NHTSA — Steering Problems

CarComplaints.com Notes: The Pontiac Vibe is the mechanical twin of the Toyota Matrix.

Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.

3.1

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
44,750 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Pontiac Vibe steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments

problem #4

Jan 012013

Vibe

  • 124,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I started hearing a clunk while braking my car and soon, my car started shaking whenever I used my brakes. I checked my brakes and they looked great as well as the rotors. It turns out it is the steering column.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #3

Jul 282005

Vibe

  • 0 miles
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.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

problem #2

Sep 182008

Vibe

  • 55,000 miles
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.

- Calexico , CA, USA

problem #1

May 012005

Vibe 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Oshawa, 00, USA

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