Yahoo Autos GM Says Not to Drive Some Pontiac Vibes
GM issued a do-not-drive advisory for certain 2003 to 2004 model-year Pontiac Vibes. The advisory stems from a defective front passenger airbag inflator, according to a report by GM Authority. This defective part can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Because of the seriousness of the issue, GM is urging owners to avoid driving their cars and to have them repaired at a GM dealership as soon as possible. The repair will be completed for free. You can check to see if your Pontiac Vibe has an open recall by visiting the GM Recall and Warranty Center website.
"GM is issuing this advisory to further encourage owners to obtain an URGENT and FREE safety recall repair," the automaker says on its website. "GM strongly recommends that you have this Safety Recall remedy performed immediately. Please contact any authorized GM dealer to schedule an appointment to have your front passenger airbag inflator replaced FREE OF CHARGE. For your convenience, vehicle towing, and a loaner vehicle or other alternate transportation may be available for FREE."
If your car is affected by the warranty, the dealership will reportedly replace the existing front passenger-side airbag module with a new one. Dealerships performing the repair must pay careful attention to the airbag module part number. The 2003 and 2004 Pontiac Vibe airbag module looks identical to those used in the 2005 to 2008 Vibe models. However, the part will malfunction if a 2005 to 2008 module is installed in a 2003 or 2004 Vibe.
It is important to note that this current advisory is different from the one that was issued in January for approximately 11,000 2003 and 2004 Vibe models. A do-not-drive advisory was issued for them due to the infamous Takata airbag inflator which can potentially send dangerous shrapnel into the cabin.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the 2003 and 2004 Pontiac Vibe have been subjected to six different airbag-related recalls over the years. If you own one of these vehicles, be sure to have any open recalls addressed immediately.
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