2008 Pontiac Vibe Complaint Log

2008 PONTIAC VIBE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR FACILITY THINKING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THEY INFORMED HIM, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW PART AND THEY WOULD CALL HIM ONCE THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE CALLED FOR OVER A MONTH, ONLY TO BE TRANSFERRED SEVERAL TIMES TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMPANY. *JB

MY 3 YEAR OLD SON RIDES IN A CARSEAT THAT IS INSTALLED USING THE LATCH SYSTEM, 2 DAYS AGO HE GOT THE CAR'S SEATBELT AND MANAGED TO GET IT WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK WHEN HE LET GO OF THE SEATBELT THE SEATBELT LOCKED. WHEN I REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GET THE SEATBELT TO UNLOCK WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS THE SEATBELT HAD TO BE CUT TO GET IT FROM AROUND HIS NECK. MY SON LUCKILY CAME THROUGH WITHOUT ANY PERMANENT INJURY. *TR

FEB 3, 2011 WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THEN PULLED FORWARD, TURNING THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO GIVE MYSELF ROOM TO BACK UP AND TURN MY CAR SO I COULD PULL OUT ONTO A BUSY STREET GOING FORWARD RATHER THAN BACKING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. I WAS GOING VERY SLOWLY AND APPLIED THE BRAKES WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED VERY FAST. IT RAN UP AN 18" ROCK WALL, PUSHING THE BRAKE DID NOTHING, I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID A TREE WHILE STILL TRYING TO BRAKE. THE BRAKE FINALLY HELD. A TIRE WAS DESTROYED, IT WAS REPLACED AND TAKEN TO MY MECHANIC WHO FOUND NO FURTHER DAMAGE AND NO REASON FOR THE ACCELERATION. AFTER LEAVING THE MECHANIC I NOTICED THAT IT SEEMED A BIT JERKY. TWO DAYS LATER I TURNED THE CAR ON WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I WAS STILL IN PARK SO THE CAR DID NOT MOVE, BUT IT DID ACCELERATE. IT SEEMED OK AFTER THAT, MONDAY WHEN I RETURNED TO TOWN I DISCUSSED IT WITH MY MECHANIC AND NOTICED A REPORT ON BLOOMBERG ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ALSO WITH 2009 AND 2010 PONTIAC VIBES.. I CHECKED THIS SITE AND FOUND 2 COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND A WELDER INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND BOTH FOUND THAT COMPONENT WAS NOT ORIGINALLY WELDED ONTO THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 12/30/10 *BF UPDATED 01/10/11*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING FOR 2 MILES WITHOUT TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR; SHE SLOWLY APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY MADE A LOUD CLANKING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING UP HILL IN HER DRIVEWAY THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. DIAGNOSTIC TEST HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES FOR VARIOUS REASONS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, AND SUDDENLY THERE WAS A REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP THE ENGINE WOULD STALL WHILE THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE ENGINE WOULD RESTART. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V387000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THE PART DID NOT REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AND REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE CONSEQUENCE MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WILL NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR DEVICES ON OUR 2008 PONTIAC VIBE (WITH 23000 MILE) HAD TO BE BROKEN OFF TO REPLACE TWO TIRES NEEDED ON THE VEHICLE. PONTIAC WOULD NOT COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TPMS (EVENTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE 36,000 MILE/3YR WARRANTY) BECAUSE THAT CLAIM I HAD CHANGED THE VALVE COVERS ON THE VALVE STEMS WITH STEEL CAPS. NEITHER I NOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD REPLACED THE VALVE COVERS BUT THE VEHICLE CAME FROM THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP THAT WAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH WITH A SEMI TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS REGARDING THE ABS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. NEW BRAKES PADS WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. AFTER THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TAKEN IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES TO THE KNEES AND HEAD, INCLUDING A BROKEN WRIST AND BACK PAINS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. ON APRIL 22, 2008, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE CONTACT, CAUSING HER TO STRIKE AND INJURE HER HEAD AGAINST THE DASHBOARD. THE PASSENGER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER LEGS. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INVESTIGATION DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BOLT FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE TO BE DESTROYED. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW THE MANUFACTURER OF THE VALVE STEM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,900. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED 3 VALVE STEM FAILURES. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB

DESCRIPTION OF MALFUNCTION: ENGINE ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THIS CONDITION OCCURRED ONCE, BUT COULD HAVE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ON SATURDAY 3/29/08 (NO RAIN; TEMP 35 DEG F) , I WAS DRIVING ON A WINDING RURAL ROAD AND GOING AROUND 30 MPH. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. I STARTED BRAKING SINCE I WAS GOING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE AND GETTING CLOSE TO A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. SUDDENLY THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING UP, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I NOTICED THAT THE IDLE WAS AROUND 3,000 RPM. I MANUALLY THREW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND THE CAR STARTED RACING TO AROUND 4500 RPM. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE, TURNED OFF THE KEY, PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, AND APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE. I PUT MY 4 WAYS ON AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD. OF COURSE, EVERYTHING LOOKED IN ORDER AND I COULD NOT LOCATE THE THROTTLE. I SHUT THE HOOD AND GOT BACK INTO THE CAR. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THREE TIMES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I WAITED A MINUTE AND THEN STARTED THE CAR. THE IDLE WAS BACK TO NORMAL AND THE CAR RAN NORMAL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET CHECKED OUT ON WEDNESDAY 4/2/08. NO TROUBLE FOUND. NO OTHER OCCURRENCES OF THIS NATURE TO REPORT. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE; NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED ASAP. MY VIBE ONLY HAS 3,000 MILES AND WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A DEALER IN DECEMBER, 2007. BASED UPON YOUR SITE'S COMPLAINTS THAT I HAVE REVIEWED, THERE ARE OTHER PONTIAC VIBES, TOYOTA MATRIXS AND TOYOTA COROLLAS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS CONDITION. FORTUNATELY THERE AREN'T THAT MANY THAT HAVE REPORTED THIS CONDITION, THERE ARE ENOUGH THAT SUPPORT THE FACT THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE MODELS DO NOT HAVE A CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE GAS PEDAL TO THE THROTTLE. THESE CARS HAVE AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION THAT IS OCCURRING. THERE MUST BE A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION, WIRING CONNECTOR PROBLEM, A SENSOR OR THROTTLE ACTUATOR THAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

WE RENTED A 2008 PONTIAC VIBE ON 2-9-08 FROM THE FT. LAUDERDALE AIRPORT AND WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 115 MILES TO ISLAMORADA FL. ABOUT 1 MILE FROM OUR DESTINATION WE HEARD A TREMENDOUS NOISE FROM THE BACK SEAT AREA THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. WE NOTICED THAT THE WINDOW IN THE BACK HAD SHATTERED. WE HAD NO IDEA WHY IT HAD SHATTERED. SINCE THAT TIME WE HAVE READ NEWS ACCOUNTS ABOUT CERTAIN PONTIAC VIBES EXPERIENCING SPONTANEOUS SHATTERING OF PASSENGER DOOR WINDOWS. JUST WANTED TO PASS THIS ALONG IN THE NAME OF SAFETY. *TR

2008 PONTIAC VIBE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES BUT IT DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FINALLY RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT WHEN SHE WENT TO THE DEALER, SHE WAS INFORMED ONLY THE 2009 AND 2010 VEHICLES WERE BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB