NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Pontiac Vibe Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Pontiac Vibe has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 301 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Pontiac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Pontiac Vibe, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2005 Pontiac Vibe owner complaints

Owners have filed 301 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Pontiac Vibe, describing incidents dated September 1, 2004 to November 23, 2024.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 174 complaints
Engine 43 complaints
Power Train 34 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 18 complaints
Electrical System 15 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 8 complaints

Of the 301 complaints on file, 10 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 301 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11649236 · Filed March 19, 2025
Product Safety Alert: Mar 19, 2025 Stop using the following item because of a potential safety issue. Visit the public recall notice for more guidance. Evenflo GoTime LX Booster Car Seat (Chardon Black) Important safety information We write to notify you of a potential safety concern with a product…
ODI #11616932 · Filed September 27, 2024
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000 (Air Bags); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
ODI #11611091 · Filed August 27, 2024
The contact owned a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V883000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

Read all 301 complaints

Owner-reported

2005 Pontiac Vibe mileage at failure

146 of the 301 complaints on file for the 2005 Pontiac Vibe give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Air Bags	Median 115,000 miles	Middle half 70,000–170,000 miles	Based on 38 complaints
Engine	Median 95,000 miles	Middle half 70,000–130,000 miles	Based on 35 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Pontiac Vibe in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
Engineering Analysis EA15-001: Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since February 24, 2015
- Recall 14V-668
- Recall 15V-284
- Recall 15V-285
- Recall 15V-286
- Recall 15V-287
- Recall 15V-312
- and 188 more on the investigation page
Preliminary Evaluation PE14-016: Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Closed March 2, 2015
- Recall 13V-172
- Recall 14V-428
- Recall 14V-700
- Recall 14V-763
- Recall 14V-770
- Recall 14V-787
- and 3 more on the investigation page
Engineering Analysis EA10-006: Engine Stall
Closed September 16, 2010
- Recall 10V-384
- Recall 10V-387

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Front Passenger Air Bag May Not Properly Inflate

NHTSA #19V627000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported August 28, 2019 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 229,460 vehicles

Repair completion: 36.19% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign K1Q / K0Q · Owners notified October 18, 2019 · Vehicles built April 26, 2004 – January 2, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode

NHTSA #18V883000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice

Reported December 12, 2018 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 168,993 vehicles

Repair completion: 74.53% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified January 23, 2019 · Vehicles built January 18, 2002 – June 4, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture

NHTSA #15V286000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported May 13, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 1,069,055 vehicles

Repair completion: 86.72% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14491 · Owners notified July 13, 2015 · Vehicles built January 18, 2002 – June 4, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture

NHTSA #15V285000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice

Reported May 13, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Potentially affected: 1,973,468 vehicles

Repair completion: 89% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified July 13, 2015 · Vehicles built January 18, 2003 – June 6, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Recall group: Takata airbag inflators

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

ENGINE STALLING

NHTSA #10V387000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported August 26, 2010 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 161,754 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 10282 · Owners notified February 8, 2011 · Vehicles built April 26, 2004 – January 2, 2008 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

GM'S SAFETY RECALL NO. IS 10282.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2005 Pontiac Vibe 4-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

14% rollover risk

Safety Technology

4 investigations

301 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Pontiac Vibe.

Insert, Padding; Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle); I suspect the car seat is counterfeit

ODI #11649236

Incident: November 23, 2024 · Filed: March 19, 2025

Product Safety Alert: Mar 19, 2025 Stop using the following item because of a potential safety issue. Visit the public recall notice for more guidance. Evenflo GoTime LX Booster Car Seat (Chardon Black) Important safety information We write to notify you of a potential safety concern with a product that you purchased on Amazon.com. Please review the Recalls and Product Safety Alerts page for further details: https://www.Amazon.com/your-product-safety-alerts the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has informed us that the product listed may not meet current mandatory or voluntary safety standards. If you still have this product, we urge you to stop using it immediately and review the following notification for more details, including what you should do and where you can seek assistance: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=25C003000 If you made this purchase for someone else, please notify the recipient immediately and provide them with the information.

Air Bags

ODI #11616932

Incident: September 27, 2024 · Filed: September 27, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000 (Air Bags); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.

Air Bags

ODI #11611091

Incident: August 27, 2024 · Filed: August 27, 2024

The contact owned a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V883000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #11600614

Incident: February 26, 2024 · Filed: July 9, 2024

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the doors locked independently. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. The contact stated that on the last occasion, the doors locked independently while her daughter was inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000.

Air Bags

ODI #11548717

Incident: December 12, 2018 · Filed: October 6, 2023

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V883000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet 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 and advised the contact to locate a different dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Air Bags

ODI #11468054

Incident: June 5, 2022 · Filed: June 7, 2022

The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local dealer with air bag coil wire failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V168000 (Air Bags). The approximate failure mileage was 199,850.

Air Bags

ODI #11415921

Incident: May 4, 2021 · Filed: May 10, 2021

THE AIRBAG IN MY VEHICLE ARE FAULTY AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE SAFETY CODE FOR AIRBAG IS SHOWING ON THE DASHBOARD OF MY VEHICLE.. I WAS ALERTED TO THIS WHEN I DROVE MY CAR TO A REPAIR GARAGE FOR A SMOG INSPECTION ON 5/4/21. THE AUTO MANUFACTURER HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE FAULTY AIRBAGS.

Air Bags

ODI #11388975

Incident: January 19, 2021 · Filed: January 20, 2021

I RECENTLY TOOK MY VIBE IN FOR AN AIR BAG RECALL. THEY REPLACED THE PASSAGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE BUT DID NOTHING WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE. I'VE HAD AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD ALSO BE FIXED. THEY INFORMED ME IT WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL. WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THE PASSAGER SIDE AIR BAGS ARE FAULTY CAN CAN CAUSE BODILY HARM OR EVEN DEATH WHY WOULD THE DRIVERSIDE AIR BAG BE ANY DIFFERENT. I FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHY IT WASN'T OR AT LEAST THE WARNING LIGHT FIXED.

Other/I am not sure

ODI #11364992

Incident: September 18, 2020 · Filed: October 19, 2020

2005 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT TO HAVE RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT ENFORCE MASK WEARING INDOORS. *JS

Air Bags

ODI #11354128

Incident: September 10, 2020 · Filed: September 10, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT CALLED SMART CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 4417 WESLEY D WEBSTER HWY, NC-704, MADISON, NC 27025, WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SECOND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE SECOND LIGHT WAS THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN MADE NO MENTION WHY THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

Other Pontiac Vibe model years

Check your 2005 Pontiac Vibe VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Pontiac Vibe at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Pontiac VIN