YearToAvoid

2009 Pontiac Vibe Brakes Problems

NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about brake problems in the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, 6% of all 527 complaints for this model year. That is the highest brake complaint count among 7 Vibe model years. These complaints report 1 crash. Median mileage at failure: 23,053 miles.

Brakes complaints
29
6% of 527
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
23,053 mi
Related recalls
1

When 2009 Pontiac Vibe brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 22, 2010, latest Jun 28, 2024.

2009 Pontiac Vibe brakes complaints: complaints filed per month4Jan 2010Jul 2010Feb 2011May 2013Apr 2015Jun 2016Nov 2019
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2010 to Jun 2024; peak Feb 2010 (4).

Brakes recalls for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe

  1. NHTSA 09V392000Aug 31, 2009Brakes10,119 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum

    General motors is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 pontiac vibe vehicles equipped with 1.8l engine and originally sold in or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. When driving under certain unique conditions in extremely low ambient temperatures, the intake manifold suction port for the brake vacuum can become locked due to the freezing of condensation resulting from positive crankcase ventilation.

    Risk: This could lead to an increase in vehicle stopping distance and a crash could occur.

    Remedy: Dealers will modify the brake vacuum line free of charge. A special advisory letter will be sent to owners of vehicles registered in all other states in the same time frame. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before october 23, 2009. Owners may contact pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.

Brakes complaints by Vibe model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20055 (2%)
  2. 20063 (2%)
  3. 20076 (4%)
  4. 20081 (2%)
  5. 200929 (6%)
  6. 20108 (14%)
  7. 20140 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Pontiac Vibe have brake problems?
NHTSA has 29 owner complaints about the brake in the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, 6% of all complaints for this model year, including 1 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 23,053 miles.
Which Pontiac Vibe year has the most brake complaints?
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe has the most brake complaints (29), compared with 29 for the 2009.
Is there a brake recall for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe concerns the brake: 09V392000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.