This page covers 8 recalls, 58 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2010 Pontiac Vibe.
22–28 mpg combined
8.4–10.7 L/100km
Small Station Wagons
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
Complaints about the 2010 Pontiac Vibe are heavily concentrated in one area: the airbag system, which accounts for roughly half of all reports filed for this model year. Owners most commonly describe situations where the airbags failed to deploy during front-end collisions, with several also noting that seatbelts did not lock on impact. A smaller cluster of complaints covers vehicle speed control, where owners report unintended behavior during acceleration or cruise operation. Steering draws a handful of reports as well, owners describe a pronounced rattle in the steering wheel both while driving and while turning the wheel at a standstill, sometimes accompanied by a shudder during braking. The airbag non-deployment pattern is by far the dominant thread across this complaint set.
58
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2010 Pontiac Vibe has 8 recalls, the most serious being a passenger-side airbag inflator that can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, posing a serious injury or death risk to occupants.
The airbag concern spans multiple filings covering different geographic registrations, as humidity and temperature cycling can degrade the inflator propellant over time. Two separate recalls address the accelerator pedal: one involves the floor mat trapping the pedal in the wide-open position, and another involves wear inside the pedal sensor assembly that can make the pedal hard to press, slow to return to idle, or mechanically stuck, either way making the vehicle difficult to slow or stop. There is also a power window switch recall where insufficient lubrication allows moisture and debris to cause a short circuit, potentially overheating and melting the switch. On the braking side, certain 1.8L models originally sold or registered in colder northern states have a vacuum brake assist concern where stopping distances can increase unexpectedly.
At a glance
What can fail
Heat and humidity exposure can degrade the chemical propellant in your passenger front airbag. If it deploys, it may inflate with excessive force, causing fragments to spray toward occupants and damaging the airbag assembly.
What the fix does
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Your dealer will replace the passenger frontal airbag module with a new one.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may rupture during deployment due to propellant deterioration from prolonged humidity and temperature exposure.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly with an alternate inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can rupture during deployment due to degradation from humidity and temperature exposure over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or air bag assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator or entire air bag assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The power window master switch may have inconsistent grease lubrication on its sliding electrical contacts, potentially causing the switch to malfunction.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the switch and apply lubricant if needed, or replace the circuit board if abnormalities are found.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The accelerator pedal can become stuck in the wide-open position when trapped or interfered with by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
What the fix does
Remove any removable driver's floor mat and store it in the trunk. Use only floor mats designed for your vehicle model, properly installed and secured, until a permanent fix is available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The friction lever inside the accelerator pedal sensor can become smooth during use. When condensation forms on this surface—such as from heater use in cold conditions—the pedal may become harder to press, slower to return, or stick partially down.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a reinforcement bar in the accelerator pedal to restore smooth operation at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In extremely cold temperatures, moisture from the engine's crankcase ventilation system can freeze and block the brake vacuum line, affecting brake function.
What the fix does
Dealers will modify the brake vacuum line at no cost to restore proper brake operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
