Most common 2006 Pontiac Vibe problems
Share of the 177 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 →
2006 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 2 possible defects involving the 2006 Pontiac Vibe:
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.
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 2006 Pontiac Vibe owners say
Air bags all 119 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. While driving approximately 20 MPH on a wet road down a hill, the contact hit a wet patch of road. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. As a result, the front of the vehicle was damaged and the front driver's side seat rail was fractured. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the head and bruises that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,000. The VIN was unavailable.
A compliant about a recall. A few months ago, my son took the 2006 Pontiac Vibe into a Chevrolet dealer in mayfield, kentucky for a recall. Your records should show what was done. I do not have access to closed recalls. A few days later the air bag light came on and I just got though taking the Vibe into a dealership a week ago, courtesy Buick. They said it needed a communication module 1.5/6583. After spending 900+ dollars on the part and labor, they then told us that a steering wheel airbag coil assembly was also shorted out. They did not tell us that the original part might not fix the problem. It would be another 300+ dollars for this part and they could not say that would fix the air bag. Our air bags were functioning until the new part was put into the old system. We did not spend more money to fix the Vibe. …
Engine & cooling all 30 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the check engine light would illuminate when driving at speeds higher than 50 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated that the transmission fluid was burned. The mechanic diagnosed that the transmission gears failed. The contact stated that the failures related to NHTSA campaign number: 10V387000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact was driving 15 MPH and attempting a left turn when the vehicle stalled without warning. Another vehicle crashed into the front of the contact's vehicle. A passenger sustained a pulled muscle. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated the vehicle had stalled once before the crash ,but was not taken for diagnostic testing or repairs. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the check engine light would illuminate when driving at speeds higher than 50 MPH. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who stated that the transmission fluid was burned. The mechanic diagnosed that the transmission gears failed. The contact stated that the failures related to NHTSA campaign number: 10V387000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the vehicle had a faulty shift and a faulty start. There was an error code: p0741. The vehicle was to be inspected and diagnosed by a dealer or a mechanic. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
2006 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 2006 Pontiac Vibe a good car?
Based on 177 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Vibe rates better than average: 54% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Vibe at the same age. It is one of the best Vibe years by this measure. 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 2006 Pontiac Vibe?
The air bags — 119 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (30) and transmission & drivetrain (12).
How many recalls does the 2006 Pontiac Vibe have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Pontiac Vibe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 26% 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.