NHTSA Complaint #10067645 — 2003 PONTIAC VIBE

WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS, THE INTERIOR GEAR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. (1) HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. (2) ENGINE IS STARTED IN THE DARK (NO DAYLIGHT) WHEN THE ENGING IS STARTED, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ILLUMINATE BUT THE GEAR LIGHTS (P,R,N,D.L) DO NOT. WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON (EVEN THOUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH REMAINS IN THE OFF POSITION...THIS IS BECAUSE OF THE AUTOMATIC LIGH SENSOR)BUT THE GEAR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON RIGHT AWAY. THERE IS A 30-45 SECOND DELAY FOR THE GEAR LIGHTS TO APPEAR. THIS MEANS I AM SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE OPTION OF PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, BUT THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE GEAR LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE DASH LIGHTS. NOW, THERE IS AN INCREASING DELAY. I BELIEVE EVENTUALLY THE GEAR LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON AT ALL. TO ME, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WHENEVER THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, THE GEAR LIGHTS SHOULD BE VISIBLE. MY DEALER AND GENERAL MOTORS TELL ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF THE CAR AND THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR IT. MY SISTER'S 2004 PONTIAC VIBE DOES NOT OPERATE THIS WAY. *AK