2006 Pontiac Vibe Pontiac Vibe 2006

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2006 Pontiac Vibe repairs by problem area

Engine (40%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (10%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (4%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (29%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (3%)

Other (9%)

Chart based on 70 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2006 Pontiac Vibe.

2006 Pontiac Vibe repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (3%)

$500 - $999 (8%)

$100 - $499 (32%)

< $100 (56%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 62 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2006 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

126-horsepower 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

Pontiac Vibe in California, United States
Nov 2009 - Jul 2015
Dec 2014

150000 mi

US $34
Check engine light came on. Repair man said that the solenoid is going out. 
Pontiac Vibe in Alberta, Canada
Mar 2007 - Mar 2010
Apr 2009

23560 mi
Squeeky Brakes Still not fixed, will need to take back 
Pontiac Vibe in Louisiana, United States
Oct 2015 - Dec 2017
Dec 2017

110000 mi

US $10
Replaced PCV valve as was getting NOX codes on my engine. Appears to have fixed the problem. 

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2006 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

126-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

Pontiac Vibe in Georgia, United States
Dec 2012 - Sep 2016
Dec 2013

177000 mi

US $20
Drivers side headlight died. Replaced both headlights. 
Jan 2014

US $300
Car would start with shaking and shuddering. Check engine light appeared. Diagnostics determined valve cover gasket leaking oil, causing spark plugs to misfire. Valve cover gasket and spark plugs replaced. Oil changed. 
Apr 2015

199000 mi

US $900
Check engine light on, codes for transmission and catalytic converter. Replaced catalytic converter. 
Feb 2016

214000 mi

US $300
Alternator died. Got it replaced. 
Pontiac Vibe in New York, United States
Oct 2012 - Jun 2018
Sep 2015

156000 mi

US $70
Check engine light was coming on when driving on wet roads. The insulation on the sensor wires failed and allowed water to short out the sensor. 
Oct 2015

156500 mi

US $4
Replaced the light bulbs for the heater control module. 
Aug 2017

175000 mi

US $50
Replaced timing chain tensioner because of oil leak in the seal. 
Pontiac Vibe in Indiana, United States
Jul 2010 - Dec 2014
Aug 2010

54000 mi

US $5
Fan did not function on other than the highest settings 
Dec 2012

74000 mi

US $653
O2 sensor replaced. Spark plugs wires replaced. Left low beam bulb replaced. 
Pontiac Vibe in California, United States
Jun 2012 - Sep 2012
Jul 2012

112000 mi

US $120
HVAC actuator failed. Clicking noise when switched to outside air. Part was $40 from Amazon. See GenVibe.com for repair instructions with pictures. 
Pontiac Vibe in Wisconsin, United States
Apr 2013 - Jun 2014
Sep 2013

106000 mi

US $340
Actuator motor replaced 
May 2014

108300 mi

US $575
Fuel system vapor recirculation assembly. 
Jun 2014

109000 mi

US $500
Leaking caliper seals - replace both rotors. 
Pontiac Vibe in Colorado, United States
Jun 2015 - Mar 2018
Aug 2015

149300 mi

US $100
Replaced the headlight but that didn't fix it - had to replace the actual headlight connector. 
Dec 2016

160000 mi

US $25
The headlight connector was partially melted and led to premature bulb failure, had it replaced. The ventilation fan would only work on the High setting. Googling showed that the problem could be solved by replacing a resistor for the blower motor. $25 part on Amazon, ~1hr of work at home, requiring only basic ratchet and socket. 
Pontiac Vibe in Saskatchewan, Canada
Sep 2017 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

117800 mi

C $2000
Replaced several parts of the suspension. I drive gravel, so the excess wear is essentially my doing. 
Apr 2018

173600 mi

C $150
Front wheel well linings came loose. Reattached one, replaced the other. 
Jun 2018

181040 mi

C $360
Radiator fan needed replacing 
Pontiac Vibe in Indiana, United States
Jun 2016 - Oct 2017
Sep 2017

184000 mi

US $100
Rotors too thin to turn down. Replace rotors and pads. 
Pontiac Vibe in Ontario, Canada
Mar 2007 - Mar 2010
Jan 2007

4263 mi

C $170
Installed aftermarket radio as delco unit will not play home burned discs. 
Mar 2007

5571 mi

C $24
Slow leak in LR tire repaired by dealer 
Pontiac Vibe in Oklahoma, United States
Oct 2009 - Feb 2018
Mar 2010

69000 mi

US $100
Headlights only worked with "brights" on.  Was told rear brakes needed to be cleaned, adjusted. 
Aug 2011

95000 mi

US $350
Radiator fan was wobbling and grating against the radiator intermittently (esp. when AC was on). They replaced the fan motor. That fixed it. 
May 2012

103900 mi

US $1200
New shocks and struts, front and rear. 
Nov 2013

133100 mi

US $65
Check engine light was on. Computer code said fuel mix was lean. They cleaned a filter and that fixed it. 
Jan 2014

136800 mi

US $300
Problem from Nov. returned. PCV valve replaced and other fuel service performed. Problem solved. 
Oct 2017

183000 mi
Flapping sound when not on recirc. Couldn't fix it. Living with it. 
Pontiac Vibe in Georgia, United States
Jun 2014 - Oct 2015
Feb 2015

212300 mi
Powertrain Control Module (PTM) under recall finally failing. Turn the key and a second goes by without car attempting to start. Getting to where it wouldn't start in cold. Engine light came on en route to dealership. Running rough. 
Pontiac Vibe in Michigan, United States
Feb 2009 - Jun 2013
Aug 2010

60300 mi

US $34
HVAC blower motor only ran at high speed--the resistor was shot. Installed a new one--problem solved. 
Sep 2011

81000 mi

US $300
Left rear wheel bearing shot, making noise. Had it replaced. 
Nov 2011

82200 mi

US $26
While having new tires installed, shop commented that serpentine belt showed a lot of cracking, so I bought a new belt and installed it myself. 
Oct 2012

83500 mi

US $200
Replaced original intake manifold gasket with updated silicone version to eliminate CEL during cold weather. 
Pontiac Vibe in Texas, United States
Mar 2007 - Jun 2012
Feb 2009

31000 mi
The check engine light was on and the dealer said the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve had to be replaced. 
Pontiac Vibe in Indiana, United States
May 2007 - Jun 2022
Dec 2008

26000 mi
Check engine light came on although car ran OK. Dealer diagnosed and ordered an Oxygen sensor, which was backordered. I will have to take the car back when the part comes in. 
Jan 2009

27000 mi
Check engine light came on in December (previously reported here). Dealer had to order an oxygen sensor. The sensor was successfully installed in January. 
Feb 2009

27000 mi
Check engine light came on. The dealer said an intake gasket was "sucking air", causing dirty air to make the check engine light come on. They replaced the gasket under the factory warranty. 
Jul 2009

32000 mi
The factory 6-disc CD changer occasionally scratched discs badly. Dealer replaced it under the GM extended warranty with a factory refurb unit. 
Aug 2011

51000 mi
Check engine light came on. Dealer said they need to replace the PCM (Powertrain Control Module). They said it could also be a transmission problem (the code indicated that.) They replaced the PCM as a first step and said to monitor it. 
Nov 2011

54000 mi
Check engine light came on. Same code as previous visit in which they replaced the PCM. This time they ordered and installed a torque converter part. Cost was covered 100% under GM extended warranty, including use of a loaner car. The same check-engine code showed up again (3rd time). 1st time they replaced the PCM, 2nd time a solenoid in the torque converter. This time they replaced the torque converter. Ext. warranty paid for it. Hopefully this finally fixes it. 
Feb 2012

55700 mi
Check Engine Light code P0741 for the 4th time in 9 months. In 3 previous attempts to fix, they 1) replaced the PCM, then 2) replaced a valve in the torque converter and then 3) replaced the torque converter. This time they replaced the transmission. Hope that's it. Update: the replacement transmission fixed the problem. 
Pontiac Vibe in South Carolina, United States
Nov 2007 - Dec 2013
Aug 2010

55700 mi

US $200
Hood release cable became unattached. Battery died and could not be jump started because hood was stuck shut. Car towed to repair shop, hood release cable reattached, and battery replaced. 
Pontiac Vibe in New York, United States
Mar 2007 - Mar 2010
Mar 2008

23068 mi
Bad PCM (Powertrain Control Module) replaced under warranty. Bad PCM (Powertrain Control Module). Module was replaced under warranty by a Pontiac dealer. 
Pontiac Vibe in Hawaii, United States
May 2007 - Oct 2015
May 2013

78000 mi
Recall notice for the PCM, also noticed that the car would hesitate intermittenly during startup on occasion. No trouble since taking it to the dealer. 
Pontiac Vibe in Prince Edward Island, Canada
Mar 2007 - Jun 2017
Jun 2012

37200 mi

C $100
Replaced the front passenger door door check assembly - it had developed an awful snapping sound. 
Dec 2012

40300 mi

C $70
Driver's side power window shuddered going down. Mechanic lubed the internal "scissors" and checked bolts etc. Works fine now. 
May 2014

48360 mi
Rear windshield wiper motor stopped working. Checked fuse. Fuse fine. I took wiper motor gearbox apart, lubed wiper arm shaft that had been corroded due to road salt. Re-assembled, tested, good as new. This car is a DIY dream! 
Nov 2014

50920 mi

C $225
Passenger side windshield wiper swung free - windshield wiper link mechanism replaced as nylon bearing/pivots not available as separate parts for Corolla/Matrix/Vibe. Likely due to snow/ice falling off roof hitting wipers in past winters. 
Mar 2017

65100 mi

C $700
Code revealed, intake manifold gasket replaced with new orange gasket. Tensioner noisey, replaced tensioner and belt. Bead blasted spark plugs, replaced PCV valve, cleaned throttle. Car runs very smooth and quiet and acceleration much improved. Acts like new now. 
Pontiac Vibe in Minnesota, United States
Sep 2008 - Mar 2018
Jan 2012

87000 mi

US $130
Replaced the serpentine belt which was extremely worn. 
Pontiac Vibe in Alberta, Canada
May 2007 - Mar 2010
Dec 2007

17980 mi
Engine not heating properly on cold winter days (-15C or below). Looks like a weak thermostat to me as the temp gauge hovers for several miles / minutes before finally reaching normal operating temp. Dealer tested on a warm winter day and said "no probl 
Pontiac Vibe in Illinois, United States
Mar 2007 - Sep 2015
Dec 2008

17000 mi
SES Light stayed on. Trans was banging into gear esp. Reverse. Checked codes P2716 stored and current. PIP4154A States to replace PCM if ckts check ok. Checked PC Solenoid ckts - ok. Replaced PCM and programmed. CODE FDFD4 (under warranty). 
May 2011

27900 mi

US $250
During routine inspection and 30,000 mile maintenance, mechanic spotted an oil leak which led to needing a new oil pan gasket. 
Jun 2011

27000 mi

US $335
Needed blower motor due to terrific loud noise when fan was put on High. 
Pontiac Vibe in Kentucky, United States
Apr 2007 - Jun 2021
May 2007

250 mi
Hood prop needed to be replaced. No charge. 
May 2009

20000 mi
Replaced Powertrain Control Module.  Dome light assembly replaced. 

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2006 Pontiac Vibe 4dr Hatch

118-horsepower 1.8L I4 4-speed automatic AWD

Pontiac Vibe in Georgia, United States
Jun 2015 - Oct 2017
Jun 2017

219000 mi

US $400
Fan blower motor hvac 
Oct 2017

223000 mi

US $32
Replaced resistor for HVAC blower fan & wiring harness. Repair 5 months past did not include wiring harness. Mechanic predicted this would fail later when he swapped the blower fan motor. New harness & resister from Dorman for $32 from Amazon prime. 
Pontiac Vibe in New Brunswick, Canada
Jun 2010 - Jun 2011
Sep 2010

39060 mi
Discovered oil leak on garage floor. Rear axle required new gasket. Repaired under powertrain warranty. 

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2006 Pontiac Vibe 4-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

Pontiac Vibe in Florida, United States
Apr 2007 - Jan 2015
May 2007

17000 mi
issues with transmission, and MAF sensor, cleaned air sensor myself 
Nov 2007

23000 mi
Had another shop check the transmission, although the fluid was somewhat of a darker color, it was signs of normal city/highway use versus what the dealer informed me of. So the transmission didn't need a fluid change as of yet. I will probably have this 
Jan 2009

45000 mi
I replaced my Car Radio from the stock to a Sony because of a burnt out display and audio issues with the already replaced stock radio from 2008. And i know that others have had past issues with the stock head units. 

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2006 Pontiac Vibe Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2006 Pontiac Vibe problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.