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ProblemsByVinFile / 2009-PONTIAC-VIBENHTSA data synced 5 days ago
Pontiac
2009 Pontiac Vibe problems
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe has 4 critical safety recalls on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 527 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe has 527 NHTSA owner complaints and 9 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 347 complaints, typically surfacing around 92,923 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Significant reliability concerns on file. Read the trouble spots before buying.
4
Critical
5
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2009 Vibe?
High-risk ownership
Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open.
Cruise-control: 45 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 13,903–33,500 mi
Reliability score 3.6/10 — below the segment average
9 recall campaigns on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2009 Pontiac Vibe? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or
make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
airbags — 347 owner reports
· tends to show around 92,923 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
cruise control — 45 owner reports
· tends to show around 38,545 mi · ~$600 to fix
steering — 35 owner reports
· tends to show around 50,828 mi · ~$700 to fix
engine — 29 owner reports
· tends to show around 78,126 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: cruise control is flagged
severe on this model
, showing up around 38,545 mi.
Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — 9 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 3.6/10 model. The priciest documented failure is
engine (~$3,100) — get the
seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report
tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in
this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.
Photo attached — type a question or just hit Ask.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
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When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you,
what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact
year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags). The part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Pontiac vibe. While driving between 50-55 MPH, the contact struck a deer. The driver's air bag failed to deploy, but the front passenger air bag deployed. The contact was not injured in the crash. The front seat passenger sustained minor burns and…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
Had a problem with your 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U
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, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).
It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 3.6 out of 10 based on 527 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.
Should you avoid the 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is a higher-risk ownership prospect. Repair exposure runs above average — only with money set aside and eyes open. The record behind that call: Cruise-control: 45 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 13,903–33,500 mi; Reliability score 3.6/10 — below the segment average; 9 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 347 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 92,923 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2009 Pontiac Vibe a good used car to buy?
It scores 3.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 527 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 92,923 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 347 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 92,923 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 92,923 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Pontiac Vibe has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 527 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 5 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Pontiac/Vibe.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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