2009 Pontiac Vibe Complaint Log

2 WEEKS AGO MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN STAYING ON. I LOOKED UP ON RECALL AND SAW THAT TOYOTA HAS A AIRBAG RECALL AFFECTING THE CABLE SWITCH TO THE AIRBAG. 2009-2010 VIBE SPIRAL ELECTRICAL CABLE CAN BE DAMAGED WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. ONCE BROKEN, THE AIRBAG DEACTIVATES AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. IT ALSO SAYS THAT TOYOTA HAS A IMPROVED PART. IT DOES MAKE ME NERVOUS DRIVING WITH THIS ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO [XXX] BUICK THEY SAID THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE RECALL AND WILL FIX IT FOR 500 TO 1,000 DOLLARS. I TALKED TO A [XXX] AT THE GM HOT LINE. HE SAID THERE IS NO RECALLS FOR MY CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE SAFETY AIR BAG IS A CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. MY DRIVERS DASH WARNING LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ILLUMINATED. I TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER WHO SAID AFTER A 100 DOLLAR DIAGNOSIS THERE WAS A RESISTOR FAILURE IN THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WHICH WOULD COST 1200 DOLLARS. THE AIR BAG IS A PASSIVE NON MOVING DEVICE. IT SHOULD NOT FAIL IN A PASSIVE MODE. HOW DO THEY KNOW IT IS NOT CAUSED BY THE RECALLED DEFECTIVE CABLE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT TAKING THE AIR BAG OUT AND EXAMINING THE CABLE ? *TR

PURCHASED THE 2009 VEHICLE USED WITH 103,000 MILES, CAR WAS DECENT AT FIRST .. NOW LOSS OF POWER AND THE CAR SHUTS ITSELF OFF CONSTANTLY WHEN GOING TO START IT. MAKES A DIESEL SOUND VERY ROUGH. SOMETIMES TURNS ITSELF OFF MORE THAN ONCE IN ONE DAY OR EVERY OTHER DAY. GARAGES HAVE LOOKED AT THE ISSUE BUT NOTHING FOUND !

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V168000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,500.

MY CAR STARTED TO STALL AND PULL TO THE LEFT ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER CAR AS I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I THOUGHT IT TO BE JUST AN ABERATION. I WENT TO A PARKING LOT AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL TO TEST DRIVE MY STEERING AND TRY TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOTHING HAPPENED, SO I WENT TO WORK AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. MY JOB IS ABOUT 12 MILES FROM DAUGHTER SCHOOL TAKING THE BACK ROAD AND NOT GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTER WORK I TOOK THE INTERSTATE BACK HOME THROUGH SOME HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FROM DOWNTOWN TO MY HOME APROXIMATELY 1O MILES TAKING THE INTERSTATE. AS I WAS COMING FROM OFF RAMP I NOTICE A LITTTLE STUTTER AND CAR POWERING DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES AND THE CAR ALMOST CAME TO A COMPLETE STALL AND STARTED PULLING TO LEFT. I PRESS THE GAS PEDDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN. ALL THE PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON ABS, ENGINE, ETC. I MEAN EVERY SINGLE LIGHT. I PULLED CAR IN TO AMOCA. HE SAID IT WAS THROTTLE BODY. I GOT 2ND OPINION. HE SAID THAT DID NOT SOUND RIGHT. HE SAID TAKE CAR TO DEALER. I AM TAKING CAR TO GM DEALER TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS. I DO NOT WANT TO RISK GETTING MY CHILD KILLED IN THIS CAR. *TT

REPORTED VEHICLE RECALL TO GM BUICK, CADILAC DEALERSHIP IN MORROWM,GA OF RECALLS ON VEHICLE. THEY STATED MY CAR IS NOT ON RECALL LIST. I ASKED THEM TO FIX PROBLEM AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL SAID HE CAN NOT HELP ME. I FEEL I JEAPORDIZE MY LIFE DRIVING A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WHICH IS THE SAME AS TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLE WITH ALL THE SAME TYPE OF PARTS FROM TOYOTA AND MANUFACTURED BY GM. I FEEL I WILL BE ENDANGERING MY CHILDREN LIVES IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH OUT THE NECESSARY FIXES THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO VEHICLE. *JS

RECEIVED RECALL ON ABOVE VEHICLE. CALLED DEALER (SMICKLAS) CHEVROLET, TOLD TO BRING VEHICLE IN. TOOK VEHICLE IN ON 3-12-2009 AND [XXX] (SERVICE MGR) TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TOOLS TO DO THE JOB AND AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN SENDING VIBES TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REPAIR AND THAT OTHERWISE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL ME. TOLD HIM I WOULD CALL GM TO SEE WHAT THEY SAID. LEFT DEALERSHIP AND FILED THIS COMPLAINT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE ENGINE STOPPED AT FREEWAY SPEED. THIS WAS THE SIXTH TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT A YEAR. ONCE OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED, THE CAR DOES RESTART. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT DO AN OFFICIAL INSPECTION SINCE THERE WERE NO CODES AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. THIS WAS JUST AFTER THE CAR HAD DIES ON THE FREEWAY IN DECEMBER. THAT WAS ABOUT THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE. THEY SUGGESTED CLEANING THE BATTERY TERMINALS WHICH WERE A LITTLE CORRODED. I DID THIS AND INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. THE STALLING HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR SUGGESTION IS THAT I PAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE AT A DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A STATEMENT FROM THEIR CHAT: HOWEVER, WE CAN SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, HOWEVER, GIVEN HAVING OVER 100,000 MILES DOES LIMIT WHAT WE CAN DO. OK, SO YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER. 12:32:34LEAUNDRE:I CAN DOCUMENT THIS CONCERN IN OUR SYSTEM. THE SPECIALIST WILL DO NOTHING FURTHER UNLESS I PAY TO HAVE THE DIAGNOSIS DONE ON THE CAR. *TR

VERY PRONOUNCED STEERING RATTLE AT LOW SPEEDS OVER ROUGH TERRAIN AND ALSO WHEN BRAKING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,200.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSED AS BAD CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT A/S PLUS TIRES, SIZE: 215/45/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DEFLATED. THE TIRES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE LIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH WARNING TIME TO ALLOW MY HUSBAND TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE (AND TURN OFF THE CAR) BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF A DAMAGED WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON THE SAME DAY (TRANSMISSION DRAIN/FILL AND TIRE ROTATION) AND THERE WAS NO EARLIER WARNING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE WATER PUMP. *TR

I'VE HAD MULTIPLE FAULTY ENGINE CONTROL MODULES IN MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. IT MAY BE A COINCIDENCE, BUT FELT IT WORTH REPORTING SINCE IT MAY BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN 10V387000 WHICH COVERED THE 2005-2008 MODELS. *TR

2009 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POTENTIAL FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND POWER WINDOW MASTER SWITCH RECALL NOTICES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE ATTEMPTED TO GET THE RECALL RESOLVED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ONLY TO BE INFORMED, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IMPLODED SHOWERING ME WITH GLASS WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 435 IN THE KANSAS CITY AREA. THIS WAS UNEXPECTED, NEARLY CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ON THE RAIN WET ROADWAY WHILE A PANEL TRUCK WAS PASSING ME ON MY LEFT SIDE. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER INCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE ESTABLISHING A PATTERN OF FAILURE FOR THIS WINDOW AS WELL AS THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WINDOWS. A RETAINER NOTCH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE GLASS SEEMS TO BE A WEAK POINT WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE TEMPERED GLASS WHICH CAN RESULT IN INJURY FROM GLASS IN EYES, DOWN CLOTHING AS WELL AS LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

INTERMITTENT, BUT INCREASINGLY FREQUENT ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SLOWER SPEEDS. STALLS MAY HAPPEN AT CRUISING SPEED OR WHEN DECELERATING OR ACCELERATING. OCCASIONALLY, ENGINE RACES OR CHOKES. USUALLY REQUIRES TURNING THE KEY TO OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS EXPERIENCED BY OWNERS OF 2005-08 TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBES WHO HAD THE ECM RECALLED. THIS ECM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 6-3-14. RECALL OF 09 AND NEWER MODELS MAY BE WARRANTED TO PREVENT DANGEROUS CRASHES AND REAR-END ACCIDENTS. *TR

STARTER GRINDS & WHINES BEFORE STARTING. ALL DASH WARNING LIGHT COME ON & STAY ON. *TR

PERIODICALLY (ONCE OR TWICE PER MONTH) THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL, AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WILL STOP WORKING FOR A FEW MINUTES. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE WARNING LIGHTS ALL GO ON. I TESTED THE FUNCTION IN A SLIPPERY PARKING LOT, SO KNOW THE VARIOUS FEATURES STOP WORKING WHEN THESE LIGHTS GO ON. I LOOKED IN THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS EVERYTHING FROM A BAD GAS CAP TO A CONNECTOR ON THE BRAKE SENSOR TO A CRACKED COMPUTER CIRCUIT BOARD. I ASKED MY DEALER AT THE TIME ABOUT IT, AND THEY SAID REALISTICALLY IF IT ONLY HAPPENS FOR A COUPLE MINUTES AND THEN MIGHT NOT HAPPEN FOR A MONTH, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S CAUSING IT NOR EVEN IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. I CALLED PONTIAC AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND LET THEM LOOK AT IT. I DON'T WANT TO RUN UP HUNDREDS OR EVEN A THOUSAND DOLLARS LOOKING FOR A PROBLEM THAT ONLY OCCURS A FEW TIMES PER YEAR. BUT IF SEVERAL PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, I THINK IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. IT OBVIOUSLY IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN BRAKES AND VSC DON'T WORK PROPERLY, EVEN FOR A MINUTE OR SO PER MONTH. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR (SALENTINE) WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER I NOW VISIT ([XXX])AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

VARIOUS LIGHTS COME ON IN THE DASHBOARD, I FORGET NOW EXACTLY WHICH LIGHTS, BUT I THINK IT WAS THE ABS LIGHT, THE VSC LIGHT, AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. THIS HAPPENS ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES IN A MONTH OR SO. WHEN IT HAPPENS, THE ABC, VSC, AND TRACTION CONTROL DO NOT WORK (I TESTED IT IN A SNOWY PARKING LOT). I WENT TO SALENTINE PONTIAC A COUPLE YEARS AGO, AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE IT IS SO INTERMITTENT, THEY ARE NOT REALLY LIKELY TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, NOR KNOW IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED IT. I CONTACTED PONTIAC VIA E-MAIL AND PHONE, AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF SUCH A THING. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW I SEE THERE IS A RECALL INVOLVING EXACTLY THIS ISSUE, BUT IT IS APPARENTLY ONLY FOR THE PONTIAC G6. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT THE VIBE PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED. I WOULD HATE TO SEE G.M. GO BROKE, BUT THE THINGS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING ARE UNCONSCIONABLE. *TR

I CANNOT ROLL DOWN MY WINDOWS SINCE THEY ARE ON RECALL SINCE NOVEMBER 2012. I HAVE TO SHOW A BADGE WHEN I ENTER MY COMMUNITY AND MUST TAKE OFF MY SEAT BELT AND GET OUT OF THE CAR TO DO SO. I ONLY RECEIVED ONE LETTER AND WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A SECOND. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER FOUR MONTHS. *TR

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V491000 (VISIBILITY), 14V168000 (AIR BAGS), AND 17V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (PAT OBRIEN IN WILLOBY, OH) DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY DAUGHTER WAS REAR ENDED WHILE SHE WAS SITTING AT A STOP BY A LARGE VEHICLE GOING 40+ MPH AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PUSHED INTO THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON CONTACT TO OR BY ANY OTHER VEHICLE. DUE TO THERE NOT BEING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SHE SUFFERED NECK TRAUMA AND TENDON DAMAGE TO HER SHOULDER. *TR

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LOCAL SPEEDS THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO CORRECT THIS THE CAR OVER CORRECTS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. FREQUENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP (ESPECIALLY ON AN UNEVEN ROAD) THE CAR PULLS SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT (ALMOST 90 DEGREES). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 10V024000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND 10V018000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN UPDATED 10/06/2017*CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 33,500. UPDATED 5/16/12 *CN THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. UPDATED 05/23/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE RPM INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED WHILE THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO CURB AND INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THEY WILL HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE CALL THE CONTACT WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,500.

I OWN A 2009 VIBE . RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED RE: SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THEY REMOVED DRIVERS FLOOR MAT OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAD FIRST EPISODE TODAY. FORTUNATELY IT WAS AT ABOUT 10MPH. WHEN I ENGAGED THE BRAKE THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE BRAKE PULSATED LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK FEATURE HAD BEEN ACTIVATED. THE ENGINE REVVED FOR 3 TO 4 SECONDS THE CAR ACCELERATED. WHEN THE ENGINE REVVING STOPPED THE BRAKE ENGAGED PROPERLY AND THE CAR STOPPED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A STREET WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 25 MPH AND I HAD COASTED DOWN TO ABOUT 10-15 MPH APPROACHING THE STOP SIGN. HAD THIS BEEN A HIGH SPEED OR EMERGENCY STOP THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. PLEASE CONTACT ME ABOUT THIS AS THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WILL ALSO BE CONTACTING THE NHTSA. THE ABOVE IS A COPY OF INFORMATION I SENT TO GENERAL MOTORS VIA THEIR PONTIAC WEB SITE. *TR

MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE 2005-2008 TOYOTA MATRIX IS REGARDING THE STALLING ISSUES. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAM ON CODE 1801 THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT WORK OR MAY DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY. INSTALLED SOP CLOCK SPRING FOR AIR BAG. *TR

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT RATTLES AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AT A SLOW SPEED.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY NATURE. CAN NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP CAN NOT LOOK AT IT UNTIL 4 DAYS. *TR

AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH, A RATTLING IS HEARD AND FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING COLUMN BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, PER GM. THE CAR STILL MAKES THE NOISE AND VIBRATION... AND IS GETTING WORSE. A SEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM REVEALED MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD SELL OR TRADE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

BOTH REAR HUB AND WHEEL BEARINGS COMPONENTS HAVE RUSTED AND WORN OUT CLOSE TO FAILURE; REAR WHEEL NOISE WAS EXCESSIVE. ACTUAL FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN REAR WHEELS LOCKING UP. *KB

OUR AWD 2009 PONTIAC VIBE CAME WITH FACTORY CHROME WHEELS. AFTER ONE WINTER, THE WHEELS BEGAN TO CORRODE AROUND THE OUTSIDE PERIMETER. GM AGREED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEELS, AND THEY DID. SOON AFTER REPLACEMENT, AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING INTO OUR GARAGE, ONE WHEEL DELAMINATED (I.E., THE CHROME COVERING SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE ALUMINUM UNDERWHEEL). UPON INSPECTION, IT LOOKED AS IF THE CHROME LAYER HAD BEEN GLUED TO THE UNDERWHEEL. WE WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, CHROME COVERING AND GLUE FRAGMENTS IN HAND. THE DEALER REPLACED THIS DEFECTIVE WHEEL WITH ANOTHER; SOON AFTER (50 MILES?), THE SECOND REPLACEMENT WHEEL DID THE SAME THING. IT HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED. (THE CHROME PARTS ARE STAMPED "TOYOTA.") NOTE THREE THINGS: ONE, THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE STEEL WITH WHEEL COVERS. INSTEAD, THEY ARE ONE-PIECE CHROME WHEELS, RATHER EXPENSIVE IF I SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THEM MYSELF. SECOND, WE HAD NOT ABUSED THE CAR. WE DROVE, IN EACH CASE, ABOUT 50 MILES ON GOOD PAVEMENT IN GOOD WEATHER BEFORE FAILURE. FINALLY, THE CHROME COMPONENT DELAMINATED IN A "SAFE" AREA--IN BOTH CASES, AS WE SLOWLY DROVE INTO OUR GARAGE. WHAT IF THIS DELAMINATION HAD HAPPENED WHILE WE DROVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND THE CHROME COMPONENT HAD SPUN OFF INTO A CROWD, OR ANOTHER CAR? THERE IS ONE OTHER PROBLEM YOU SHOULD KNOW. WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE STARTING THIS CAR. IN BRIEF, THE PROBLEM WAS APPARENTLY DIFFICULT FOR THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE, BUT IT WAS A "CRACKED STEERING LOCK," ALSO A PART STAMPED "TOYOTA." THIS PROBLEM PRECIPITATED SEVERAL PHONE CALLS FOR HELP, PUSHING IT FROM THE SIDE IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE STEERING COLUMN/KEY, AND A VISIT FROM THE TOW TRUCK. WE WERE ABLE TO ROCK THE CAR OURSELVES AND ENABLE STARTING; UNFORTUNATELY, WE DENTED THE FRONT FENDER, WHICH WAS AN UNREIMBURSED BODY REPAIR AT THE DEALER'S ($800). PLEASE PUBLICIZE THESE VIBE PROBLEMS AND DANGERS, AND WORK FOR FIXES. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 35), THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SHAKING / VIBRATION / RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM EITHER THE STEERING COLUMN OR FRONT SHOCKS, ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES OR BUMPS. SEEMS TO BE MORE DRIVERS SIDE. LOOKS LIKE OTHERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS WELL AS TOYOTA MATRIX (BUILT ON SAME LINE WITH SAME COMPONENTS) I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE ISSUE. SEEMS AS IF SOME COMPONENT HAS COME LOOSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. THE RPMS CONTINUED TO INCREASE. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN ALLOWING THE CONTACT TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 09/30/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW GAS PEDAL WAS INSTALLED. UPDATED 10/24/11

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 11. WHEN COMING TO A FAST STOP (SUCH AS WHEN SOMEONE PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU OR SOMEONE SUDDENLY STOPS IN FRONT OF YOU -- ABS IS NOT BEING USED AS THESE ARE NOT PANIC STOPS) THE BRAKES WILL WORK AS THEY SHOULD UNTIL THE CAR IS ALMOST STOPPED AND THEN THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD AND I SUDDENLY NEED TO APPLY MORE FORCE TO THE BRAKES TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. I SUSPECT THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR IS USING ENGINE BRAKING TO ASSIST IN SLOWING DOWN THE CAR AND WHEN THE CAR HITS A CERTAIN SPEED (OR SOME OTHER VARIABLE) THE ENGINE BRAKING IS TURNED OFF WHICH CAUSES THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THAT I NEED TO APPLY TO THE BRAKES TO SUDDENLY INCREASE WHICH GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CAR IS LUNGING FORWARD. REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE TO OCCUR, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE GROWN USED TO THIS ISSUE AND NOW CAN COMPENSATE FOR IT, BUT IT IS STILL DISTRESSING WHEN IT OCCURS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER VIBE/MATRIX OWNERS AND THEY ALL STATE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR

WHEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 35), THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SHAKING / VIBRATION / RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM EITHER THE STEERING COLUMN OR FRONT SHOCKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES OR BUMPS. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE ISSUE. SEEMS AS IF SOME COMPONENT HAS COME LOOSE. *TR

2009 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER WRITES IN RESPONSE TO AN UNSATISFACTORY RESPONSE OF GM SAFETY RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER MAKING APPOINTMENTS AND GOING TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS HE WAS INFORMED THE TOOLS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE RECALL. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE GT. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,070. UPDATED 10/4/11 *CN UPDATED 10/26/11

DRIVER REPORTED FAILURE OF VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. WARNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRED AT COST OF ALMOST $800 TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHERE THE ABS SENSOR IS LOCATED. *TR

THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, PRESENTING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER STOPPING, ALL FUSES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND OKAY. SHUTTING OFF/RESTARTING CAR DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. STEERING REMAINS DISABLED. NO OTHER SYMPTOMS OR PROBLEMS. CAR IS BEING TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR

OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS ENTERING THE MAIN ROAD FROM OUR SUBDIVISION. I STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN. I WAS NOT IN A HURRY. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR FROM BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT, I BEGAN TO ENTER THE MAIN ROAD. THEN MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THERE WAS A CAR COMING FROM THE RIGHT. WHERE DID THAT CAR COME FROM? IT WASN'T THERE WHEN I LOOKED. BUT PRESTO, THERE IT WAS. I CONCLUDED; IT WAS CONCEALED FROM MY VISION BY THE RIGHT AIR BAG POST. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS I CAME CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT. THAT POST IS ABOUT 8 INCHES WIDE AND ABOUT 3 FEET FROM MY EYES. IT'S SIMPLE MATH, WHEN AN 8 INCH POST IS PROJECTED OUT TO THE 50 YARD DISTANCE WHERE THE CARS WERE HIDDEN FROM MY VIEW, THAT 8 INCH POST CONCEALS 50 FEET. THAT MEANS THAT THERE ARE 50 FEET HIDDEN FROM MY RIGHT VIEW EVERY TIME I ENTER A MAIN ROAD. THE AIR BAG MAY SOLVE THE AIR BAG SAFETY PROBLEM; BUT IT MAKES THE RIGHT POST 8 INCHES WIDE; CREATING AN EQUALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 35 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING BECOMES UNPREDICTABLE. INITIALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE WANDERING DIRECTION OF THE CAR NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. WHEN CORRECTING FURTHER THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ITSELF AND OVER-CORRECT. IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE DRIVING THROUGH A WIND TUNNEL OR GETTING PASSED BY LARGE TRUCKS EVEN IF THERE IS NO WIND AND NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND. WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON ICE. THIS BECAME AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM WHEN WINTER WEATHER HIT AND ROADS ACTUALLY BECAME ICY OR SNOWY. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE STEERING WHEEL WILL OCCASIONALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY TURN AT LEAST 45-90 DEGREES IN EITHER DIRECTION RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE "WANDERING" INTO AN ADJACENT LANE.

I WAS ABLE TO DETECT THIS BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT OCCURRED. WHILE CHECKING THE REAR BRAKES I NOTICED THAT THERE IS UNEVEN WEAR OF REAR BRAKE PADS. PASSENGER SIDE OUTER PAD IS POSITIONED IN AN ANGLE WHICH CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR OF THAT PAD WHILE ALL OTHER PADS ARE WEARING EVENLY. SUCH DEFECT (CALIPER POSITION) CAUSES ROTOR DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE WHEEL LOCK. THIS IS A SECOND VIBE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I'VE SEEN. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR CALIPER NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED AND REPOSITIONED.

RATTLING DURING LOW SPEEDS, FEELS LOOSE AND UNCORTABLE, REPORTED TO DEALER AFTER FIRT YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, PURCHASED NEW, SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND FEELING UNSAFE. EACH TIME REPORTED WAS TOLD NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM JUST NOISY, COULD REPLACE COLUMN AT MY COST BUT NOISE WOULD PEOBABLY RETURN, NOW FEELING UNSAFE

ON TUES. MORNING, AUG. 31, 2010, AT 6:51 A.M. (PER RECEIPT), I WAS STOPPED AT THE PRECINCT LINE & HWY 183 STARBUCKS DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW. MY 2009 PONTIAC VIVE WAS IN DRIVE & MY RIGHT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AS IT WOULD BE AT A STOP LIGHT. AS MY TRANSACTION PROCEEDED, I HEARD A TERRIFIC, LOUD RACING OF AN ENGINE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A RACE CAR & THEN FELT MY CAR BEGIN TO MOVE FORWARD. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR BEHIND ME DOING SOMETHING WEIRD OR BEING SOMEHOW OUT OF CONTROL. I PUSHED HARDER ON MY BRAKE TO PROTECT MYSELF, BUT MY VIVE STARTED TO SURGE FORWARD. I THEN REALIZED THAT THIS WAS THE "TOYOTA PROBLEM" HAPPENING TO ME & I, THEREFORE, PUT THE CAR IN PARK & TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. AS I PUT THE VIVE IN PARK, THE ENGINE RACED WILDLY & I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER BOUNCING CRAZILY UP THE SCALE. I EXCLAIMED TO THE WORKERS THAT MY CAR WAS DOING THE "TOYOTA THING." THEY JUST STARED AT ME WITH WIDE EYES. I TRIED TURNING THE CAR ON AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH BOTH OF MY FEET ON THE BRAKE; THE ENGINE RACED WILDLY ONCE AGAIN, & THE TACHOMETER BOUNCED WILDLY. MY FEET REMAINED EXTREMELY FIRM ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT STRANGELY WEAK, AS THOUGH I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT FURTHER TO THE FLOOR THAN NORMAL. I TURNED THE VIVE OFF A SECOND TIME & TOLD THE STARBUCKS WORKERS THAT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, IN THAT I WAS IN THEIR DRIVE-THROUGH LANE & I WAS AFRAID TO TURN THE ENGINE ON TO TRY TO MOVE AWAY. I WAS PANICKED; THEY REMAINED WIDE-EYED AND SPEECHLESS AT THE NOISE AND SPECTACLE. I DECIDED TO TRY A THIRD TIME; THIS TIME THE ENGINE ACTED "NORMALLY" BUT SOUNDED AND ACTED WEAK. I WAS VERY SCARED AS I DROVE AWAY & WAS UNSURE OF WHAT THE CAR WOULD DO NEXT. I CALLED MY HUSBAND TO MEET ME AT WORK A FEW MILES AWAY TO PICK UP THE CAR THAT I NO LONGER TRUST TO DRIVE. THE STARBUCKS MANAGER AND DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW BARISTA WHO WITNESSED THIS EVENT GAVE THEIR NAMES & PHONE NUMBERS TO US & ARE WILLING TO CONFIRM THE EVENT. RECALL 10038 WAS PERFORMED 6 DAYS PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. *TR