2006 Pontiac Vibe

Routine

Owners filed 177 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 5 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
82,000 milesMedian miles at failure

69 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 120,000150,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags117
102
Engine and Engine Cooling13
101
Electrical System7
000
Vehicle Speed Control5
200
Power Train4
000
Engine4
000
Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Service Brakes2
000

5 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module19V627000
Filed Aug 28, 2019229,460 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.

Risk. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.

Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module18V883000
Filed Dec 12, 2018168,993 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy. Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.

Air Bags15V285000
Filed May 13, 20151,973,468 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

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.

Remedy. 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.

Air Bags15V286000
Filed May 13, 20151,069,055 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.

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.

Remedy. 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.

Engine and Engine Cooling10V387000
Filed Aug 26, 2010161,754 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE (LV6) ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM AT 1-800-620-7668.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 5, 2025RI

Hello, My drivers side front left window goes up and down awkwardly, almost like it's going to brake the glass when I use it. If there's a recall on this I will gladly like to know. Thank you.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 14, 2024MI

RainX Weatherbeater 21" wiper blade purchased on or about 12/13/24 at this location: Meijers 1703 Haggerty Rd Commerce, MI 48390 Wiper is supposed to come with a small clip pre-attached to the blade assy and a large clip loose in the packaging for those applications needing the large clip. My car needs the smaller clip This wiper was packaged with the large clip pre-attached and no loose parts in the package. Not knowing any better at the time I attached the wiper using the large clip. Seemed OK but something didn't seem right so I double checked and realized the wiper was mis-packaged. Obviously if I hadn't double checked it would have set up the potential for the wiper to detach during normal usage as it doesn't "click" into place as it should.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 5, 2023CA

I had my valve cover gasket replaced fuel injectors serviced and transmission serviced on 12/26/2022. When I picked my car up on 12/29/2022, I was checking my brake lights when the car started Idling up and down on it's own and the check engine light came on. I called the dealer and was asked to bring the car in and they would check it out. I returned on Jan. 2nd 2023 to address the concerns with my car. I arrived at approximately 0730 am. I WAS IN FORMED THAT MY ECM/PCM WERE FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I was my understanding that the 2005-2008 Pontiac Vibes were under recall for this issue. Would like confirmation on this subject. Concerned Owner.

Electrical System
Filed Jan 27, 2021CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY STOPPING OPERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, DESPITE EACH REPAIRS, THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD RETURN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 16, 2020GA

RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED 10/2019, AND NO ONE HAS AGREED TO RESOLVE THE AIRBAG ISSUE

Engine
Filed Nov 12, 20203,000,000 milesMS

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED, I CRANKED MY ENGINE UP, AND IT RAN FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN SHUT OFF. I AM UNABLE TO CRANK MY VEHICLE UP AT ALL NOW. LIGHT PINK FLUID IS LEAKING OUT OF THE THROTTLE BODY.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 22, 202081,350 milesIL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO APPLE CHEVROLET (8585 W 159TH ST, TINLEY PARK, IL 60487, (708) 429-3000) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,350.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 20, 2020IL

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V883000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 14, 2020AR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. CRAIN BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 710 S. AMITY RD, CONWAY, AR 72032, WAS NOTIFIED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*JB

Air Bags
Filed Jul 14, 2020370,000 milesLA

I'VE BEEN WAITING ALMOST A YEAR FOR GM, TOYOTA, AND TAKATA TO COME UP WITH A FIX TO THEIR AIRBAG PROBLEM, NHTSA # 19V627. HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE HAVE TO WAIT? GM'S THOUGHTS? "RECALL STATUS: INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE"

Air Bags
Filed Jul 12, 2020100,000 milesMI

I RECEIVED THE SECOND SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA ID NUMBER 19V627) REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG FOR THIS VEHICLE IN OCTOBER, 2019 AND THERE STILL IS NO RESOLUTION. DON'T YOU THINK THAT IT'S TIME FOR NHTSA TO PRESS THIS ISSUE WITH GM AND/OR TAKATA?

Air Bags
Filed Jul 9, 2020MD

PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME RECALLED AIRBAG BY DEALER SAYING THE RECALLED PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. NOW I FIND OUT 4 YEARS LATER THAT THE PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 7, 2020WA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED SEAVIEW BUICK GMC (17909 HWY 99, LYNNWOOD, WA 98037, (425) 742-1920) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 6, 2020120,000 milesOH

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE AUGUST 2019 FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG ASSEMBLY. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, MY LAST CALL TODAY 7/6/2020 AND I AM ALWAYS TOLD THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THIS SAFETY DEFECT. WHEN I CALLED GM'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER I WAS GIVEN THE SAME ANSWER. I BELIEVE THAT 11 MONTHS IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO WAIT FOR A REPAIR OF A SAFETY DEFECT. ARE YOU AWARE THAT GM IS NOT FIXING THESE PROBLEMS?

Air Bags
Filed Jul 1, 2020NY

WE OWN A PONTIAC VIBE, MY FRIEND OWNED A TOYOTA MATRIX. THESE CARS WERE BUILT SIDE BY SIDE BY GM. THIS IS WHY THE GM'S OF THE USA WILL LOSE TO TOYOTA IN SALES BECAUSE THE MATRIX RECALL WAS FINISHED IN FEB 2020. MY VIBE IS STILL WAITING FOR THE NEW AIR BAG. I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY AGREE THE MATRIX AND VIBE USE SAME PARTS. THEY CAN NOT PERFORM RECALL BECAUSE GM HAS TO DO IT. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT YEARS FOR A FIX.NYSI STATES TOYOTA. WHEN I TRY TO SELL OR TRADE CAR, THEY WANT RECALLS FIXED. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE. *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jun 18, 2020TN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 17, 2020MI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. SERRA BUICK GMC CADILLAC (12300 30 MILE RD, WASHINGTON, MI 48095, 586 331-2540) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER TO REQUEST A COURTESY VEHICLE SINCE PARTS ARE STILL UNAVAILABLE. MANUFACTURER STATED THAT A COURTESY VEHICLE COULD ONLY BE PROVIDED ONCE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE. *DL

Air Bags
Filed Jun 15, 2020MN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. MCCARTHY AUTO WORLD (3350 129TH AVE NW, COON RAPIDS, MN 55448) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 10, 2020CA

THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2019 IT IS NOW JUNE 2020 AND THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THE AIRBAG INFLATOR PROBLEM. I WANT THIS FIXED ASAP! *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jun 8, 2020168,000 milesME

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. QUIRK CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 1000 BRIGHTON AVE, PORTLAND, ME 04102, (207) 420-8968, AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

20 of 177 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2009
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20141000Routine
201058800Routine
2009527920Above average
200863400Routine
2007170511Fatalities reported
2006 — this page177500Routine
2005301510Above average
2004266710Above average
2003298800Above average
20021000Routine
20011000Routine
20001000Routine

Compare every Vibe year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 28, 2019. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.