NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 63 owner complaints for the 2008 Pontiac Vibe. Most complaints involve air bags (48) and vehicle speed control (4). The EPA rates it 27–29 mpg combined.
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.
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.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WUERFLEIN CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (2527 BRIDGE AVE, ALBERT LEA, MN 56007) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. UPON RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED DESPITE THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER BACK AND WAS INFORMED SHE HAD TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *BF *TR”
“ONE MILE INTO COMMUTE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DIDN'T RESPOND AFTER STOPPING, THEN SUDDENLY RESPONDED CAUSING CAR TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. REPEATED TWICE BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. STOPPED CAR, SHUT THE CAR OFF, CHECKED GAS CAP WAS FASTENED SECURELY. RESTARTED CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. TURNED AROUND AND PROCEEDED THE ONE MILE HOME. COASTED INTO THE PARKING GARAGE AND STOPPED THE CAR TO WAIT FOR THE GARAGE DOOR TO CLOSE. WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED THE CAR TRIED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT ANY INPUT TO THE GAS PEDAL. THE RPM'S INCREASED AND THE CAR TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE RPM'S DIDN'T DECREASE UNTIL THE CAR WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. THE SUDDEN RPM INCREASE WHILE STOPPED CAUSED THE TIRES TO SQUEAL AGAINST THE SMOOTH PAVEMENT IN THE PARKING GARAGE. SHUT THE CAR OFF, PLACED IN PARK, RESTARTED THE CAR AND PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT. THE NEXT DAY STARTED THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES TO THE DEALER WITHOUT INCIDENT. DEALER INITIALLY REFUSED TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THE ORDER AND AFTER INSISTING ON HAVING A COPY THE SERVICE MANAGER NEGLECTED TO INDICATE ON THE WORK ORDER THAT THE CAR…”
“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”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vibe Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 33 | 29 | $2,150 | 306 |
| Vibe Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 31 | 27 | $2,300 | 329 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
4 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 63 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (48), vehicle speed control (4), engine and engine cooling (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2008 Pontiac Vibe at 27–29 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).