Pontiac Vibe problems by model year

Updated Oct 11, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

NHTSA has 132 owner complaints and 16 recalls on file for the Pontiac Vibe (2005–2010). The 2007 Vibe has the most serious complaints, most often about airbags.

Complaints: 132
Recalls: 16
Model years: 6
Worst year: 2007

Complaints by model year

NHTSA complaints per Pontiac Vibe model year. Click a bar for details.

Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.

Worst Pontiac Vibe years to buy

Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).

2007 Pontiac Vibe — 30 complaints, 1 crash; top problem: Airbags
2006 Pontiac Vibe — 40 complaints; top problem: Airbags
2005 Pontiac Vibe — 32 complaints; top problem: Airbags
2009 Pontiac Vibe — 17 complaints, 1 crash; top problem: Engine

Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2010 (1 complaints).

Every Pontiac Vibe model year

Year	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Recalls	Top problem
2010 Vibe	1	0	0	7	—
2009 Vibe	17	1	1	8	Engine
2008 Vibe	12	0	0	4	Airbags
2007 Vibe	30	1	0	5	Airbags
2006 Vibe	40	0	0	5	Airbags
2005 Vibe	32	0	0	5	Airbags

Most common Pontiac Vibe problem areas (all years)

Airbags
104 complaints
Engine
12 complaints
Electrical System
4 complaints
Steering
3 complaints
Brakes
3 complaints
Body & Structure
3 complaints
Acceleration & Cruise Control
3 complaints
Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
2 complaints
Wheels & Tires
1 complaints
Suspension
1 complaints

Complaint trend

Complaints about the Pontiac Vibe received by NHTSA each month.

Pontiac Vibe recalls

Recall 19V627000Aug 28, 2019229,460 vehiclesModel years 2005–2008
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Recall 18V883000Dec 12, 2018168,993 vehiclesModel years 2005–2007
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 18V025000Jan 9, 2018116,126 vehiclesModel years 2010
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 18V024000Jan 9, 2018628,018 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 17V006000Jan 9, 2017577,875 vehiclesModel years 2009
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 16V340000May 23, 20161,754,517 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 16V127000Mar 3, 2016147,242 vehiclesModel years 2008
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 16V128000Mar 2, 201671,163 vehiclesModel years 2008
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 15V689000Oct 22, 20151,814,284 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Recall 15V285000May 13, 20151,973,468 vehiclesModel years 2005–2007
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 15V286000May 13, 20151,069,055 vehiclesModel years 2005–2007
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Recall 14V168000Apr 9, 20141,486,413 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010
Risk: If the FFC is damaged, connectivity to the driver's air bag module could be lost and the air bag deactivated. The failure of the driver's air bag to deploy in the event of a crash that typically necessitates deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver.
Recall 12V491000Oct 10, 20122,519,424 vehiclesModel years 2009
Risk: If the switch overheats, it may melt, possibly resulting in a fire.
Recall 10V387000Aug 26, 2010161,754 vehiclesModel years 2005–2008
Risk: There are a variety of warnings and consequences associated with the defect. The engine warning lamp could be illuminated, harsh shifting could result, the engine may not start, or the engine could shut off while the vehicle is being driven. An engine shutoff while the vehicle is being driven increases the risk of a crash.
Recall 10V024000Jan 27, 201070,806 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Recall 10V018000Jan 21, 201070,806 vehiclesModel years 2009–2010
Risk: The accelerator pedal may become hard to depress, slow to return to idle, or, in the worst case, mechanically stuck in a partially depressed position, increasing the risk of a crash.

Other Pontiac models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology