latest passenger-side recall though. Should I wait for the letter or just take it in?

03VIBEswfl wrote:I haven't gotten anything about this latest passenger-side recall though. Should I wait for the letter or just take it in?

Call the dealer where you had the previous recall done. They will check the vin they have on file for you, and compare it to the recall list.

SeattleJeremy wrote: Call the dealer where you had the previous recall done. They will check the vin they have on file for you, and compare it to the recall list.

Awesome, thanks.

Hm...I just bought my used Vibe in July and received a letter in the mail today about the passenger airbag inflator (recall # 13112). So this is different from the previous recall (which I'm not sure was done on this car either)?

I just found this site https://my.gm.com/web/portal/managemybrand#.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; after you sign up and add your car, it'll tell you if there are any open recalls and alot of info about the car.

I'm not entirely sure how accurate that site is anymore. I actually did create a profile on there some time ago, but it still shows the car as having '0' recalls.

I received 2 separate (separate code #'s) airbag recall notices from GM this past year. I have been in conversation with GM Canada regarding these as ironically my airbag light came on ONE WEEK prior to my appointment for the first recall, and the service manager told me it was unrelated to the recall and would cost upwards of $1000 to repair!

.......also, just read some of the previous posts.....my radio lights (left side) went out quite some time ago. Interesting to read the correlation between the radio and airbag recall work. Will show these posts to the service manager when I have the second airbag recall addressed....

Had both recalls taken care of today (airbag wiring harness and inflator) at the local Buick/GMC Dealer. In my case, they had to replace the inflator as well. It took longer than I expected, but luckily they had the part in stock (they failed to ask me my VIN over the phone when I made the appointment..just a 'come in and we'll look at it'). Oh well, all done now.