2008 Pontiac Vibe: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 63 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (75% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Aug 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac vibe. The contact received a recall notification in the mail for NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags). The contact spoke with turner chevrolet (21001 crosby fwy, crosby, tx 77532 (281) 328-4377) and was informed that the parts were not available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
“Received letter from pontiac dated oct 2019 that front passenger airbag is defective and might not inflate and could injure person in a car crash. Repair parts were not ready in oct 2019. It is now seven months later. Are the parts still not ready? When will they be ready? Nothing has happened yet, but this is worrisome. I received the letter 10/21/2019. The dealer has no repair parts. It is seven months later. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2009 pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the manufacturer exceeded 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 experience a failure.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. An unknown dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted several times and was unable to confirm when the part would be available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. *bf*jb”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac vibe. The contact received a notification in the mail for NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags). The contact spoke with luther hudson chevrolet gmc (1220 crest view dr, hudson, wi 54016, (715) 690-1809) and was informed that the part was not available for the recall. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the part was not available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000(air bags) however, the parts to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Schukei chevrolet inc located at (721 s monroe ave, mason city, ia 50401) was contacted and confirmed parts not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact experienced the air bag warning light being illuminated briefly. The failure mileage was 99,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
“2008 pontiac vibe. Consumer writes in regards to front passenger side airbag safety recall. *ld the consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time completing the recall repair. *js”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number :19v627000 (air bags) however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. 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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2019
“We received multiple notices telling us the car has a recall on the airbag. We took it to a dealer, that the recall named, and they told us that recall # n150815 is pending through general motors and there is no remedy at this time. When I spoke to general motors they said they would contact us when a fix is ready, and no one should ride in the passenger side of the car.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19v627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Sullivan buick gmc, inc (777 w dundee rd, arlington heights, il 60004, (847) 505-0435) was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. *js”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 3 of these complaints and injuries in 4 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. 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.
Remedy: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-285.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008 that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Remedy: The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 8, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-286.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2008 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Vibe by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Pontiac Vibe reliable?
NHTSA has 63 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe. The most complained-about area is air bags (75% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Pontiac Vibe problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 59,000 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Pontiac Vibe have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.