NHTSA — Service Brakes 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.

2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,585 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.

2009 Pontiac Vibe brakes problems

brakes problem

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2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments

problem #7

Nov 252019

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

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

At stop, vehicle attempted accelerating. Much pressure on brake pedal needed to keep car from moving. After shutting off engine and restart, seemed ok. Third and most significant occurance.

- Melrose, NY, USA

problem #6

May 112016

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 86,008 miles
On May 11, 2016 while driving on I -81, my car with 86,000 miles on it suddenly started to weave back & forth across the interstate. I thought the tie rod had broken. I was able to slow down and pull off the road. Then I called a tow truck and had it taken to the nearest repair shop..no warning lights came on until the GM mechanic plugged in his code reader. Then lots of lights lit up. He said that the electronic control unit went haywire and caused the ABS system to fight with the stabilitrak system. All I know is that a extremely dangerous failure happened. If we had been in heavy traffic, or on slick rainy or snowy roads a serious accident would have occurred this failure reminds me of the problem Toyota had years ago with their vehicles suddenly accelerating out of control.. my Pontiac Vibe is made by Toyota. Please investigate Toyota electronic control units. The part the GM dealer replaced is part # 19205576 :sl -N - module. It's price is $1,171.98 work was done at bachman - bernard Chevrolet Buick GM Cadillac Inc. 3365 East andrew johnson hwy greeneville, tn 37745. Phone # 423-639-4441. The mechanic's name is [xxx]. service advisor is..-[xxx]. R/O # 6063277. I do not have a scanner to upload the repair invoice. If you need any other information please email me at [xxx] or call [xxx], or [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Bluff City, TN, USA

problem #5

Dec 102015

Vibe

  • 120,000 miles
Repeated front brake repairs to stop heavy vibration when applying brakes. Vibration is extreme in the steering column and the stick shift, and sometimes throughout the car. Repairs were done 3 times in 18 months, and it keeps coming back within a month after repairs. I never brake hard to cause this. Transmission repeatedly pops out of 5th gear during acceleration, reportedly caused by defective or broken synchronizer. Had to replace transmission.

- Descanso, CA, USA

problem #4

Nov 192014

Vibe

  • 45,089 miles

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

The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that while driving less than 20 mph, the vehicles brakes failed. As a result, the ABS warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the drivers side rear hub, bearing, and sensor had to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,089.

- Clinton Township, MI, USA

problem #3

Jan 012013

Vibe

  • 20,000 miles
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.

- New Berlin, WI, USA

problem #2

Jan 022013

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 18,000 miles
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).

- New Berlin, WI, USA

problem #1

Oct 032011

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
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.

- Kettering, OH, USA

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