GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hello:

I'm looking at a 2003 GT I think I want to buy; replacing a tired CRX.
The current owner was meticulous on records (Every fillup!) and it looks excellent.

But it has a VIN ending in 63Z4808xx -- does this mean it was one of the first 800 made at NUMMI?

Also, https://www.vehiclehistory.com/ shows:


2003 Pontiac Vibe Vehicle History Report

Date Mileage Source Details
2002-03-11 NHTSA Recalls Power Train > axle Assembly

2003 Original Manufacturer Fuel Economy Test 25 / 30

2003 Original Manufacturer Shipped to Dealer - Original MSRP: $19,435

2003 Original Manufacturer Manufactured in United States

2003-08-06 375 miles VA Historical Odometer Records

2006 36,000 miles Warranty Warranty: 36 Months Type: Basic (expired)

2006 36,000 miles Warranty Warranty: 36 Months Type: Powertrain (expired)

2008-04-10 NHTSA Recalls Visibility > glass, Side/Rear

2009 100,000 miles Warranty Warranty: 72 Months Type: Rust (expired)

2009-06-30 70,552 miles VA Historical Odometer Records

2013-01-30 NHTSA Recalls AIR Bags

2015-01-28 NHTSA Recalls AIR Bags > frontal

2015-05-13 NHTSA Recalls AIR Bags

2015-05-13 NHTSA Recalls AIR Bags

2018-12-12 NHTSA Recalls AIR Bags > passenger Side Frontal





Does that mean the recalls were completed? I tried the NHTSA & GM recall pages and they come back snake eyes.

Sounds like a great find.

Not sure how the sequence worked on the VIN, but that one does seem to be a VERY early example! The fact that the rear axle recall from March 11, 2002 applied to that one would surely indicate that. There were 2,702 units affected.

For air bag recalls, it would likely have had several applicable...
- Original Takata passenger inflator recall (interim "fix" - replace with the same type of inflator with the defective propellant that they took out.)
- Inadvertent air bag deployment recall (add noise filter to the control module)
- Fix from above apparently was not effective, so they recalled them again to replace the air bag control module.
- Replace the Takata passenger air bag inflator with one from a different supplier (permanent fix.)

If you're not seeing any of those on the GM recall site, my guess would be that you're good to go!

Leaving the question of how much I should offer for it....

Welcome to GenVibe. Mileage, where was this car driven most of it's life, and why is it now available for sale?

133K
Washington DC.
Owner has retired. He commuted by Metro and talked about road trips he took in it to Boston, Chicago, etc.
New clutch 10K ago. New tires last year.

Well, my first vibe was a 2003, bog standard automatic. It hit 300,000 before front end work and engine mounts were needed.

Good to know. Wonder about chain tensioner and such on the ZZ2 engine.

For Vibes, the last 5 digits are the production number, so the one you're asking about was the 80,8xx one built that year, not the 8xx one.

The vehicle history report probably list all recalls against that make/model/year. If I remember right, the axle recall in what you posted only applied to AWD vibes. GM has a website somewhere that will better show you all recalls relevant to that specific vin, and if they've been addressed.

joatmon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 3:16 am For Vibes, the last 5 digits are the production number, so the one you're asking about was the 80,8xx one built that year, not the 8xx one.

But per http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2013/06/po ... usa-canada GM sold some 57,000 that year; making it unlikely they built 80,000+.

The vehicle history report probably list all recalls against that make/model/year. If I remember right, the axle recall in what you posted only applied to AWD vibes. GM has a website somewhere that will better show you all recalls relevant to that specific vin, and if they've been addressed.

I have been to multiple GM and other recall lookup sites; none show ANY recalls, so I assume they list only unfulfilled recalls

https://my.gm.com/recalls
If your vehicle has already been repaired at a Certified Service Dealer or Saab Official Service Center, the recall will not display. This website only displays recalls and/or programs for your vehicle in which repairs have not been completed.

Yeah those don't match but if they built more than 10k, they'd need more than 4 digits. One of mine was vin ending in 047xx, was built in early 2002.

Is there an ad for the car? The sticker on the driver door jamb will show month year built.

At this point reliability probably depends a lot more on maintenance history and how it was driven than when it was built in the production cycle. Any early production flaw would have surfaced by now

I've seen that but don't have a copy now.
(The seller took it off the market while we negotiate.)
I was guessing that GM started the VIN's at 80001.

ZZvroom wrote: ↑Sat Oct 12, 2019 8:09 pm Good to know. Wonder about chain tensioner and such on the ZZ2 engine.

timing chain tensioner can be replaced as the o-ring is prone to leaking, though you will also need to remove/unbolt the belt tensioner to do the timing chain tensioner. you should also do the valve cover gasket since those leaks. While you're in there lift bolts are a good idea too.

the next big issue is rust. check under the side skirts. if it runs solid, and has not rot, it should be a good car. Not sure what seller is asking, but $2500 would be a nice deal. I picked up an '04 GT from a seller in Manassas, VA w/95k miles on it for $2700.

ZZvroom wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2019 2:43 pm But it has a VIN ending in 63Z4808xx -- does this mean it was one of the first 800 made at NUMMI?

For what it's worth .... My 2003 Vibe GT that I picked up almost two years ago (project car and still to this day haven't had time to work on it!) was supposedly one of the first ones on the lot in early spring 2002. It has the VIN ending as .... 93Z408997

joatmon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 4:12 am
Is there an ad for the car? The sticker on the driver door jamb will show month year built.

Well, I bought it. The door says built in April 03. It's near perfect. New clutch, struts, muffler.
Owner cried seeing it go but he has knee surgery coming up,
so he bought a newer Vibe with an automatic....

April 03 was actually near the end of the 03 run, just before they switched to 04 production, so there's no way it would be number 8xx,
Maybe it is number 808xx.

Doesn't particularly matter though. Great news that you got it and hope it runs forever. Folks here will help you make it so.