Total Complaints
2 filings
PONTIAC VIBE · model year
2002 PONTIAC VIBE
2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002PONTIACVIBE carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 VIBE is air bags:frontal with 1 filings, followed by seat belts:front (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 2002 VIBE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20060131CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 3 TO 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS PRE BRAKING PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN; HOWEVER THE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE DRIVER. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE HEAD AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
Mileage: 67,000
20060131CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 3 TO 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS PRE BRAKING PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN; HOWEVER THE SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE THE DRIVER. INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED TO THE HEAD AND BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB
Mileage: 67,000
Compare 2002PONTIACVIBE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 PONTIAC VIBE have?▼
The 2002 PONTIAC VIBE has 2 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 PONTIAC VIBE?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 PONTIAC VIBE is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT.
Is the 2002 PONTIAC VIBE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.