Excessive Oil Consumption

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.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
109,400 miles
Total Complaints:
15 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (14 reports)
  2. replace the engine (1 reports)
2009 Pontiac Vibe engine problems

engine problem

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2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments

problem #15

Nov 302020

Vibe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 110,000 miles

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

Excessive oil consumption, increasing with time. Huge cost and pain to check and top off every few hundred miles or so. Should be a recall fix.

- kb w, Richland, US

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problem #14

Nov 262020

Vibe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

Well, let’s just say I definitely almost blew up the car a few times due to the car excessively burning oil. Thank GOD I totaled it instead in a head on collision <3 #blessed #no repairs needed #i miss her

- Kayla K., San Diego, CA, US

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problem #13

Jan 012020

Vibe 2.4L I4

  • Manual transmission
  • 140,000 miles

Toyota 2Az-FE. Bad piston rings lead to excessive oil consumption. Those of us who have a GM badge (Pontiac Vibe) apparently have no recourse.

- Jim C., Maplewood, MO, US

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problem #12

Oct 162019

Vibe GT 2.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 101,200 miles

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

Oil consumption is a well known problem with this car. The Toyota Matrix, which shares the engine, had a recall but no such luck for us. CAT is shot.

- Phares B., Parkesburg, PA, US

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problem #11

Jan 012020

Vibe HB 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 161,250 miles

Have to manually check the oil, just to find out it was completely empty. The oil light has never lit up. Now I'm checking it all the time and need oil about every 1000 miles. This was a 2nd vibe for me because it had a Toyota Matrix engine, but this is unacceptable!

- June A., Santa Maria, US

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problem #10

Jan 202019

Vibe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,700 miles

I was due for oil change which I do every 3000 miles and was over 2 quarts low on oil from where it is supposed to be on dipstick. This is a common known problem with my year and engine size. Toyota fixed this problem for Toyota cars but since this is a GM Pontiac Vibe with Toyota drive train, GM will not fix. This is a flaw in design of positions and rings. Come on GM, stand behind your cars and issue a fix for vibe owners. I have a very low mileage car and no reason it should be burning this much oil.

- Rena T., Grand Haven, MI, US

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problem #9

Jun 052016

Vibe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 81,000 miles

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

It consumes about a quart per 1,000 miles. It has the same engine as Toyota Matrix, but Toyota issued a TFS and Pontiac/GM did not.

- Glen P., Utica, MI, US

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problem #8

Jan 012018

Vibe 2zrfe

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Pontiac Vibe with Corolla 2zrfe engine. Adding 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles. Attempting a seafoam / Lucas oil treatment but have not had any luck. Car passes smog test, the engine is perfectly dry and there is no visible smoke, ever. I will never own a GM nor a Toyota ever again.

- Jim Z., Oceanside, US

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problem #7

Sep 302016

Vibe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,303 miles

I shouldn't have to be putting oil in a Toyota engine every 1000 miles to keep the engine from blowing up.

- Debra A., Charleston, US

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problem #6

Oct 072015

Vibe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,808 miles

This is a Toyota motor. If this isn't resolved with minimal inconvenience, I will never own another Toyota again.

- swisinger, North Freedom, WI, US

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problem #5

Mar 052016

Vibe Automatic, 4 Door 2.4L / 144

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

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

I noticed my oil dashboard lights came on. It had never come on before, and it was only a few months since my oil change. I stopped, checked the oil, then purchased 2 quarts when I saw a nearly dry dipstick. This has continued to happen since then. The car runs fine, but it drinks oil excessively. I just made a 1000 trip, and was confident my car would make it, despite having over 150K miles now. I made it just fine.... but I added 6 quarts of oil on the way down, and the same on the way back. Around town, it's every few hundred miles, I add a quart. I see online that a number of 2009 Toyota engines (which the 2009 Vibe is also) are affected by this - some type of Piston problem. Toyota may be fixing the problem, but as far as I know, GM is not - well, at least not at their expense. No idea what it would cost to fix, but now I'm a little nervous about getting a Toyota car or engine again.

- Patrick D., Wallkill, NY, US

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problem #4

Dec 192017

Vibe SA 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,595 miles

My Vibe has the Toyota 2.4L in it and since when I bought it I had to put in oil between oil change and now, I do my oil change every 10k km I had 2x 5L of full synthetic oil between those oil changes so now I think to let it go and buy some other brand, at my age it's not my first Toyota motor, I had a Corolla, matrix XRS and this Vibe with the Camry 2.4L. When I go to the gas station I tell to the guy, check gas and fill up oil please.

- apouliot26, Quebec, QC, Canada

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problem #3

Jan 012016

Vibe GT 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Burning a quart of oil every 1000 miles this not acceptable.

- kdcagle, Nesbit, US

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problem #2

Feb 012017

Vibe GT 2.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 86,500 miles

The 2009 Pointiac Vibe GT shares the same engine as the 2009 Toyota Matrix. The engines were manufactured in the same plant. Toyota has issued a Warranty Enhancement Program – ZE7, to fix the premature wear of the defective piston rings. GM has not issued as similar fix (as of March 2017). Pontiac owners are responsible for cost of the repair.

- Scott Z., Elkridge, US

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problem #1

Jan 012016

Vibe 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

excessive oil consumption, increasing with time

The vibe has the Toyota Matrix engine and there have been similar complaints with the Toyota model.

- Melissa R., Highland, IL, US

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