Worst 2008 Pontiac Vibe Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbags
Unintended Acceleration
Engine & Cooling
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 48 | 2 | — | 62,400 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Valve | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2008 Pontiac Vibe
4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~609,619 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Other Pontiac Vibe Years
2008 Pontiac Vibe — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Pontiac Vibe reliable?
What are common problems with the 2008 Pontiac Vibe?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Pontiac Vibe?
How safe is the 2008 Pontiac Vibe?
Does the 2008 Pontiac Vibe have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2008 Pontiac Vibe?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Pontiac Vibe reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 Pontiac Vibe
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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