2006 Pontiac Vibe Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  313%
• 50k–75k
  14%
• 75k–100k
  417%
• 100k–150k
  521%
• 150k+
  1146%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Pontiac Vibe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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. …

Takata recall - this recall is now approximately 1.5 years from the time it was issued. Approximately 6 months ago (a full year after the recall was issued) I finally recieved a notice from Pontiac informing of this recall. In bold-underline text, it stated "until the repari is performed, the front passenger seat should not be occupied". I have been patiently waiting and following this directive since I have received this letter, however it is a very significant inconvience to my family of four. I do not know how Pontiac/GM expects us to utilize the car I have purchased from them if I cannot use the front passenger seat. I called today and spoke to a representative at Pontiac/GM and was told that there is no information that they can provide and no timelines available. I understand that this is a large recall and it affects a lot of vehicles, but frankly that is not my problem. …

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 end of the car caving in (resulting in a total loss of the car). Fortunately, I was wearing my seat belt and did not strike another vehicle, so none one was hurt, but the car was a total loss.

On June 16, 2015, Toyota issued an expanded recall on airbags in a wide range of their vehicles. My 2006 Pontiac Vibe is included in the recall. It is now November 10, 2015 and no resolution is in site. This is a possibly life-threatening condition in the vehicle and nothing has been done about it. What is the NHTSA doing to hold Toyota and GM accountable for this inexcusable delay? I have not had an incident yet, nor do I want to. Are we waiting for more lives to be irreparably harmed for some action to take place? I am using this complaint form as the only avenue I am aware of to file a grievance in this matter.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 19V627000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Quirk Chevrolet located at 1000 brighton ave, portland, me 04102, [phone], and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning light had illuminated while driving. The cause of the failure was not determined. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was 168,000.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V883000 (air bags). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator was illuminated. The contact called mavis family Chevrolet (located at 16414 n dale mabry highway, tampa, fl 33618, [phone]) and was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 18V833000 (air bags). The contact took the vehicle to southern Buick-GMC lynnhaven 2375 virginia beach blvd, virginia beach, va 23454 where he was informed that the parts for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that soon after the vehicle was taken to the dealer, the air bag warning light became illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that the driver's side air bag warning light illuminated while the seat was occupied. The vehicle was taken to Apple Chevrolet (8585 w 159th st, tinley park, il 60487, [phone]) where it was determined that the steering wheel air bag was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 81,350.

Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that when the ignition was turned to the on position, the front air bag warning indicator illuminated continuously. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V285000 (air bags) however, the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000. Updated 07/13/16 updated 07/25/16.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Vibe years