2003 Pontiac Vibe lighting problems
Owners reported lighting problems in 18 complaints for the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, 5% of the complaints on file.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 18 5% of this year's complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
What the data shows
None of the lighting complaints mention a crash, fire, injury or death.
What owners wrote
Automatic headlight sensor is mounted on left side dash. Shadows caused by left side roof pillar and/or texas inspection and registration stickers cast shadows over sensor at certain times of the day and orientation of the sun causing headlights to turn on with resultant dimming of dash lights and instruments to an un-readable level. The effect is quite shocking and leads the driver to initially believe that the car has lost all electrical power. Dealer has indicated no known fix has been identified.
Whenever the car is parked outside overnight, and the air temperature drops below about 30 degrees f, the headlights turn on with the headlight switch in the off position. This leads to a dead battery and an inability to start the car the following morning. From my research on this problem, this seems to be a problem with both the 2003 pontiac vibe and its sister car, the 2003 toyota matrix. Toyota has a TSB on the problem for the matrix (el003-03), GM does not have one for the vibe.
Other problems reported for the 2003 Pontiac Vibe
- Wipers, windshield & visibility 81 complaints
- Air bags 66 complaints
- Transmission 26 complaints
- Drivetrain & axles 24 complaints
- Body & structure 24 complaints
- Electrical system 23 complaints
Lighting problems in other years
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003