2006 Pontiac VIBE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
177 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 69 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 119 of 177 complaints (67.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 14 | 7.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 6.2% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 2.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 119 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
Air Bags: 119; Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Electrical System: 10; Engine: 10; Power Train: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 12
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 108 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 51 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 36 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 9; 2010: 20; 2011: 7; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2015: 51; 2016: 16; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 13; 2020: 36; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10295818 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
2006 PONTIAC VIBE, WHICH IS THE SAME VEHICLE AT TOYOTA MATRIX. THIS IS ALSO HAVING THE STALLING PROBLEM, COMPUTER CODE PO607, REQUIRING A REPLACEMENT ECM, DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION # PE09054 OF NOVEMBER 30, 2009. CAR STALLED WHILE MERGING ON HIGHWAY AND I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY GETTING REAR-ENDED. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW (12/15/09) AND I HAVE ASKED THE DEALER, BRUSTOLON GMC IN MYSTIC CT (860)536-2627 TO SAVE THE DEFECTIVE ECM/PCM AS EVIDENCE, BUT THEY WON'T WITHOUT CHARGING ME MORE BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT IS A CORE RETURN! *TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321144 · 2010-03-20 (March 20, 2010)
MY 2006 PONTIAC VIBE HAS THE SAME STALLING PROBLEM AS COMPLAINT NUMBER 10295818. I SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT IN LIGHT OF RECENT TOYOTA COROLLA/MATRIX STALLING INVESTIGATION. PONTIAC VIBE AND TOYOTA MATRIX SHARE MANY COMPONENTS. MY VIBE IS CURRENTLY AT COLONIAL BUICK PONTIAC GMC OF WATERTOWN, MA FOR REPAIR ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10321144 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10351582 · 2010-08-24 (August 24, 2010)
I HAVE AN 2006 PONTIAC VIBE A COROLLA/ MATRIX TWIN. IT INTERMITTENTLY STALLS AND SHIFTS SPORADICALLY OR UNEXPECTEDLY. IT USUALLY STALLS ONLY WHEN ITS BEEN WARMED UP. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT MIGHT BE THE ECM IN THE CAR HELP! THIS IS ONE OF MANY SPORADIC EPISODES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2006. THE CRAZY SHIFTING OF POWER IN THE GEARS RATIO IS VERY INCONSISTENT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10351582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10355743 · 2010-09-15 (September 15, 2010)
THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP IS ILLUMINATED AND HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING OCCURS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10207504 · 2007-10-31 (October 31, 2007)
ENGINE ACCELERATES WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED. INTERMITTINT PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10207504 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227900 · 2008-05-15 (May 15, 2008)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 PONTIAC VIBE SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 79 IN RURAL PENNSLVANIA WHEN THE BRAKES SOUNDLY FAILED TO RESPOND. I STEPPED ON THE PEDDLE BUT THE CAR FAILED TO SLOW, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. TO AVOID AN HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED INTO THE SHOULDER, CONTINUING TO APPLY THE BRAKES. AS I TRIED TO SLOW, THE CAR FISHTAILED AND I SKIDDED INTO THE INTERSTATE AGAIN AND HIT THE OPPOSITE GUARDRAIL. ANTILOCK BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. FINALLY, WHEN I CRASHED, THE CAR'S AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, DESPITE THE ENTIRE FRONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,235 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356529 · 2010-09-20 (September 20, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF ACCOMPANIED BY THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE PCM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644825 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
THE SPIRAL ELECTRICAL CABLE BROKE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOW THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356092 · 2010-09-17 (September 17, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE BATTERY WAS JUMP CHARGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY YET THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURE WHO ADVISED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMB…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275041 · 2009-06-26 (June 26, 2009)
REAR PART OF THE HEAT SHIELD BELOW GAS TANK FELL DOWN ON EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING A RATTLE BETWEEN GAS TANK AND PIPE. THE PART THAT HOLDS UP THE REAR OF THE HEAT SHIELD IS PLASTIC CLIP WITH A METAL NUT INSIDE THAT ATTACHES TO THE GAS TANK STRAP AND WHEN IT FELL OFF THE METAL NUT WAS RUSTED AND STILL ATTACHED TO THE SHIELD WHERE AS THE FRONT PART OF THE SHIELD HAS METAL TABS THE ARE USED TO ATTACH THE SHIELD TO. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275041 at NHTSA ↗