2003 Pontiac Vibe Suspension Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES FOR A STOP LIGHT, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER UNDER THE ENGINE, TO WHICH THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS ATTACHED, FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CROSS MEMBER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.

I PURCHASED THIS 2003 PONTIAC VIBE FOR $4000 ON 7/27/2013 FROM 49TH STREET AUTO SALES & REPAIR. THIS CAR HAD INCORRECT ENGINE INSTALLED. VIN: [XXX] WAS INSTALLED WHEN I PURCHASED. GM DEALER VERIFIED THE ENGINE VIN # IS FROM A 2007 PONTIAC VIBE 4 CYL 1.8 L AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ENGINE. NOT A 16 VALVE 6 SPEED VEHICLE. THEREFORE THERMOSTAT SENSOR CAN'T BE ATTACHED, TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR RADIATOR CAN'T BE ATTACHED, ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN DISABLED AND TRANSMISSION ERRORS CAN'T BE CORRECTED. WARNING ASK OWNER WHY HE THIS VEHICLE WAS ADVERTISED TO HAVE A 4 CYLINDER TOYOTA CELICA GT-S MOTOR INSTALLED. PER MECHANIC ([XXX]) INSPECTION MY SON WAS ASSURED BY HIM IT ONLY HAD 900 MILES ON IT. IT DID NOT AFTER $1241.20 IN REPAIRS JUST TO MAKE IT SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE AXLE SHAFT FELL OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT 70 MPH. I'M FROM MICHIGAN AND DROVE THIS DEATH TRAP OF A CAR HOME WITH INTENSE SHAKING ON FRONT RIGHT BECAUSE AXLE WASN'T EVEN ATTACHED. MY MECHANIC HAD TO WELD THE AXLE. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM GM STATING THIS ENGINE SHOULD NOT BE INSTALLED INTO THIS VEHICLE. VIDEO FROM MECHANIC WHO IDENTIFIED ENGINE VIN DETAILING ALL PROBLEMS. I RECEIVED A REFUND FROM THIS DEALER THROUGH MEDIATION WITH CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY OF PINELLAS COUNTY. THIS DEALER IS TRYING TO SELL THIS DANGEROUS VEHICLE AGAIN! .49THSTREETAUTOSALES.COM/VIEW/1427/TAN-2003-PONTIAC-VIBE-IN-CLEARWATER-FL INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2003 PONTIAC VIBE GT UPON DECELERATION VEHICLE JERKS TO THE RIGHT AND SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY! VERY HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. IF GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED EVEN SLIGHTLY OR CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSED IN PROBLEM GOES AWAY. AS SOON AS CLUTCH IS RELEASED VIOLENT SHUDDER RETURNS. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING APPROX 15 TO 20 MILES AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL VEHICLE IS STOPPED FOR A FEW MINUTES. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT PONTIAC DEALER FOR 1 WEEK NO DIAGNOSIS OR PROBLEM FOUND YET. CAR DOES STOP FOR DEALER I HAVE RODE WITH THEM TO SHOW THEM WHAT IT DOES. DEALER SAYS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BUT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG. *TR

THE CONSUMER'S 2003 PONTIAC VIBE DRIFTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM THE VEHICLE DID NOT HANDLE PROPERLY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT IN HE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THE PROBLEM WOULD ALSO OCCUR ON SMOOTH LEVEL ROADWAY WITH NO WINDY CONDITIONS. THE TIRES HAD ALSO BEEN AFFECTED WITH UNEVEN WEARING OF THE INNERMOST TREAD ON EACH. *SC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO EXPERT OPINIONS AND THEIR CONCLUSION WAS THE VEHICLE WAS CHAINED DOWN TOO TIGHT DURING TRANSPORTATION WHICH CAUSED THE MISALIGNMENT. *JB

TIRES/STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES. CAR HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT AND IS NOW ON THE 4TH SET OF NEW TIRES, AVERAGE TIRE LASTS ABOUT 9-12,000 MILES, WITH ONE SET HAVING ONLY LASTED 4,000 MILES. THE DEALER KEPT BLAMING IT ON THE TIRES BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE ITSELF, THE CAR HAS BEEN ALIGNED WITH EACH SET OF NEW TIRES AND 2 EXTRA TIMES WHEN I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE IT PULLS TO THE LEFT SEVERELY AND IT ALSO SHAKES EVEN AFTER BEING ALIGNED. I DON'T THINK 6 ALIGNMENTS IS NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR. IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES? *NM

DEFECTIVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. * MR THE BRAKES WOULD GRIND, MAKE NOISES, PULSATE ON DRY PAVEMENT AT LOW SPEEDS, AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE SIDE SHARPLY UPON BRAKING. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE SIDE WHILE IN MOTION. THE TIRES FELT AS IF THEY HAD NO TRACTION. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO AVOID ACCIDENTS WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE CONTROL DURING MILD WEATHER. (POSSIBLE DOT # 0156-82/MODEL 9000M) SCC *JB