VehicleVerdict

2008 Pontiac Vibe airbags problems

The 2008 Pontiac Vibe has 48 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 71% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

48

Airbags complaints

71%

Share of year

2

Crash-involved

3

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Vibe airbags complaints by model year352 complaints2000: 1 complaints2001: 1 complaints2002: 1 complaints2003: 66 complaints2004: 104 complaints2005: 174 complaints2006: 119 complaints2007: 113 complaints2008: 48 complaints2009: 352 complaints2010: 31 complaints2014: 1 complaints
Vibe airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

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.

16V127000AirbagsMarch 3, 2016 · 147,242 units

Defect

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.

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

The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-285.

16V128000AirbagsMarch 2, 2016 · 71,163 units

Defect

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.

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

The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 8, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. This recall expands recall 15V-286.

What owners report

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. ON APRIL 22, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT, CAUSING HER TO STRIKE AND INJURE HER HEAD AGAINST THE DASHBOARD. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · April 22, 2008 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2008 Pontiac Vibe have?

NHTSA has 48 complaints about the 2008 Pontiac Vibe airbags — 71% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe airbags?

Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 16V127000, 16V128000, 19V627000.

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.