2005 Pontiac Vibe Complaint Log

ON 10/16/2008 I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 VIBE. I PULLED OUT FROM A SIDE STREET AND ACCELERATED, LESS THAN 2 BLOCKS LATER I HEARD A LOUD POP/BANG SOUND AND PULLED OVER BECAUSE I ALSO FELT THE CAR LOOSE SPEED. I TURNED CAR OFF AND POPPED HOOD, THEN SAW OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND ALL ALONG THE STREET BEHIND ME. HAD CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY CRANK BROKE AND BLEW A HOLE IN THE SIDE OF MY ENGINE BLOCK THE SIZE OF A DINNER PLATE. I HAVE 60,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT PROPERLY. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING I DID OR FAILED TO DO THAT CAUSED THIS. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET IT REPAID WITHOUT SHELLING OUT 3,00.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND CAUSED THE STEERING TO FAIL AND MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE VEHICLE RESET ITSELF AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE POWER STEERING MOTOR. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST WAS $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.

I PUT MY CRUISE CONTROL ON AND GOT MY SPEED UP TO 71 MPH, PRESSED SET AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW THE CAR WAS GOING OVER 75 MPH. ANOTHER TIME I HAD TO BRAKE AND THEN PRESSED RESUME. MY CAR SHOULD HAVE WENT BACK UP TO 71 MPH; INSTEAD WAS OVER 75MPH. WHEN USING MY CRUISE CONTROL, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AT LEAST FOUR EPISODES OF MY CAR ACCELERATING HIGHER THAN WHAT I SET THE CRUISE AT. IN THE SUMMER OF 2008 I WAS USING MY CRUISE CONTROL MORE OFTEN, TRAVELING HOME FROM COLLEGE 1-2 WEEKENDS/MONTH.... DURING THAT TIME I RECALL 3 EPISODES. THE OTHERS OCCURRED BEFORE. TO STOP THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR WITH CRUISE ON I WOULD BRAKE, BUT THAT DID NOT ALWAYS WORK, SO I WOULD TURN THE CRUISE OFF AND BRAKE. TURNING CRUISE OFF AND BRAKING SEEMED TO SLOW CAR DOWN. *TR

THE DOOR CHECK LINK ON MY 2005 PONTIAC VIBE IS BENT WITH A CRACK IN IT. IT PUTS PRESSURE AGAINST THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW AND MAY CAUSE IT TO SHATTER. THIS IS A PART THAT SHOULD NEVER FAIL AND APPARENTLY THIS DESIGN IS VERY POOR. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY 2005 PONTIAC VIBE (AUTO TRANSMISSION)FOR 3+ YEARS. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SIMILAR TO THOSE OF OTHER CONSUMERS (SEE COMPLAINT # 10117784 FOR 2005 VIBE & #10207504 FOR 2006 VIBE). WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SPEED (RPM) OF THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE WHILE I WAS STOPPING AT A 4-WAY STOP INTERSECTION AND TWICE AS I WAS ENTERING MY GARAGE. HAD I NOT SHIFTED INTO PARK IMMEDIATELY DURING THE GARAGE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE STRUCK THE BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE. IF THERE HAD BEEN CARS PROCEEDING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF THE 4-WAY STOP, I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT. INITIALLY, FOR THE FIRST 3 INSTANCES,I BELIEVED THAT SINCE I WEAR A WIDE SHOE THAT MY FOOT MAY HAVE PRESSED ON BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. HOWEVER, SINCE THE INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT THE 4-WAY STOP INTERSECTION ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO I HAVE BEEN EXTRA CAUTIOUS WHILE BRAKING, MAKING SURE MY RIGHT FOOT ONLY PRESSES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE STOPPING. SINCE I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM AGAIN YESTERDAY AND KNOWING THAT I ONLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS SOME OTHER PROBLEM GOING ON HERE WITH THE ENGINE/ENGINE THROTTLE SYSTEM. IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT IN NATURE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO CONSUMERS. I WILL BE TAKING MY VEHICLE TO MY GM DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEXT WEEK FOR A COMPLETE VEHICLE INSPECTION, BUT MY GUT FEELING IS THAT THIS IS A "HIDDEN" DESIGN PROBLEM THAT MIGHT NOT EASILY BE FOUND. *TR

2005 PONTIAC VIBE PURCHASED JUST OVER 3 YEARS AGO. APPROX 24,000 MILES. AUTOMATIC TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR KEEPS COMING ON EVEN THOUGH TIRE PRESSURE IS FINE. 2 TRIPS TO DEALER AND COULD NOT FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. DEALER INSTALLED VEHICLE DATA RECORDER. DEALER SAYS NEEDS A NEW ELECTRONIC BALANCE CONTROL MONITOR? THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 25K AND IT NEEDS THIS PART ALREADY. NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAD A BLOWOUT. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT POWER WINDOW MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISE WHEN OPERATING SIMILAR TO 08V162000 RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR '03-'04 MODELS. *TR

AFTER READING ABOUT THE GM/TOYOTA RECALL OF THE POWER WINDOW BOLTS BECOMING LOOSE ON 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBES, I TOOK OFF THE INSIDE PANEL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. MY WIFE HAD BEEN COMPLAINING OF THE WINDOW CATCHING. AFTER TAKING OFF THE PANEL, I FOUND THE POWER WINDOW BOLTS TO BE LOOSE. THE 2003-2004 POWER WINDOW RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO 2005. *TR

FRONT POWER WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM ; FRONT DRIVER-SIDE WINDOW IS LOOSE WITHIN REGULATOR ; TAKEN TO DEALER IN FALL 2006 FOR REPAIR WITHIN WARRANTY PERIOD ; REPAIR ONLY TEMPORARILY CORRECTED PROBLEM (FOR LESS THAN 2 MONTHS); SITUATION HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE SINCE; AUTHOR OF THIS COMPLAINT BELIEVES WINDOW LIKELY COULD SEPARATE FROM REGULATOR IN SHORT TERM LEADING TO COMPROMISED OCCUPANT PROTECTION OR IN WORST CASE SUDDEN DISTRACTION WHICH COULD CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE; COMPLAINT WRITER IS AWARE THERE IS A RECALL FOR MODEL YEAR 2003 AND 2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES FOR FAILURE OF WINDOW REGULATOR RETENTION FASTENER. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT @93K MILES. SCANNER SAYS "CATALYTIC CONVERTER LOW FUNCTION". DEALER REPLACES "CAT". CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RETURNS IN LESS THAN 60MI OF DRIVING. SCANNER SAYS SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN 2009, HER VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE ALMOST CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES SINCE 2008. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WHILE SHE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY; HOWEVER, SHE WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN 2008 AND WAS NOT INFORMED WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. SHE HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 32750 THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000 UPDATED 03/19/2010. *LJ UPDATED EVOQ 05/28/10.*JB UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

EVERY SO OFTEN, I WILL GO TO START MY CAR AND IT WILL NOT TURN OVER UNLESS I GUN THE GAS! TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED COME SORT OF CHIP AND SAID THERE WAS A RECALL. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS YEAR SO I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THE FIRST DEALERSHIP LIED TO ME. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE PART THEY REPLACED WAS NOT WHAT WOULD CAUSE MY PROBLEM. CAR JUST DOESN'T WANT TO START SOMETIMES! WELL MAINTAINED. AT 86,000 MILES. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IDLING VERY HARD! SHAKES THE WINDOWS SO THEY RATTLE WHEN I STOP THROUGHOUT ANY GIVEN TRIP. DEALERSHIP ALSO TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL AS WELL.....I DON'T THINK SO!!!! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AND THE FRONT END WOULD MAKE A RUMBLING SOUND. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW POPS WHEN RAISING THE WINDOW TO ITS FULLY CLOSED POSITION. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE GLASS IS CRACKING OR BREAKING. ITS NOT SHATTERED, BUT I FEEL THAT IT WILL ONE DAY. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE WINDOW IS RAISED; USUALLY HAPPENS APPROX. 50% OF THE TIME. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. HOWEVER IT WAS SHATTERED BY A BURGLAR AND WAS REPLACED. SINCE THAT TIME, NO POPPING SOUND HAS BEEN HEARD. I WOULD REPLACE THE DRIVERS WINDOW PROACTIVE, HOWEVER THE COST IS GREATER THAN $250.00 USD. *JB

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW SHATTERED, HITTING DRIVER WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. DAMAGE TO DRIVER'S SIDE OF CAR. REPLACED GLASS WITH NEW, REPAINTED SIDE OF CAR. *JB

HAVE LESS THAN 24,000 MILES ON VEHICLE AND ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES ARE WORN OUT! HARDLY ANY TREAD ON THEM. WERE SHOWING PREMATURE WEAR AT ABOUT 18,000-20,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS "NOT THEIR PROBLEM" AND IT APPEARS THIS IS MORE COMMON THAN NOT WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRES. WHY WOULD GM NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS? PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND SEE HOW A CONSUMER CAN GET SATISFACTION . ORIGINAL TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA....P205/55R116 89H. THIS IS NOT LISTED IN THE AVAILABLE OPTIONS IN THE COMPLAINT DROP DOWN MENU. *JB

ON SATURDAY JULY 21 THE REAR WINDOW OF MY PONTIAC VIBE (2005 WITH 72500 MILES) BLEW UP. THERE WAS A HIGH PITCH SOUND ABOUT 5 SECONDS BEFORE THE EVENT AND THEN MY WINDOW JUST SHATTERED. I HAVE ALL OF THE PARTS TO THE WINDOW, IN CASE YOU COULD TELL ME WHO I CAN TAKE THE DEVICE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS A DEFECT. *JB

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AUGUST 2005 AND IT ALWAYS HAD A START ISSUE. IT JUST WONT TURN OVER, BUT THIS PROBLEM CAN GO FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE STARTING AGAIN. IT WILL START FINE SOME DAYS AND OTHERS IT WON'T. ALSO WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT REAR ENDED A VAN AND SMASHED UP THE CAR BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. MY INSURANCE COMPANY STOPPED COUNTING THE DAMAGE AFTER IT HIT $10,000. IT WAS AT AN ANGLE VERSUS JUST STRAIGHT ON. CAR HAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT. MAIN CONCERN WAS THE AIR BAG DIDN'T GO OFF WHEN THE COLLISION HAPPENED. LUCKILY EVERYONE WAS FINE. BUT WHAT IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS TWO PROBLEMS? *TR

MY AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES A POPPING NOISE EVERY TIME IT IS LOWERED. IT MAY NOT BE ALIGNED OR INSTALLED PROPERLY AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL SHATTER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO A CLICKING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE AND THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE WINDOW REPLACED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND INFORMED THEM THAT SHE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH THE 2004 VIBE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY RECORD OF THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,459 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF UPDATED 08/07/08

2005 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL VEHICLE REPAIRS AND REQUEST REPAIR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007 THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED WITH A FAILED POWER CONTROL MODULE. ON MARCH 9, 2007 A NEW PCM WAS INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY. ON MARCH 23, 2007, THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND EXHAUST WERE REPLACED. ON OCTOBER 22, 2009 THE PCM FAILED AGAIN AND THE COMPUTER WAS REFLASHED. IN SEPT. 2010 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE PCM. THE CONSUMER FAXED OVER ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM STATING THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED ALL OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION TO PROCESS HIS REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

TL* -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS HESITATION AND FORCE WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND ACCELERATING. A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,884. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PRESSURE SOLENOID HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JERKS INTO GEAR FIRST THROUGH FIFTH. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

CAR CRASH WHICH MY VEHICLE CRASHED INTO REAR OF VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. SPEED WAS ABOVE 20MPH. MY CAR IS TOTALED AND AIR BAGS DIDNT DEPLOY.

2005 PONTIAC VIBE ENGINE STARTED RACING WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT HAD TO CUT CAR OFF**CC THE DEALER INSTALLED A T/ BODY ASSEMBLY. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH AND DURING RIGHT TURNS, THERE WAS SQUEAKING AND SCRAPING NOISES COMING FROM THE BREAKS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR RELEASED. THERE WAS A SECOND PROBLEM OF A HINGE ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR CAUSING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED OR CLOSED. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. *NM

I WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS FRONT END COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE ABOUT WHY THIS HAPPENED AND I WAS TOLD THAT "AIR BAGS ONLY DEPLOY AT CERTAIN ANGLES." WELL, IF IT WAS A DIRECT FRONT END COLLISION THAT CAUSED $8,600 WORTH OF DAMAGE, DON'T YOU THINK THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF? I HAD TO REPLACE EVERYTHING BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND THE BUMPER, THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT I GOT THE RUN -AROUND ABOUT THE AIR BAG. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT AIR BAGS IN MANY VIBES ARE FAULTY AND THAT PONTIAC ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE A NOISE AND FELL OFF TRACK INTO THE DOOR. AN AUTO GLASS SPECIALIST ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE WINDOW ON THREE OCCASIONS AND STATED THAT PONTIAC MAY HAVE A RELATED RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL THE GLASS UP WITH HER HAND AND WAS UNABLE TO ROLL THE WINDOW UP OR DOWN. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS CURRENTLY MAKING NOISE AS IF IT WILL SOON FALL OFF TRACK AS WELL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. UPDATED 05/01/08 UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF UPDATED 06/09/08

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE KEY HAD SHIFT TO THE OFF POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING, OFTEN TAKING TWO OR THREE TRIES BEFORE STARTING. WILL TURN OVER FOR UP TO 30 SECONDS AND THEN EVENTUALLY START. BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE VERY NEXT DAY THE PROBLEM ACTED UP AGAIN. HAPPENS AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES PER WEEK UPON TRYING TO START THE CAR. THOUGHT MAYBE THE COLD WEATHER HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, WAITED UNTIL THE END OF WINTER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT...STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. WANTED THE CAR TO BE SERVICED AND FIXED BEFORE THE WARRANTY RUNS OUT. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2005, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. ON SEVEN OCCASIONS, INCLUDING NOVEMBER 29, 2005, THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO SPOKE WITH AN ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING THE LEMON LAW. THE ATTORNEY ADVISED HER THAT SHE HAD SURPASSED THE LEMON LAW REQUIREMENTS FOR HER STATE DUE TO THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 4,200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 567.

2005 PONTIAC VIBE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TS *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS POWER STEERING AND BRAKE FLUID ON THE FLOOR BENEATH WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES IN OCTOBER, DECEMBER AND MARCH HOWEVER THE LEAKING WAS NOT RESOLVED. THIS INCIDENT INTERMITTENTLY CAUSED THE STEERING TO PULL TO EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. UPDATED 07/25/06. *JB

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR RECALL (NHTSA RECALL # 15V285; GM RECALL # N140491), FOR WHICH I RECEIVED A LETTER YESTERDAY. I AM VERY DISTURBED TO BE TOLD THAT, UNTIL THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE, AND WITH ONLY THE ASSURANCE THAT GM (AND PRESUMABLY TOYOTA) IS "WORKING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION," I SHOULD NOT OPERATE THE CAR WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED. I FIND IT DISTURBING AND ODD THAT THE PROSCRIPTION ONLY APPLIES TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, EVEN THOUGH THE WARNING INCLUDES THE STATEMENT THAT MALFUNCTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN "METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS [INCLUDING, PRESUMABLY, ME] POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH," I AM ALSO TROUBLED THAT NO ADVICE OR ACCOMMODATION IS MADE FOR THOSE FOR WHOM NOT USING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT AN OPTION, NOR IS THERE PROVISION BY GM/TOYOTA/TAKATA TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT CAR UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE, OR AT LEAST SOME SORT OF REMUNERATION FOR WHAT IT WILL COST THOSE AFFECTED TO RENT A CAR WHEN THEY MUST USE A FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AND THERE'S THE SMALL MATTER THAT THE METAL FRAGMENTS COULD STRIKE MORE THAN JUST THE FRONT PASSENGER. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT NHTSA IS DOING TO ENSURE THAT PROPER COMPENSATION IS PROVIDED FOR THIS.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 PONTIAC VIBE 1.8 L, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ON 8/02/05. IT HAS CONSISTENTLY HAD EPISODES OF SERIOUS HESITATION AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. I HAD IT INTO THE DEALER BUT I GOT THE "COULD NOT REPRODUCE FAILURE" RESPONSE. IT SEEMS THAT IF THERE IS NO FAILURE CODE THAT THE CAR DEALERS ASSUME THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THERE WAS A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE SERVICE DEALER PUT IN POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE O-RING AND HOSE, THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THE FOURTH TIME THEY REPLACED THE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER; THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE SERVICE DEALER. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU TO FILE A COMPLAINT. *AK

PAINT ON HOOD OF VEHICLE IS BEGINNING TO CHIP IN PLACES, AND APPEARS TO BE BEGINING TO RUST IN CHIPS. MY FATHER HAS A 2005 VIBE TOO AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF HIS CAR IS ALSO CHIPPING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED HER VEHICLE INSIDE OF HER GARAGE, SHE NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE OIL PAN WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL AND THE POWER STEERING FLUID BEGAN LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18000. UPDATED 05/13/10. *LJ

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED A CYCLING VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHI;NG IS MOMENTARILY BINDING AND SLOWING THE CAR MINUTELY, AS IF A SHAFT WERE TOO TIGHT OR OUT OF ROUND. SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION OR DRIVE SHAFTS. THIS WAS NOTICED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE NEW. THE GM DEALER IN FREDERICTON N.B (O'LEARY'S), WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE BUT ADMITTED IT WAS PRESENT. THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 KILOMETERS ON THE VEHICLES AT THIS TIME. *TR

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE 2005 PONTIAC VIBE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR AN INDICATOR LIGHT THAT INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT IF THIS LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO BRING THE CAR TO DEALER AGAIN SINCE THE LIGHT IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. NOW THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT SHOWING IF THE AIR BAG IS ON OR OFF. WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEA THE LIGHT IS SHOWING OFF FOR THE AIR BAG WHEN THE LIGHT SHOULD SAY ON. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR OUT FOR A DRIVE THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON AT ALL.*AK

THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS IN MY VEHICLE HAVE BEEN POPPING AND CATCHING IN MY CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. IT HAS RUINED MY WINDOW TINT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND I AS WELL AS HAVING THE DRIVERS SIDE SHATTER ON ME ONE TIME. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AS IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. *TR UPDATED 10/24/07 *TR

MICE GETTING INTO THE DASH/AIR VENTS. *JB

AFTER WARM UP AND DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR IN TOWN, VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF TO GAS UP OR ENTER A STORE FOR A FEW MINUTES AND HAVING TROUBLE STARTING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK OVER AND OVER SOMETIMES ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR LONGER BEFORE IT WILL FINALLY START. NOT SURE IF IT IS VAPOR LOCK OR SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FUEL PUMP? I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND OF COURSE IT DOES NOT ACT UP FOR THEM. I DOES HAPPEN QUITE FREQUENTLY. I HAVE ALSO READ ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING TO OTHER VIBE OWNERS FROM 2003-05. I AM REQUESTING THAT SOMEONE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM.

SEVERAL ONGOING EVENTS VERSUS ONE FAILURE, CONSTANT PULLING EITHER TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT, PULLING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC/OTHER LANES WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING, NOT ABLE TO KEEP THE VIBE ON THE SMOOTH/ROUGH ROADS. WHEN CORNERING IN DRY CONDITIONS ON A SMOOTH ROAD, THE VIBE PULLED ME RIGHT OVER ON THE SHOULDER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN SO I STOPPED UNCERTAIN WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. I WAS ABLE TO GET INTO DEALER AND 4 ALIGNMENTS, 4+ TIRE ROTATIONS, CAMBER BOLTS REPLACED, AND A 3RD OPINION FROM A SEPARATE GM DEALER UNAWARE OF THE SITUATION STATING MY TIRES WERE FAULTY AND TO RETURN TO THE SELLING DEALER WITH THE VESTED INTEREST IN THE CAR, AND THE END RESULT IS....MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SAME SITUATION. THE CAR IS STILL PULLING LEFT, RIGHT, VEERING WHEN I BRAKE OR ACCELERATE IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THE GM DEALER THAT PROVIDED THAT OPINION REPLACED THE TIRES ON 2 OTHER VIBE OWNERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES BUT I DID NOT BUY MY CAR THERE. I HAVE READ SEVERAL REPORTS OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO ABOUT ONGOING VIBE COMPLAINTS REGARDING UNUSUAL WEAR ON TIRES REGARDLESS OF THE BRAND AND THE POSSIBILITY OF SUSPENSION AND SHOCK DESIGN ISSUES (NOT HOLDING THE TIRES PROPERLY TO THE ROAD). ALL OF THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE WITHIN 12,000KM AND WOULD HAVE BEEN LESS HAD I NOT HAD PERSONAL FAMILY MATTERS TO DEAL WITH. LUCKILY THERE HAS BEEN NO TIRE BLOWOUTS YET NOR ACCIDENTS YET BUT ALL I AM TOLD IS THAT THE TRACKING IS PRETTY GOOD FOR THAT OF A VIBE..I WOULD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT ONE HAD I BEEN GIVEN THAT SALES PITCH AND KNOWN I WOULD BE IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION EVERY 1,000KM. READING THE INFO ON THE GENVIBE SITE AND ON THIS SITE BACK TO 2003, MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A MORE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THE TYPE OF SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM OR SOMETHING IF THE TIRES, NO MATTER WHAT BRAND, ARE BEING BURNED THROUGH THAT QUICKLY AND THE STEERING IS THAT BRUTAL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

WE BOUGHT A NEW PONTIAC VIBE IN APRIL. ON A TRIP TOCLEVELAND WE FOUND OUT IT IS NOT SAFE. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH VISIBILITY IN THE REAR BECAUSE OF A POOR DESIGN. I HAD TO AVOID 4 POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE OTHERS APPROACHING IN ATHER LANES AT HIGH SPEEDS. I COMPLAINED TO GM, BUT THEY HAVE IGNORED ME. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO YOU IN APRIL. HAS ANYTHING BEED DONE?

2005 PONTIAC VIBE IS UNSAFE. THE DESIGN MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CARS APPROACHING FROM THE REAR IN 4 TO 6 LANES WITH ON & OFF RAMPS & THEY TRAVEL 60 TO 80 MPH. I WANT TO REPORT THIS BEFORE THERE A LOT OF DEATHS. WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE ONLY BECAUSE I AM EXPERIENCED WITH QUICK REFLEXES & REACTION TIME. *NM

I BOUGHT A NEW 2005 VIBE IN SEPTEMBER 2004. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I WILL GO TO START THE CAR AND IT WILL NOT START, JUST TURNS OVER. *JB

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED FORWARD. CONSUMER HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2005 PONTIAC VIBE, WHENEVER I TAKE ANY TURN TO THE LEFT OF LESS THAN 90-DEGREES, THE TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT CANCEL. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CALIBRATION OF THE SIGNAL CANCELING. MY VIBE WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PRODUCED AND ARRIVED AT MY DEALER IN JULY OF 2004. I HAVE CHECKED WITH BOTH PONTIAC AND TOYOTA ABOUT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS COVERING THIS SITUATION, AND THE PONTIAC SERVICE MANAGER TEST-RODE WITH ME TO OBSERVE THIS, BUT IS UNAWARE OF ANY FIX? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALUMINUM RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSING THE TIRES TO LEAK AIR AND DEFLATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MADE THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPLACE THE TIRES HOWEVER, THE TIRES CONTINUED TO DEFLATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER NOR WAS THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.