Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2009 Pontiac Vibe
NHTSA data on file today
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 528 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #18V024000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V006000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V340000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V689000 Power Window Master Switch may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V168000 Driver's Air Bag may not Deploy NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #12V491000 Power Window Master Switch may Melt NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V024000 PEDAL ENTRAPMENT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #10V018000 STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #09V392000 BRAKE VACUUM SUCTION PORT NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 352 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 58 complaints
- Steering 35 complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
- Electrical System 18 complaints
- Power Train 13 complaints
Of the 528 complaints on file, 23 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 528 complaints, owners report 10 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe faces significant issues with airbag recalls and vehicle speed control, alongside numerous complaints. These factors contribute to a below-average reliability rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 50,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | very common |
| Accelerator pedal | 30,000–80,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| Power window switch | 40,000–70,000 miles | $150–$300 | common |
| Service brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$700 | occasional |
| Steering column | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Coolant replacement every 50,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Timing belt inspection at 60,000 miles
- Spark plug replacement every 100,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Sticky accelerator pedal
- Power window failure
- Airbag warning light
- Steering noise or looseness
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.