NHTSA has 58 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Pontiac Vibe[1]. The biggest group by far is air bags, with 31 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups in the stories we read, biggest first.
- Air bags. 31 complaints[2]. Owners describe warning lights that stay on, bags that did not open in a crash, and waits for repair parts.
- Speed control. 7 complaints[5]. Owners describe the engine speeding up when it should not, and some were unhappy with the fix they were given.
- Engine. 5 complaints[6]. Owners describe the car using up oil between changes and a few cases of the engine shutting off while driving.
- Steering. 4 complaints[7]. Owners describe the car pulling sharply to one side at speed, and a rattle or shudder in the wheel.
- Brakes. 4 complaints[8]. The group is small and includes 1 crash[8].
- Power train. 3 complaints[9].
- Electronic stability control. 3 complaints[10].
- Unknown or other. 2 complaints[11].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2010 Vibe is necessarily included.
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V025), January 2018. About 116,126 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[12]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (18V024), January 2018. About 628,018 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: explosion, injury, death.[13]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module (16V340), May 2016. About 1,754,517 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, death. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[14]
- Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls (15V689), October 2015. About 1,814,284 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[15]
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module (14V168), April 2014. About 1,486,413 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended.[16]
- Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal (10V024), January 2010. About 70,806 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, death.[17]
- Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal (10V018), January 2010. About 70,806 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[18]
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum (09V392), August 2009. About 10,119 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[19]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
| Version | City / highway / combined MPG | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] | 26 / 31 / 28 | $2,400 |
| Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[20] | 26 / 32 / 28 | $2,400 |
| Vibe, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive[21] | 20 / 26 / 22 | $3,050 |
| Vibe, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[22] | 21 / 28 / 24 | $2,800 |
| Vibe, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[23] | 21 / 29 / 24 | $2,800 |
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD/AWD[24] | n/a | n/a | n/a | 4 | 13.6% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2010 Pontiac Vibe with electric motor[25] | 132 hp |
| 2010 Pontiac Vibe with electric motor[26] | 158 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
How 2010 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 298 | 8 |
| 2004 | 266 | 7 |
| 2005 | 301 | 5 |
| 2006 | 177 | 5 |
| 2007 | 172 | 5 |
| 2008 | 63 | 4 |
| 2009 | 528 | 9 |
| 2010 | 58 | 8 |
NHTSA's counts for the Vibe show 58 complaints and 8 recalls for 2010[3]. Among the 8 model years listed, 0 have fewer complaints than 2010 and 7 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2010 (58) and the most are for 2009 (528)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2010 Vibe?
The record for this Vibe is small, with 58 complaints in total[1]. Air bags stand out from the rest[2]. Speed control, engine and steering reports are fewer but worth a look when you shop[5][6][7]. The by-year facts also list 8 recalls for 2010[3]. These are unverified owner reports, so treat them as a checklist for a test drive and a mechanic visit, not a final ruling.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Pontiac Vibe?
- Air bags lead the complaint list with 31 complaints[2]. Speed control and engine follow[5][6].
- Does the 2010 Pontiac Vibe have recalls?
- Yes. The by-year facts show 8 recalls for 2010[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the list.
- How many miles per gallon does the 2010 Pontiac Vibe get?
- See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
- Is the 2010 Pontiac Vibe reliable?
- Owners filed 58 complaints with NHTSA[1]. The by-year section shows how that compares with other years.
- Which Pontiac Vibe year is best?
- Use the by-year comparison on this page, which is built from the same complaint and recall data.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Pontiac Vibe
Compare all model years of the Pontiac Vibe
Other Pontiac models from 2010
Similar cars from 2010: station wagons
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 58 owner complaints on file for the 2010 Pontiac Vibe (5 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 31 complaints name the air bags component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 93,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Pontiac Vibe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 31 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 7 complaints name the speed control component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 20,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the electronic stability control (esc) component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 2 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 18V025, filed January 9, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 18V024, filed January 9, 2018: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 16V340, filed May 23, 2016: Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 15V689, filed October 22, 2015: Visibility › Power Window Devices And Controls. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 14V168, filed April 9, 2014: Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 10V024, filed January 27, 2010: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 10V018, filed January 21, 2010: Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal. NHTSA recall database
- Recall 09V392, filed August 31, 2009: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Vibe, 1.8L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 32 highway / 28 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,400. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Vibe, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Vibe, 2.4L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 28 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA rating for Vibe, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic (S5), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 29 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD/AWD: rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 13.6%. NHTSA vehicle records
- EPA Test Car List, 2010 Pontiac Vibe with electric motor: rated 132 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2010 Pontiac Vibe with electric motor: rated 158 hp. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VIBE AWD 4DR WAGON AWD: length 172 in, width 70 in, height 63 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 3,296 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VIBE BASE 4DR WAGON FWD: length 172 in, width 70 in, height 61 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 2,855 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, VIBE GT 4DR WAGON FWD: length 172 in, width 70 in, height 61 in, wheelbase 102 in, curb weight 3,084 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov