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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Pontiac VIBE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

63 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

59,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 63 complaints (76.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior69.5%
Engine operation34.8%
Steering behavior34.8%
Transmission and shifting11.6%
Electrical and battery issues11.6%

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.

Air Bags
48
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
2
Seat Belts
2
Steering
2
Engine
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags48
Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine And Engine Cooling2
Seat Belts2
Steering2
Engine1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline1
Fuel System, Gasoline1

Air Bags: 48; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Steering: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 43 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.

2008
4
2009
1
2010
4
2011
4
2013
2
2014
3
2016
25
2017
3
2019
5
2020
12
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20084
20091
20104
20114
20132
20143
201625
20173
20195
202012

2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2016: 25; 2017: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 12

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10223277 · 2008-04-03 (April 3, 2008)

DESCRIPTION OF MALFUNCTION: ENGINE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS CONDITION OCCURRED ONCE, BUT COULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON SATURDAY 3/29/08 (NO RAIN; TEMP 35 DEG F) , I WAS DRIVING ON A WINDING RURAL ROAD AND GOING AROUND 30 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. I STARTED BRAKING SINCE I WAS GOING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE AND GETTING CLOSE TO A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I NOTICED THAT THE IDLE WAS AROUND 3,000 RPM. I MANUALLY THREW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10223277 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10260194 · 2009-02-27 (February 27, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH WITH A SEMI TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS REGARDING THE ABS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. NEW BRAKES PADS WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TAKEN IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJ…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260194 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10410044 · 2011-06-30 (June 30, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V387000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THE PART DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, EVEN THO…

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410044 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10434592 · 2011-11-03 (November 3, 2011)

2008 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY THINKING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED HIM, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW PART AND THEY WOULD CALL HIM ONCE THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE CALLED FOR OVER A MONTH, ONLY TO BE TRANSFERRED SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMPANY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10434592 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10234790 · 2008-07-18 (July 18, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VALVE STEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,900. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED 3 VALVE STEM FAILURES. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 38,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10615835 · 2014-07-23 (July 23, 2014)

I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, HOWEVER WHEN THE STREETS ARE WET, MY ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND THE POWER STEERING GOES OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WEEK AND HAVE HAD TO LEAVE THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT STEER. I TOOK THE CAR TO RON NORRIS DEALERSHIP IN TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I WOULD HATE TO GET HURT MYSELF OR KILL SOMEONE ELSE. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615835 at NHTSA ↗