Most common 2005 Pontiac Vibe problems
Share of the 301 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Vibe complaints by model year
Best Vibe years: 2008, 2006, 2010. Years to avoid: 2009, 2003. Compare all years →
2005 Pontiac Vibe recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,…
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Air bags
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii,…
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory.
Engine and engine cooling
GM is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Pontiac vibe vehicles. The engine control module (ECM) for the subject models equipped with the 1zz-fe (lv6) engine and two-wheel drive May have been improperly manufactured. There is a possibility that a crack May develop at certain solder points or on varistors on the circuit board.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the production number of the ECM and replace the ECM if necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on February 8, 2011. Owners May contact GM at 1-800-620-7668.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2005 Pontiac Vibe:
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Engine Stall
On August 26, 2010, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding problems with Engine Control Modules that could result in engine stall while driving in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2008 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive and manufactured between April 19, 2004 and…
What 2005 Pontiac Vibe owners say
Air bags all 174 →
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed at a local dealer with air bag coil wire failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V168000 (Air Bags). The approximate failure mileage was 199,850.
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received a recall notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V883000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An undisclosed dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and advised the contact to locate a different dealer. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Engine & cooling all 43 →
I have a 2005 Pontiac Vibe and since 2009 my car has been losing cooling and has a burning smell. Over the past 6 years I've taken the vehicle to numerous repair shops to resolve the issue with no results. In 2010 I there was a engine recall on this vehicle and I don't believe my car was properly serviced. Today I still have the burning smell, since the recall repair I've taken it to repair shops without results and have to refill my cooling 3 - 4 times a month. The service centers have said theirs no leak but there could be a temperature issue that burns the cooling but no one in the past 6 years has been able to fix it and the smell is getting worst.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle was difficult to shift and stalled. The contact also stated that the check engine warning light illuminated.the vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the electronic control unit, the fuel pump, and the driving belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign id number: 10V387000 (engine and engine cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 34 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the check engine indicator illuminated when the vehicle was started. Also, while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle later restarted and was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the control module was faulty. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V285000 (air bags) by an unknown Pontiac dealer in dallas, tx two years ago. The vehicle was not repaired for the recent failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle shuttered, vibrated, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, after the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 291,561.
2005 Pontiac Vibe engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 33 / 29 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 31 / 27 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Pontiac Vibe a good car?
Based on 301 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Vibe rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Vibe at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Pontiac Vibe?
The air bags — 174 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal › sensor/control module. Next are the engine & cooling (43) and transmission & drivetrain (34).
How many recalls does the 2005 Pontiac Vibe have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2005 Pontiac Vibe, the most recent from August 28, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Vibe?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2008, 2006 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009 and 2003. See the full Pontiac Vibe years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Pontiac Vibe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 83,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.