2010 Pontiac VIBE
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2010 Pontiac VIBE has 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (46% of all complaints), specifically: driving in a light rain, i lost control at 75mph and hit the rear of a semi trailer. the car started to slide sideways and i pressed the brakes hard and the car began to skid. the skid continued until my car reached the shoulder, whereupon it began to roll. the car rolled a total of three times and .
67
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
AIR BAGS
31 complaints- • DRIVING IN A LIGHT RAIN, I LOST CONTROL AT 75MPH AND HIT THE REAR OF A SEMI TRAILER. THE CAR STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SKID. THE SKID CONTINUED UNTIL MY CAR REACHED THE SHOULDER, WHEREUPON IT BEGAN TO ROLL. THE CAR ROLLED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES AND
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FRONT, SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIR BAGS ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. A REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES
- • THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY STEERING WHEEL COIL MODULE, WHICH ALSO CAUSED FAILURE/SHORT OF THE FUSE BLOCK. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THESE PARTS. THE CAR WAS FIXED AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS NO LONGER ACTIV
“DRIVING IN A LIGHT RAIN, I LOST CONTROL AT 75MPH AND HIT THE REAR OF A SEMI TRAILER. THE CAR STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SKID. THE SKID CONTINUED UNTIL MY CAR REACHED THE SHOULDER, WHEREUPON IT BEGAN TO ROLL. THE CAR ROLLED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES AND ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SPEED CONTROL
7 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED RECALL REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V024000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE DEALER REMOVED THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MATS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSATISFIED
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V024000 IS IN EFFECT FOR HIS VEHICLE BUT HE DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD ANY VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL FAILURES WITH HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR
- • 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTING OUT FROM IDLE, IF HE BARELY TOUCHES THE ACCELERATOR IT STARTS OUT VERY SLOWLY OR NOT AT ALL IF THE VEHICLE IS IN REVERSE FROM A DOWNHILL POSITION. THEN IF HE PRESS SLIGHTLY MOR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED RECALL REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V024000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE DEALER REMOVED THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MATS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSATISFIED ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
5 complaints- • THE BRAKES IN THE CAR APPEAR NOT TO BEGIN BRAKING EVERY TIME RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED. *TR
- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ACCELERATING AROUND A CURB THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE C
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE BRAKES WOULD MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMB
“THE BRAKES IN THE CAR APPEAR NOT TO BEGIN BRAKING EVERY TIME RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
5 complaints- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE TH
- • OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE, OIL WAS AT EMPTY LEVEL AFTER ONLY 2500 MILES FROM LAST OIL CHANGE. USED RECOMMENDED SYNTHETIC OIL, CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS.
- • ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION, SINCE THE LAST OIL CHANGED ( 5,000 MILES ) THE OIL LEVEL WAS ALMOST EMPTY, THE OIL USED SINCE NEW IS SYNTHETIC AND THE RECOMMENDED GRADE BY MANUFACTURER. CAR ONLY HAS 36, 000 MILES AND OIL HAS BEEN CHANGE EVERY 5000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED. *TR
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
4 complaints- • AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY STEER SHARPLY ON ITS OWN, AS IF IT WERE HIT BY A SUDDEN, VIOLENT CROSSWIND THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 20-25 TIMES, ALWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALWAYS SWERVING TO THE LEFT. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT EACH OCCURRENCE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT
- • TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ACCELERATING AROUND A CURB THE VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE C
- • THERE IS A PERSISTENT RATTLE COMING FROM DIRECTLY BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS <35 MPH AND/OR DRIVING OVER BUMPY PAVEMENT. WHEN THE RATTLE IS OCCURRING, THE STEERING COLUMN FEELS LIKE IT OSCILLATING VERY QUICKLY.
“AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY STEER SHARPLY ON ITS OWN, AS IF IT WERE HIT BY A SUDDEN, VIOLENT CROSSWIND THIS HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 20-25 TIMES, ALWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALWAYS SWERVING TO THE LEFT. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, BUT EACH OCCURRENCE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 67 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐AIR BAGS: DRIVING IN A LIGHT RAIN, I LOST CONTROL AT 75MPH AND HIT THE REAR OF A SEMI TRAILER. THE CAR STARTED TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS AND I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SKID. THE SKID CONTINUED UNTIL MY CAR REACHED THE SHOULDER, WHEREUPON IT BEGAN TO ROLL. THE CAR ROLLED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES AND
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SPEED CONTROL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED RECALL REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V024000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) AND THE DEALER REMOVED THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MATS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSATISFIED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: THE BRAKES IN THE CAR APPEAR NOT TO BEGIN BRAKING EVERY TIME RIGHT AWAY WHEN THE PEDAL IS APPLIED. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Pontiac VIBE — Year Comparison
How does 2010 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 67
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 7
- Injury reports
- 8
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2010 Pontiac VIBE