Pontiac · Vibe · 2008
4
Recalls
63
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2008 Pontiac Vibe has 4 recalls and 63 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (46 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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 Status
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 Status
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 Status
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 Status
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.
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 UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WUERFLEIN CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (2527 BRIDGE AVE, ALBERT LEA, MN 56007) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED DESPITE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER BACK AND WAS INFORMED SHE HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF *TR
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.
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
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.
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
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.
I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM PONTIAC IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN DATED OCTOBER 2019 STATING THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ASSEMBLY CONTAINING AN INFLATOR IS DEFECTIVE. THE AIR BAG MAY NOT UNFOLD AS DESIGNED DURING INFLATION DURING HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS .WHAT COULD HAPPEN IS THAT A PORTION OF THE AIR BAG MATERIAL COULD BE TORN DURING DEPLOYMENT, OR THE BAG PLATE COULD BE DAMAGED. SUCH DAMAGE DURING DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE THE AIR BAG NOT TO PROPERLY INFLATE, AND THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE LETTER FURTHER STATES THAT PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. A RECENT CALL TO THE PONTIAC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. DUE TO THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD I HAVE NOT HAD ANYONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE SINCE THE SAFELY RECALL LETTER WAS SENT TO ME ALMOST NINE MONTHS AGO. IN FACT THERE WAS ALREADY ONE OTHER SAFETY RECALL ON THIS SAME AIRBAG SOME TIME AGO THAT I HAD REPLACED AT MY LOCAL GM DEALER IN KINGMAN, AZ. I AM REPORTING THIS TO YOU BECAUSE I FEEL THAT WAY TOO MUCH TIME HAS GONE BY WITHOUT ANY PART REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE FOR THIS AIRBAG .SINCE THIS DEFECT COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, I FEEL THAT THIS COMPANY HAS BEEN UNDULY NEGLIGENT IN NOT PROVIDING A REPLACEMENT PART SINCE THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT TO ME IN OCTOBER 2019. CAN ANYTHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS? THE GM SAFETY RECALL # IS N192273760.
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
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.
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.
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.
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. HONOLULU BUICK GMC LOCATED AT 2945 N NIMITZ HWY, HONOLULU, HI 96819, WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS 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. *BF *JS
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
I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART YET AND WHEN THE GET THE PART IN THEY WOULD CONTACT ME TO REPLACE IT BUT THAT WAS IN 2019 AND NEVER HERD FROM THEM THIS VERY DAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIRBAG) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER KINGMAN CHEVROLET BUICK (ADDRESS: 3730 STOCKTON HILL RD, KINGMAN, AZ 86409; PHONE: (928) 757-4041) 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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED 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 HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT*JB
WHILE PULLING INTO A DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN CONTINUING FORWARD WITH BRAKE APPLIED EVEN LEAVING SKID MARKS UNTIL RUNNING INTO A STONE COLUMN. WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THE HOUSE INSTEAD THE COLUMN IF HADN'T STEERED HARD TO THE RIGHT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V006000 (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 LOCAL DEALER (STYKEMAIN CHEVROLET PONTIAC LOCATED AT 211 E PERRY ST PAULDING, OH 419- 399- 2071) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE REMEDY PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V127000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (IDAHO CENTER AUTO MALL IN CALDWELL, ID, (208)467-7000) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS BEING ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. SHELDON BUICK (855 ROCHESTER RD, ROCHESTER HILLS, MI) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2008 Pontiac Vibe has 4 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 63 owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe are air bags (46 reports), engine and engine cooling (3 reports), vehicle speed control (2 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 4 recalls on record for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.