2009 PONTIAC VIBE Engine Problems

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The Toyota 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine in my 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT suffers from excessive oil consumption due to a known piston ring defect. The rapid oil loss between changes puts the engine at risk of failure. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? This issue poses a serious safety risk because: 1.Oil levels drop unpredictably, increasing the risk of sudden engine failure while driving, which could lead to accidents. 2.No dashboard warning appears when oil is low, making it difficult to detect before damage occurs. 3.Toyota acknowledged this defect under Warranty Enhancement ZE7, but Pontiac Vibe owners were excluded, despite having the same Toyota-manufactured engine. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. Independent mechanics have confirmed the excessive oil consumption, consistent with the known Toyota 2AZ-FE defect. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? •Toyota acknowledged the issue in their vehicles but refused assistance for the Pontiac Vibe GT. •GM has not inspected the vehicle, even though they marketed and sold it. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? •No warning lights indicate low oil levels. •Symptoms include rapid oil loss, increased engine noise, and potential knocking if oil is not constantly monitored. Summary for NHTSA The Pontiac Vibe GT uses the Toyota 2AZ-FE engine, which Toyota admitted has a piston ring defect. Toyota extended warranties for their vehicles but excluded Pontiac Vibe owners, leaving us with a known defective engine. This creates a safety risk that should be investigated.

TSB 0158-14 IS a Toyota engine that was also used in General Motors Pontiac vibe in 2009 and 2010 The tsb has to do with oil consumption and a tsb was made for Toyota. Not for Pontiac as a result my Pontiac is now consuming oil every 1000kms As they both used the 2Az-FE 2.4 engine

I was driving no warnings lights to shutting down on the road to black smoke came out of the back luckily a guy was going by and helped me move my car

Accelerates on its own from idle or low speeds. Was recalled on 2/8/2010 #2010018..and repaired on 6/21/ 2010. Approx. 2 years ago it started to "take off again". Grand Buick... Grandville MI advised there was no current recall. I'm waiting for GM to advise of a no charge to owner recall.

I BOUGHT A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE WITH A 2.4L ENGINE A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO WITH AROUND 80K MILES. I NOTICED RIGHT AWAY THAT IT WAS USING ABOUT A QUART OF OIL AROUND EVERY 1K MILES. IT NOW HAS A LITTLE OVER 90K MILES AND USES ABOUT 1.25 QUARTS OF OIL PER 1K MILES. I FOUND THAT TOYOTA ADMITTED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE 2AZ-FE ENGINES THAT ARE IN THEIR MATRIX AND CAMRYS, AS WELL AS THE PONTIAC VIBE, AND HAVE OFFERED THE ZE7 WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM TO REPLACE THE PISTONS AND RINGS IN THESE PRODUCTS TO CORRECT THE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM SERVICE TO SEE IF THEY WERE GOING TO OFFER THE SAME PROGRAM FOR THESE ENGINES SINCE THEY PURCHASED THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES FROM TOYOTA. THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN SERVICE PROGRAMS OPEN FOR THIS CAR. I ASKED THEM WHY GM WOULDN'T ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM AS TOYOTA DID, AND OFFER A PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE TOYOTA PROGRAM TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES WITH THIS ENGINE. THEY RESPONDED AGAIN BY SAYING THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN SERVICE ISSUES FOR THIS VEHICLE. I THINK IT'S VERY IRRESPONSIBLE OF GM TO NOT ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES AND OFFER THE SAME SUPPORT FOR THEM AS DID TOYOTA WHO SUPPLIED THE ENGINES TO GM. I GREW UP AS PART OF A GM FAMILY, BUT WON'T PLAN TO BUY ANY FUTURE GM PRODUCTS DUE TO THEIR LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH AN OBVIOUS PRODUCT QUALITY ISSUE AS IS FOUND HERE. IF TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGES A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES AND PROVIDES SUPPORT TO THEIR CUSTOMERS, WHY DOESN'T GM OFFER SIMILAR SUPPORT SINCE TOYOTA SUPPLIED THE IDENTICAL ENGINES TO THEM? DOESN'T MAKE FOR GOOD CUSTOMER PUBLIC RELATIONS AND DOESN'T PROVIDE ANY INCENTIVE TO BUY FUTURE GM VEHICLES.

Mileage: 80,000

DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WITH THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE BURNS OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. THIS MEANS IT REQUIRES A WAIVER TO PASS INSPECTION. THE 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX, WHICH SHARES THE SAME ENGINE, HAD A RECALL ISSUED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ABS WARNING ILLUMINATED, DISTRACTING THE DRIVER. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, BUT A NEAR MISS.

Mileage: 101,200

THIS CAR HAS THE 2.4L TOYOTA 2AZ-FE ENGINE, WHICH HAS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE PISTON RINGS, LEADING TO EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THOSE OF US WITH PONTIAC VIBES APPARENTLY HAVE NO RECOURSE THROUGH EITHER TOYOTA OR GM.

Mileage: 140,000

2.4L ENGINE W/ 150000 MILES BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL; APPX. 1 QT PER 1000 MILES

Mileage: 150,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 45-50 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTACT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT QUICKLY SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR, BUT IT DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE MOTOR REVVED UP TO 7,000 RPMS. THE CONTACT SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ACCELERATING. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AND COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE ENGINE REVVED BACK UP TO 7,000 RPMS. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

CAR SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS COMPLETELY AT RANDOM. AFTER PLACING IN PARK, REMOVING KEY, RE-INSERTING KEY, RESTARTING, ALL IS FINE FOR A WHILE. PROBABLY FAULTY ECM.

Mileage: 88,000

PONTIAC VIBE WITH TOYOTA COROLLA 2ZRFE 1.8 LITER ENGINE CONSUMING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. SEAFOAM / LUCAS OIL SOLUTION HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. SINCE NEITHER TOYOTA NOR GM WILL HELP US, I WONDER HOW LONG THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAN LAST BURNING THE EXCESS OIL.

Mileage: 95,000

STARTING ABOUT 80,000 MILE MY CAR STARTED CONSUMING OIL OF GREATER THAN 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. NOW AT 160,000 MILES IT CONSUMES 1 QUART EVERY 500 MILES. I HAVE THE 2.4 L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THAT CAME FAIRLY STANDARD WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT ALOT ON WEB PAGES. MY RAV 4 2006 WITH THE SAME ENGINE HAD THE SAME CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. TOYOTA DID AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THE RAV 4 AND I THINK GM SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR MY VEHICLE. TOYOTA HAS AN ADVISOR OUT FOR THE SISTER CAR THE MATRIX FOR THE SAME MODEL YEAR.

Mileage: 80,000

EXSESIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. MOTOR CAN SIEZE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN STEERING AND BRAKING FAILURE.

Mileage: 80,808

TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE ----TOYOTA 2AZ ENGINE PUT IN TOYOTA--- HAD ENGINE REPLACED --- CONSUMING TO MUCH OIL -- OIL CONSUMPTION DESIGN DEFECT IN ENGINE ---BOUGHT VEHICLE USED FROM GM --- CONTACT CALLED GM AND GM STATED THEY WON'T REPLACE ENGINE A SECOND TIME ....0 RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN.... CB

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION

Mileage: 90,000

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS. 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.

Mileage: 86,500

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, BURNING OIL, TO THE EXTENT OF 8 QUARTS BETWEEN ROUTINE OIL CHANGES

Mileage: 150,000

SERIOUS OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM, EVERY THOUSAND MILES I AM DOWN 1 TO 2 QUARTS OF OIL. I'VE TRIED DIFFERENT TYPES OF OIL DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREATMENTS AND I'VE HAD GASKETS REPLACED AND STILL CONSUMING LOTS OF OIL. IT IS DEFINITELY NOT LEAKING .

MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE 2.4L ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING AND IT WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A MATTER OF DAYS. I HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE PISTON RINGS WERE FAULTY, WHICH THEN LED TO MY ENGINE SEIZING, AND ALSO MY SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHICH CONNECTS TO THE SEAT WILL NOT LATCH IN THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE DRIVERS CHAIR AND AND ALSO THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER SEAT WHICH IS MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. MY ENGINE WAS MAINTAINED EVERY 3000 MILES WITH OIL CHANGES AND IT HAS 154,000 MILES ON IT.

Mileage: 154,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 128,000.

Mileage: 128,000

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.

Mileage: 55,000

WITHOUT WARNING OIL CONSUMPTION WENT FROM NORMAL TO OVER 1 QUART PER 1000 MILES. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WHICHTOYOTA NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS OF, GM CHOOSE NOT TO NOTIFY. THIS EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION, NOT LEAKING RESULTED IN A SEIZED ENGINE. GM IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND I BELIEVE THEY OWE ME EITHER A FULL REPAIR, OR PRE-EVENT MARKET VALUE. WHILE THEY ORIGINALLY OFFERED TO COVER 2/3 OF THE REPAIR THEY HAVE BACKED AWAY FROM THAT OFFER OFFERING A $2500 CUSTOMER LOYALTY ON A PURCHASE, BOTH ARE UNSATISFACTORY TO ME, AS THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND CHOSE NOT TO NOTIFY OWNERS. CAR WITH PASSENGER WAS IN THE HOA LANE WHEN ENGINE FAILED CAUSING A 7 LANE TRANSITION WITHOUT POWER. CAR WAS TOWED, NO CRASH DUE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE DRIVER.

Mileage: 134,000

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE

FOR THE PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION REQUIRING ONE QUART OF OIL PER EVERY 1000 MILES. CONSUMPTION IS GREATER IN THE WINTER (CLOSER TO ONE QUART EVERY 800 MILES). THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4 LITER ENGINE - THE SAME AS THE TOYOTA MATRIX AND COROLLA. TOYOTA HAS ISSUED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT (ZE7) AND TSB RECOGNIZING THIS DEFECT - SO FAR GM HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING. (I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM.) AT A MINIMUN, GM SHOULD MATCH TOYOTA'S ACTIONS. THE ESTIMATED REPAIR COST TO REPLACE THE PISTONS/RINGS WITH A BETTER DESIGN IS >$4000.

Mileage: 61,474

THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. THE LIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH WARNING TIME TO ALLOW MY HUSBAND TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE (AND TURN OFF THE CAR) BEFORE THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND WAS DESTROYED BECAUSE OF A DAMAGED WATER PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED ON THE SAME DAY (TRANSMISSION DRAIN/FILL AND TIRE ROTATION) AND THERE WAS NO EARLIER WARNING THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE WATER PUMP. *TR

Mileage: 77,497

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Mileage: 70,000

INTERMITTENT, BUT INCREASINGLY FREQUENT ENGINE STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND SLOWER SPEEDS. STALLS MAY HAPPEN AT CRUISING SPEED OR WHEN DECELERATING OR ACCELERATING. OCCASIONALLY, ENGINE RACES OR CHOKES. USUALLY REQUIRES TURNING THE KEY TO OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. SIMILAR PROBLEMS AS EXPERIENCED BY OWNERS OF 2005-08 TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBES WHO HAD THE ECM RECALLED. THIS ECM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 6-3-14. RECALL OF 09 AND NEWER MODELS MAY BE WARRANTED TO PREVENT DANGEROUS CRASHES AND REAR-END ACCIDENTS. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

THE ENGINE STOPPED AT FREEWAY SPEED. THIS WAS THE SIXTH TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT A YEAR. ONCE OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED, THE CAR DOES RESTART. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT DO AN OFFICIAL INSPECTION SINCE THERE WERE NO CODES AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. THIS WAS JUST AFTER THE CAR HAD DIES ON THE FREEWAY IN DECEMBER. THAT WAS ABOUT THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE. THEY SUGGESTED CLEANING THE BATTERY TERMINALS WHICH WERE A LITTLE CORRODED. I DID THIS AND INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY. THE STALLING HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE. I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR SUGGESTION IS THAT I PAY TO HAVE DIAGNOSTICS DONE AT A DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A STATEMENT FROM THEIR CHAT: HOWEVER, WE CAN SEE WHAT ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE, HOWEVER, GIVEN HAVING OVER 100,000 MILES DOES LIMIT WHAT WE CAN DO. OK, SO YOU'RE NOT ALLOWING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK INTO THIS FURTHER. 12:32:34LEAUNDRE:I CAN DOCUMENT THIS CONCERN IN OUR SYSTEM. THE SPECIALIST WILL DO NOTHING FURTHER UNLESS I PAY TO HAVE THE DIAGNOSIS DONE ON THE CAR. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, RESTART THE ENGINE AND RESUME NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,200.

Mileage: 89,000