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Pontiac Vibe no deployment problems

50 of the 1,867 owner complaints about the Pontiac Vibe describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2003 model year.

owner complaints
50
worst model year
2003
typical mileage
70,000
Is there a fix? There are 14 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Jul 29, 2023 · Airbags, Body · OH · crash · 1 injury

Air bags failed to deploy and vehicle is not available for inspection. Vehicle was a total loss and is in the proces of becoming proprty of Copart.com for auction (I assume). I hit my head very hard from the T-bone type of collision and my side airbags did not deploy. I have a severe concussion and internal brain bleed. ICU stay was required. Problem was confirmed by the police report, etc. Nothing has been inspected to the best of my knowledge in any great detail (I assume). No warning lamps, messgaes, or other symptoms prior to the failure.

Filed Dec 2, 2019 · Airbags, Seat belts · 98,000 miles · PA · crash · 1 injury

2010 pontiac vibe struck vehicle that crossed into right of way of pontiac vibe at 25 to 30 miles per hour. Airbags did not deploy at dashboard nor did seat belt lock upon impact. Vehicle underwent airbag inflator replacement may 24th 2018 per recall #17477 parts 77204 as listed on repair invoice.

Filed Aug 15, 2018 · Airbags · 89,000 miles · OH · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 2004 pontiac vibe. While making a left turn at an unknown speed, the contact was involved in a front end collision with another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failure. There were no injuries. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000. The VIN was invalid.

Filed Dec 28, 2017 · Airbags · 153,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 pontiac vibe. While driving between 50-55 MPH, the contact struck a deer. The driver's air bag failed to deploy, but the front passenger air bag deployed. The contact was not injured in the crash. The front seat passenger sustained minor burns and injuries from the air bag deployment, which required medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle from the scene. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v006000 (air bags). A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000. *tt

Filed Nov 3, 2017 · Airbags · 163,000 miles · MO · crash · 1 injury

Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2005 pontiac vibe. While at a stop signal, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. The passenger's and driver's air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a neck inquiry that required medical attention. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 15v286000 (air bags) on may 13, 2015. The vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 163,000. *bf updated 9/13/18

Filed Nov 2, 2017 · Airbags · 165,000 miles · MO · crash · 3 injuries

On feb 3 2014 I was in a car accident my air bag did not deploy causing me to have a herniated disk in my neck resulting in surgery to put a plate and screws in my neck I suffer from pain everyday from this.in my police report it states my air bag didnt deployi car was totaled.my car is on the recall.I was at a stop light got rear indeed and slamed it in vehicle in front of me totaling my car.I dont have excess to a scanner to send police report but I do have it if you need it.

Filed Oct 21, 2017 · Airbags · 217,595 miles · KY

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. We also have a friend who has a vibe and he was in an accident and the air bags did not deploy. There are too many problems with air bags. We need to know that a safety feature is a safety feature. Lives are at stake. What can I do to help fix this problem. Tell friends complaints to ?. Thank you.

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Airbags, Seats · 158,000 miles · KY · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed May 15, 2017 · Airbags · 60,000 miles · WA · crash · 1 injury

This vehicle was in an accident in december of 2009. It was totaled. I broke my sternum because the airbag did not deploy properly. This was before the recall. It was on black ice and I hit the meridian strip twice and spun out, did not hit any other vehicles. It is too late now to do anything, but I wanted to stop getting recall notices. Thank you

Filed Apr 12, 2017 · Airbags · 75,000 miles · NC · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2007 pontiac vibe. While the vehicle was stopped and waiting to enter an intersection, another vehicle making a right turn crashed into the front driver side and front end of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a bruised and sprained knee and ankle that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed and deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.

Related recalls

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 23, 2020 · 554 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The replacement air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation in high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.
Risk
An air bag that does not inflate properly increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the passenger air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 19, 2020. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. GM's number for this recall is N192278940.

Recall number 20V039000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported August 28, 2019 · 229,460 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Corolla, 2005-2008 Corolla Matrix, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with a front passenger air bag assembly replaced under a prior recall. The air bag may not unfold as designed during inflation under high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly.
Risk
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy
Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly or sub-assembly, free of charge. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are K1Q and K0Q. Pontiac owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. GM's number for this recall is N192273760.

Recall number 19V627000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported December 12, 2018 · 168,993 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371, Lexus customer service at 1‑800‑255‑3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.

Recall number 18V883000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2018 · 116,126 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the federal safety agency that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. As of January 30, 2018, Toyota is additionally recalling 3,347 model year 2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles located in states listed above. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a “like-for-like” interim air bag inflator replacement. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0R (Zone B), and H0A (Zone C), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A), J0A (Matrix Zone A).

Recall number 18V025000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2018 · 628,018 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP (Saipan), and the U.S. VI or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, ES350, IS-F, GX460, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2009 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Lexus IS250, IS350, ES350, IS-F, and Pontiac Vibe vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began on January 29, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.

Recall number 18V024000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2017 · 577,875 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).

Recall number 17V006000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported May 23, 2016 · 1,754,517 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).

Recall number 16V340000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported March 3, 2016 · 147,242 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured May 25, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
Risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 23, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. This recall expands recall 15V‑285.

Recall number 16V127000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported March 2, 2016 · 71,163 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Lexus SC vehicles manufactured August 3, 2007, to July 30, 2010, 2008 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 21, 2007, 2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to December 18, 2007, and 2008 Pontiac Vibe vehicles manufactured June 1, 2007, to January 2, 2008 that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan, American Samoa, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The affected vehicles have a passenger side frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture upon its deployment.
Risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
The recall began on March 25, 2016 for Toyota and Lexus vehicle owners. The recall began on June 8, 2016 for GM owners. The respective dealers will either replace the front passenger air bag inflator or the entire front passenger air bag assembly depending on the model. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. This recall expands recall 15V‑286.

Recall number 16V128000 · Recall details

Air bagsReported May 13, 2015 · 1,069,055 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.
Risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V‑043 and 15V‑286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1‑800‑762‑2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V‑655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V‑285 which covers all other U.S. states.

Recall number 15V286000 · Recall details

Questions about the Pontiac Vibe no deployment

Which Pontiac Vibe years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2003 (13 complaints), 2005 (9 complaints) and 2007 (9 complaints).

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