VehicleVerdict

2007 Pontiac Vibe problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2007 Pontiac Vibe carries two red flags at once: 202 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA — 1.5× the Vibe norm — and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). It is one of the Vibe years to avoid. Reports tied to this model year include one death and 16 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

The trouble concentrates in one system: airbags issues account for 56% of all reports (113 of 202), far ahead of engine at 23.

202

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

16

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

16

Injuries

1

Deaths

—

NCAP overall

How does 2007 compare to other Vibe years?

Vibe NHTSA complaints by model year, 2007 highlighted600 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 1 complaints2002: 2 complaints2003: 340 complaints2004: 315 complaints2005: 337 complaints2006: 199 complaints2007: 202 complaints2008: 68 complaints2009: 600 complaints2010: 67 complaints2014: 1 complaints
Vibe NHTSA complaints by model year, 2007 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Vibe years to avoid →

What are the most common 2007 Pontiac Vibe problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags11356%
Engine2311%
Electrical System168%
Transmission126%
Speed Control115%
Brakes63%
Fuel System52%
Other42%
Seat Belts31%
Visibility & Wipers21%
Suspension21%
Steering10%
Lighting10%
Tires & Wheels10%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)10%
Driver Assistance10%

Does the 2007 Pontiac Vibe have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V627000AirbagsAugust 28, 2019 · 229,460 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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.

18V883000AirbagsDecember 12, 2018 · 168,993 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

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.

15V285000AirbagsMay 13, 2015 · 1,973,468 units

Defect

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.

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.

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.

15V286000AirbagsMay 13, 2015 · 1,069,055 units

Defect

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.

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.

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.

10V387000EngineAugust 26, 2010 · 161,754 units

Defect

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.

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.

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.

Open NHTSA investigations

EA21002

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES AND HOUR BUT TRAFFIC CAME TO IMMEDIATE STOP SO I HIT BRAKES TO MISS TRAFFIC AHEAD. IMMEDIATELY CAR WENT INTO SKID AND OUT OF CONTROL. I TRIED TO AVOID HITTING MEDIAN AFTER CAR BEGAN TO SLIDE TOWARD THE LEFT AND IT OVER-CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT AND I HIT A…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · November 18, 2009 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRES THAT CONNECTED FROM THE FUSE BOX TO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE WERE MELTED AND CAUSING THE EXTERIOR PARKING BRAKE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V387000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 3, 2012 · fire

“2007 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER FAILURE WHILE DRIVING . *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RE-START THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE, AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · June 2, 2014 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 20 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 12, 2007

“SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT LASTS A FEW SECONDS AND ENDS BY ITSELF. WE ARE HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT SINCE THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC NEARBY AT EACH TIME. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM WITH NO KNOWN TRIGGER AND HAPPENS SO RARELY THAT THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · March 1, 2014

2007 Pontiac Vibe — common questions

Is the 2007 Pontiac Vibe reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 202 complaints put the 2007 model at #5 of 12 Vibe years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Vibe years to avoid.

What are the most common 2007 Vibe problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (113 complaints), engine (23 complaints), electrical system (16 complaints).

Does the 2007 Pontiac Vibe have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2007 Pontiac Vibe. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2007 Pontiac Vibe under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Pontiac Vibe years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Vibe years to avoid are 2009, 2003, 2005, 2004, 2007, 2006, 2008, 2010. The cleanest record among Vibe years belongs to 2014.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.