NHTSA — Electronic Stability Control 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.

2.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,834 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2009 Pontiac Vibe Owner Comments

problem #9

Mar 172017

Vibe

  • miles

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

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 17V006000 (air bags); exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall notification in March of 2017. The dealer (sutliff Chevrolet, 1251 paxton St, harrisburg, pa, 17104) stated that the parts were unavailable for the repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Hummelstown, PA, USA

problem #8

Jul 072017

Vibe

  • 125,000 miles
AWD - vsc off stability indicator - traction control system tcs warning lights and check engine lights go on indicate system failure in the rain. There are numerous other people experiencing the same see [xxx] [xxx] this is in addition to the takata fix still not ready for takata air bag recall parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Hawley, PA, USA

problem #7

Jun 152016

Vibe

  • 55,000 miles
The check engine, stabilitrack, and vsc lights all came on at the same time. I have noticed several other postings on the internet about this problem. I have 55,000 miles on the vehicle.

- Greenville, IL, USA

problem #6

May 112016

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 86,008 miles

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

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

Feb 272015

Vibe 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
I was driving home from work this evening, which is about 25 minutes away from home, when my vsc, engine, and battery light came on. I was at a red light and was going to pull into to a grocery store lot. My car would not go into gear. I tried several times with no result. I was stuck in the turning lane of the intersection. I shut off the car and restarted it. I was able to turn into the parking lot and went around to turn back to my work parking lot, as soon as I stopped for a couple seconds, the car would not go into gear once again. I had to leave it in the lot overnight. When my friend came to tow it, he was able to put the car into gear with no issue. He took it to a local auto parts store and they ran the diagnostic codes. The codes stated that it was the transmission solenoid. I had that changed out and then on the day I got it back, the battery light came on, it would come on and then go off. On the way home after running errands, the light came back on, when I parked the car at home, the light was on. I turned the car off and tried to restart it and nothing. I let it set for a few minutes and tried to restart it. It started back up, I checked the alternator belt to make certain it did not come off, and shut off the car again. I tried to restart it and nothing.

- Fairmont, WV, USA

problem #4

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 #3

Apr 012013

Vibe 4-cyl

  • miles

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

Starter grinds & whines before starting. All dash warning light come on & stay on.

- Sacramento, CA, 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

Feb 082011

Vibe

  • 63,500 miles
Driver reported failure of vehicle stability control and anti-lock brakes. Warning lights were flashing on the dashboard. Vehicle was taken to repair shop and repaired at cost of almost $800 to replace the rear wheel assembly where the ABS sensor is located.

- Grand Island, NY, USA

Not what you are looking for?