2009 Pontiac Vibe Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

29Engine complaints

5.5%Of all 527 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

AIR BAGS352 · 66.8%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL39 · 7.4%

STEERING33 · 6.3%

ENGINE29 · 5.5%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL19 · 3.6%

Share of the 527 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2009 Pontiac Vibe overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10611182 — filed 07/17/2014

“INTERMITTENT, BUT INCREASINGLY FREQUENT ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SLOWER SPEEDS. STALLS MAY HAPPEN AT CRUISING SPEED OR WHEN DECELERATING OR ACCELERATING. OCCASIONALLY, ENGINE…”NHTSA complaint 10595901 — filed 06/03/2014

“THE ENGINE STOPPED AT FREEWAY SPEED. THIS WAS THE SIXTH TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT A YEAR. ONCE OFF THE FREEWAY…”NHTSA complaint 10565418 — filed 02/22/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Pontiac Vibe have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2009 Pontiac Vibe: 29 of 527 complaints on file (5.5%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2009 Pontiac Vibe have in total?

527 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 23 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.