Pontiac Vibe Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Pontiac Vibe across 8 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (49). The words owners use most often: “manual transmission” (13% of reports).
- 136power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Manual transmission: mentioned in 18 of 136 complaints (13%)
- Toyota matrix: mentioned in 8 of 136 complaints (6%)
- Tgw consumer: mentioned in 8 of 136 complaints (6%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 7 of 136 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Pontiac Vibe at $2,800, and half of them between $1,950 and $4,300.
Based on 16 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 117 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 136 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Pontiac Vibe power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:axle assembly
Model years: 2003
Problem: On certain two-wheel drive (2wd) passenger vehicles, it is possible for the bolts that join the rear brake and hub assembly to the rear axle carrier to be loose due to insufficient tightening during the assembly process.
Risk: If the vehicle is operated in this condition, one or more of the four bolts could come loose, causing an abnormal noise from the rear axle area. In the event that all four bolts loosen completely, separation of the rear brake and hub assembly from the rear axle carrier could occur, which could lead to a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will properly tighten the bolts. Owner notification began march 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Vibe. While driving 20 MPH, the transmission was shifting rough before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle continued driving but at a reduced power. The vehicle stability control(VSC), traction control, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was…
See attached. Self explanatory, i asked the representative if they turned off check engine light and reconfigure the new pcm and complete the programing and according to the work order, it reads v2326 inspect and replace pcm (inc reprograming) check engine light is on, it has a code p0630, vin #…
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 pontiac vibe. Upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact drove to an independent mechanic and was informed that a torque converter sensor inside the transmission failed. There were no recalls related to the failure. The dealer…
Car shuts off completely while driving. Happens completely at random. After placing in park, removing key, re-inserting key, restarting, all is fine for a while. Probably faulty ecm.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Pontiac Vibes have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 136 owner complaints about power train for the Pontiac Vibe. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Pontiac Vibe power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Pontiac Vibe?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,800 (half paid between $1,950 and $4,300), from 16 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Pontiac Vibe?
The most frequent phrase is “manual transmission”, in 18 of 136 complaints, followed by “toyota matrix” (8).
Other Pontiac Vibe problems
- Air Bags problems (1,012)
- Visibility problems (176)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (118)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (101)
See all Pontiac Vibe problems.