2006 Pontiac Vibe recalls and problems

The 2006 Pontiac Vibe has 5 safety recalls and 177 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Pontiac dealer.

Recalls
5
Complaints
177
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2006 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2006 Pontiac Vibe recalls

Recall 19V-627: Air Bags

Reported Aug 28, 2019 · 229,460 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Recall 18V-883: Air Bags

Reported Dec 12, 2018 · 168,993 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Recall 15V-285: Air Bags

Reported May 13, 2015 · 1,973,468 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 15V-286: Air Bags

Reported May 13, 2015 · 1,069,055 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 10V-387: Engine and Engine Cooling

Reported Aug 26, 2010 · 161,754 vehicles affected · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

2006 Pontiac Vibe problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Air Bags119
Engine and Engine Cooling20
Power Train12
Electrical System11
Engine10
Vehicle Speed Control6
Visibility4
Seat Belts2
Structure2
Tires2
Service Brakes2
Visibility/Wiper2

Most reported parts

  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) — 5
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 3
  • Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 3
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 2
  • Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly — 1
  • Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems — 1
  • Tires › Tread/Belt — 1
  • Structure › Body › Door — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 82,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2006 Pontiac Vibe complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Unknown or Other · reported Dec 5, 2025
Hello, My drivers side front left window goes up and down awkwardly, almost like it's going to brake the glass when I use it. If there's a recall on this I will gladly like to know. Thank you.
Electrical System · reported Jan 5, 2023
I had my valve cover gasket replaced fuel injectors serviced and transmission serviced on 12/26/2022. When I picked my car up on 12/29/2022, I was checking my brake lights when the car started Idling up and down on it's own and the check engine light came on. I called the dealer and was asked to bring the car in and they would check it out. I returned on Jan. 2nd 2023 to address the concerns with my car. I arrived at approximately 0730 am. I WAS IN FORMED THAT MY ECM/PCM WERE FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. I was my understanding that the 2005-2008 Pontiac Vibes were under recall for this…
Electrical System · reported Jan 27, 2021
The contact owns a 2006 pontiac vibe. The contact stated that she had experienced several electrical failures with the computer system intermittently stopping operation without warning. The contact also stated that the check engine and tire pressure warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic on several occasions however, despite each repairs, the warning lights would return. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Engine · reported Nov 12, 2020
My vehicle was parked, I cranked my engine up, and it ran for a few minutes and then shut off. I AM unable to crank my vehicle up at all now. Light pink fluid is leaking out of the throttle body.
Air Bags · reported Jul 20, 2020
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18v883000 (Air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called several unknown dealers and it was confirmed that the parts were 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.

Other Pontiac Vibe years

Compare all Pontiac Vibe years · All Pontiac models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2006 Pontiac Vibe have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2006 Pontiac Vibe: 19V-627 (air bags), 18V-883 (air bags), 15V-285 (air bags), 15V-286 (air bags), 10V-387 (engine and engine cooling). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2006 Pontiac Vibe?

Owners report air bags problems most often (119 reports), followed by engine and engine cooling (20). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 82,000 miles.

Are Pontiac recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Pontiac dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.