2009 Pontiac Vibe complaints

2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE AND THE CAR IS STOPPED OR NEARLY STOPPED, THE ENGINE RACES TO 7000 RPM. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY MOVE FORWARD INTO AN INTERSECTION. TO REGAIN CONTROL I MUST SHIFT TO N AND CONTINUE TO APPLY THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS OCCURS AT RANDOM INTERVALS. AFTER I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON IT SEEMS TO WORK OK TILL THE NEXT TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE FIRST AND SECOND TRIPS TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY FOUND NO TROUBLE VEHICLE MET SPECS. NO PARTS REPLACED. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR FOR TWO WEEKS, THE CAR WAS RETURNED ON FEB 19 2010. THE DEALER PERFORMED A TWO MODIFICATIONS TO THE VEHICLE. 1. ACCELERATOR MODIFICATION, AND 2. THEY REMOVED THE DRIVER FLOOR MAT. TODAY 02/22/2010 THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, CAUSING A NEAR COLLISION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, HE NOTICED THAT THE RPM'S INCREASED BEYOND 2500 WITHOUT THE CONTACT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9857.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT CHANGED THE SEATING POSITION HE NOTICED THAT THE LEFT BASE RAIL WOULD NOT CONNECT ALLOWING THE SEAT TO MOVE FREELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 9857.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 TO 15 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT FELT AS IF THE ABS ENGAGED. IT TOOK EXTRA EFFORT FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. SHE WAS ALMOST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. SHE CITED THE WEATHER AS COLD AND RAINY. ANOTHER DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE ALSO CONFIRMED THAT THEY PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. SHE HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OR SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER TO DATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,800.

WANDERING STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE VERSUS STABLE STEERING OF MY 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIVE. WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT 5 MPH WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. SHE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR CARELESS DRIVING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. SHE SUSTAINED FRACTURED BONES AND THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR CHEST, RIBS AND KNEE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 3,000. UPDATED 3/16/10 *CN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED 05/11/10.*JB

2009 PONTIAC VIBE HAS ISSUE WITH THE GAS PEDAL STICKING. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE PEDAL STICKING WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 03/01/10. *JB UPDATED 03/12/10 UPDATED 03/04/10.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE PURCHASED NEW. HE STATED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH ON A CLOUDY DAY, A DEER RAN OUT INTO THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE DEER, KILLING IT INSTANTLY. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS MODERATE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN ON THE SERVICE BRAKES (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V392000; COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM), HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1700 AND THE CURRENT WAS 12,812. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED.

PRIOR TO THE CURRENT RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDAL, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE OCCURRENCES OF THAT PROBLEM. ALL THREE TIMES, THE CAR HAS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, WHILE I AM BRAKING AT A STOP SIGN. ALL THREE TIMES, THE PEDAL HAS SUCCESSFULLY RELEASED. THE RECALL LETTER CAME FEB. 13, AND THE REPAIR CAN BE SCHEDULED AFTER FEBRUARY 22, 2010, SO NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE YET TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MAIN REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT, (ALSO BASED ON EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH CARS), IS THAT THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH MY CAR HAS MALFUNCTIONED, ARE NOT THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL LETTER. THE LETTER SAYS "OVER TIME, THE INTERNAL MECHANISMS IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY BECOME WORN. AS A RESULT OF THIS WEAR, COMBINED WITH CERTAIN OPERATING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, FRICTION IN THE MECHANISM MAY INCREASE AND INTERMITTENTLY RESULT IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING HARD TO DEPRESS AND/OR SLOW TO RETURN...." ONE OCCURRENCE WAS IN THE FIRST 300 MILES OR SO OF OWNERSHIP, AND WAS IN WARM DRY WEATHER. AT LEAST ONE OF THE OTHER TWO OCCURRENCES WAS BEFORE WINTER HIT. MY CAR ALSO HAS ONLY 4600 TOTAL MILES ON IT, HAS BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE FOR WEEKS, AND WILL NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL I THINK TOYOTA OR PONTIAC HAVE ACTUALLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. IN OTHER WORDS, MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THE MILES ON IT TO CAUSE "WEAR," ESPECIALLY FOR THE FIRST OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM, NOR HAS IT MALFUNCTIONED IN THE COLD MOIST CONDITIONS THAT I HAVE READ ARE THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL LETTER.

RECALL 10018 ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING CALLED GM ON 11 FEB AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY CAR. TODAY, FEB 13, 2010, I GOT A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. THEY DOWNRIGHT LIED TO ME 2 DAYS AGO. *TR

UPON APPLYING BRAKE AT STOP LIGHT, CAR ACCELERATED. ANOTHER TIME WHEN WAITING IN DRIVEWAY FOR GARAGEDOOR TO OPEN I APPLIED BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. BOTH TIMES NOTHING SERIOUS HAPPENED AS I WAS A SAFE DISTANCE FROM ANYTHING IN FRONT AND THE BRAKE WORKED. BOTH TIMES IN FALL OF 2009; CAR HAD ABOUT 7000 MILES.

ACCELERATOR DEFECT/RECALL. IT OCCURRED ONCE IN 2009. I HAD TO PUTTHE CAR IN NEUTRAL BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS RACING. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 30 SECONDS FOR THE ENGINE TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE FLOOR MATS WERE NOT JAMMED. *CN

I HAVE A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE WITH LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT. AFTER FILLING IT WITH GAS, I WAS MOVING IT FROM THE PUMPS TO THE PARKING AREA ABOUT 30FT AWAY. SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RACED. I STOMPED THE BRAKES AND THREW THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE UNTIL I TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL. THE ENGINE THEN RETURNED TO IDLE. THE PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK ON ANYTHING ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I HAD JUST GENTLY ACCELERATED TO MOVE THE CAR. THE ENGINE JUST SUDDENLY RACED INDEPENDENT TO ANYTHING THAT I HAD DONE. *TR

I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT THE ENTRANCE TO BAXTER STATE PARK IN MAINE IN AUGUST 2009. I WAS DRIVING A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ADVANCED A FEW FEET, I TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO MOVE FORWARD. WHEN I THEN STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR KEPT ADVANCING. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR KEPT MOVING UNTIL IT STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS WAS AT VERY LOW SPEED, AS THE CAR HAD MOVED ONLY SEVERAL FEET. THERE WAS MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR IN FRONT, AND ONLY SCRATCHED PAINT ON MY CAR. *TR

EXPERIENCED A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER A BUMP AT A MODERATE SPEED. THE SINGLE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED WHEN GOING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION BUMP, ON A VERY COLD AND RAINY DAY. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, SLOWING DOWN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION (APPROX. 35 MPH) AND HIT THE BUMP. THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO APPARENT BRAKING. I BELIEVE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT TURNED ON DURING THE BRAKE LOSS, BUT IT HAPPENED SO FAST I CAN'T SAY IT DID FOR CERTAIN. A MOMENT LATER I RELEASED THE BRAKE AND PRESSED IT AND THE BRAKES WERE BACK TO NORMAL. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AGO, AND HAS NOT HAPPENED SINCE. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ABOUT 20 MONTHS AGO. MAKE PONTIAC MODEL VIBE YEAR 2009 ENGINE 1.8 LITER TRANSMISSION MANUAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO HER GARAGE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ALTHOUGH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR AND THE ROOF COLLAPSED. THERE WAS AN ESTIMATE OF $9,000 FOR PROPERTY DAMAGES. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGES WHICH WERE REPAIRED FOR $9,000. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500. UPDATED 3/4/2010 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

CATALYTIC CONVERTER ODOR INSIDE CAR UPON MEDIUM OR GREATER ACCELERATION ON PONTIAC VIBE 2009 2.4L ENGINE. THIS IS VEHICLE TYPE COMPLAINT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS INCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL HE NOTICED THAT BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER EXAMINING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ONLY 3 INCHES APART FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3400. UPDATED 03/04/10 *BF ON TOW OCCASIONS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL JAMMED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL OPERATING. THE BRAKE COLLAPSED AND BECAME THE SAME HEIGHT AS THE ACCELERATOR, WHICH CAUSED BOTH TO BECAME DEPRESSED. BOTH THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS WERE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. UPDATED 05/17/10

PART OF THE PONTIAC VIBE IS BUILT BY TOYOTA. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL OF THE TOYOTA MATRIX WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME VEHICLE AS THE VIBE. HAS ANYONE CHECKED THIS OUT? *CW

CAR HAS THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEM AND THE BRAKE PROBLEM THE ODOMETER READS THAT THE CAR IS TRAVELING 50 MPH AND THE CAR IS REALLY DOING 42 MPH, THE PASSENGER SEATBELT TURNS OFF WITH PASSENGER. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND ENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL AFTER THE CLAMP FELL OFF OF THE HOSE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT SURE WHY THE CLAMP CAME OFF OF THE HOSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A VEHICLE WHICH TORE OFF HIS FRONT BUMPER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A BUMPER TO REPAIR HIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE GM MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE THEY ARE NOT SURE WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800.

THE CONTACT HAS A 2006 PONTIAC VIBE THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS PROBLEMS AS THE TOYOTA CORROLLA. THE PONTIAC STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND THE THE OWNER HAD TO WAIT 45 MINUTES BEFORE IT COULD RESTART. THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT THE CONTACT WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN THAT THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THERE WAS 32000 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED AND 35000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAD SAT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND THEN STOPPED AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES AT 35 MILES HOUR.

2009 PONTIAC VIBE, WHICH IS MECHANICALLY IDENTICAL TO TOYOTA MATRIX, WHICH IN TURN IS BASED ON TOYOTA COROLLA. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAVE REALLY LIGHT STEERING (TOO MUCH BOOST FROM ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) THAT IT BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS WHEN THE SPEED IS OVER 50MPH. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON TOYOTA COROLLA BUT I THINK NHTSA SHOULD BE AWARE THAT TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

CENTER WHEEL CAPS (EMBLEMS) ARE POPPING OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE FOR A FRONT END PROBLEM A BOOMING SOUND. THEY REPLACED THE R FRONT SHOCK AND ASSEMBLY. THE CAP HAD COME OFF. THE DEALER WROTE IT OFF TO KIDS AND THEFT. AFTER SOME COMPLAINING THEY REPLACED IT. ONE WEEK LATER THE R FRONT CAP WAS MISSING ONCE MORE. I HAD TO BUY A REPLACEMENT. 2 WEEKS LATER I WATCHED MY WIFE PULL INTO OUR DRIVE WAY AND OBSERVED THE CAP COME OFF AND ROLL INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM KIDS ARE JUST TAKING THEM. NOW MY VIBE ROLLS WITHOUT THE CENTER CAPS. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THEM EVERY MONTH OR 2. *TR

CAR IS STALLING ON INITIAL ACCELERATION FROM STOP OFTEN - ESPECIALLY IN WARM WEATHER AND CITY TYPE DRIVING.. OCCASIONALLY STALLS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. OCCASIONALLY INCREASES RPM'S RANDOMLY. THESE INSTANCES HAVE CAUSED MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES WHEN NAVIGATING TRAFFIC. BELOW DOES NOT OFFER OPTION TO STATE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE PURCHASE. *TR

EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP STATES THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE EMBLEMS IN THE CENTER OF THE RIMS SPONTANEOUSLY POPPED OFF EIGHT TIMES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT SOMEONE STOLE THE EMBLEMS. HE REPLACED THE EMBLEMS, BUT THEY WERE MISSING AGAIN SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT SOMETHING IN THE WHEELS WAS POSSIBLY FLEXING AND CAUSING TOO MUCH STRESS, WHICH INEVITABLY CAUSES THE EMBLEMS TO DETACH. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARS A THUD SOUND WHENEVER HE DRIVES OVER A BUMP. THE NOISE COULD POSSIBLY BE FROM THE EMBLEMS POPPING OFF. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,500.