2004 Pontiac Vibe Pontiac Vibe 2004

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2004 Pontiac Vibe repairs by problem area

Engine (32%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (3%)

Brakes and Traction Control (10%)

Suspension and Steering (10%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (38%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (2%)

Other (5%)

Chart based on 105 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2004 Pontiac Vibe.

2004 Pontiac Vibe engine repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (13%)

$500 - $999 (16%)

$100 - $499 (26%)

< $100 (45%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 31 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2004 Pontiac Vibe

Engine not specified

127100 mi

C $500
O2 sensor pre-catalytic converter 

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2004 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

180-horsepower 1.8L I4 6-speed manual FWD

188000 mi

US $500
Muffler disconnected from engine 
219000 mi

US $400
Water pump gave out. Replaced it. 
221000 mi

US $25
Replaced spark plugs 
154000 mi

US $1500
Head gasket went bad. 

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2004 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

130-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

79360 mi Check engine light comes on during cold weather -10C, code "engine lean". Light will clear itself if car is operated in +5C weather. Could be the O2 sensor, but I suspect an engine vacuum leak. Check out the Toyota TSB #04507. 

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2004 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

130-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

130000 mi

US $200
Replaced intake manifold gasket due to persistent error codes and check engine lights. 
142000 mi

US $750
P0496 code. Replaced fuel tank cap on my own. The code reappeared in 2 days. Mechanic tested on the "smoke machine" and replaced valve and charcoal cylinder. 
144500 mi

US $265
Gasket to exhaust manifold replaced 
147000 mi

US $70
Error Code P0446, advised it could be canister assembly, vacuum switch and or PCM update. Replaced gas cap against advice... problem has not reoccurred in 90 miles and passed emissions check. 
153300 mi

US $20
Check engine light came back on with the P0446 code after ~900 miles of driving. Bought a reader and the following codes are currently displaying: P0446, P0442, P0441. Have not decided on a fix yet. 
160000 mi

US $838
Engine check light for P0442 & P0446. Replaced Diaphragm on canister vent solenoid and cracked vacuum lines. Replaced EVAP CANISTER. Due to engine smell when using heat, repaired hole in resonator pipe behind catalytic converter. 
173000 mi

US $25
Re-attached heat shield. 
68000 mi No cabin heat just blew cold air!! Blowers & a/c ok. Coolant low-added 3cps & some heat. Hard to check coolant lvl (no dipstick).Shop back flushed it twice. Tried everything. Mystery difficulty getting air out of engine had to burp it…maybe air bubble?? 
95300 mi Check Engine Light warninglight came on. Mechanic said code was emission related oxygen sensors so I drove it for a few days and the light did not come back on. Still I had it replaced less than $100. No problems since. 
100000 mi Check Engine light alert. Mechanic read code as emission item "oxygen sensor circuit slow response bank 1 sensor 1". Decided to clear code & take no action. No charge to read code since I get oil changed there. Light stayed off since. 
150000 mi

US $1100
Engine threw a rod after the big freeze in February 2021. The car has exhibited low oil pressure before, but that was possibly the oil pressure sensor that was previously replaced a couple of years prior. Freeze could have been a coincidence. Replaced it with a used JDM engine. 
157000 mi

US $8
P0420 cat efficiency code, so I installed a spacer on the rear O2 sensor. Hope to postpone replacing the car. 
177500 mi

US $1250
Replaced engine gasket and oil pan gasket 
108000 mi

US $26
Timing chain tensioner leaking 
127000 mi NOT WARRANTY -- Replaced upper & lower radiator hoses;  replaced PCV valve. 
122020 mi

C $150
small leak. Small part replaced. Will see if leak continues on next oil change. 
177320 mi

C $120
Belt needed replacing 
48980 mi

C $160
check engine light came on - problem seemed to be associated with gas cap - now non existant 
35960 mi Replace O2 sensor under warranty. 
78120 mi Every winter since I've had this vehicle, the engine light comes on when it gets to below -10C outside. It it always the same code (O2 sensor slow response). When spring comes, I reset the engine light and I'm good to go until next yr. 
84940 mi

C $10
Replace intake manifold gasket to hopefully resolve check engine light coming on in cold weather. Issue has been happening intermittently since 2006 when the dealer replace the o2 sensor. 
100440 mi

C $400
Exhaust system leaking at resonator. Replaced from cat back. 
471180 mi

US $136
Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) malfunctioned. Purchased new part for $135.67, including MI sales tax. Part installed myself. Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) malfunctioned. Purchased new part for $135.67, including MI sales tax. Part installed myself. 

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2004 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

123-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

28000 mi

US $882
Broken tailpipe at joint to muffler. 
27274 mi

US $1100
The exhaust pipe sheared flush with the muffler clamp that holds the ball joint. This should be a $175 repair maximum on any car I've ever owned(as well as on the FWD Vibes). If you live where you need AWD prepare to pay $3K for exhausts by 100K 
102300 mi

US $5
Replaced intake manifold gasket. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks
See TrueDelta's information for all Pontiac models.

2004 Pontiac Vibe Engine Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2004 Pontiac Vibe problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.