2009 PONTIAC VIBE Steering Problems

The contact called on behalf of her sister who owns a 2009 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that while her sister was driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal noise and the steering wheel was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering rack needed to be replaced. The contact was notified of an unknown recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact drove the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.

Mileage: 64,000

The steering rack and intermediate shaft in the steering wheel Go bad and what happens is it makes having an alignment impossible Not only that but the vehicle clunks with every turn [XXX] Being a Pontiac it was a joint venture between Toyota And GM Thus Affecting many Toyota Corolla Prius and matrix As Toyota got a recall Pontiac did not INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ED SCHMIDT GMC (26875 N DIXIE HWY, PERRYSBURG, OH 43551) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. *BF *AS

Mileage: 30,000

RATTLE FROM STEERING COLUMN WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGH SPEEDS OR DRIVING OVER SLIGHTLY UNEVEN PAVEMENT.

STEERING - MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE HAS SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT STEERING ISSUES THAT MAKSE IT FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. EVEN AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS A RATTLE THAT COMES FROM THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, IT RATTLES FEELS LOOSE, AND GIVES AN UNCONTROLLED FEELING. MY 2009 HAS ONLY 59,300 MILES ON IT. (APROX. 6,500 A YEAR) THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD, ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CAR. THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS. THEY CLAIM ITS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. ARE THEY WAITING TILL PEOPLE DIE FROM THE ISSUE? IT MOST DEFINITELY FEELS UNSAFE, WHEN IT FEELS LOOSE IT DOES CAUSE STEERING AND SAFELY ISSUES AT ALL SPEEDS.

Mileage: 59,300

LOUD RATTLING ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR BRAKING. RATTLING SEEMS TO GET WORSER EACH DAY. SOUNDS SEEMS TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH SUSPENSION OR STEERING COLUMN ACCORDING TO LOCAL MECHANICS. MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE AS IT IS VERY COMMON UPON 2009 PONTIAC VIBES AND ITS COUSIN THE TOYOTA MATRIX. I FEEL UNSAFE, IT SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING IS GETTING LOOSENED AS IT PROGRESS TO RATTLE LOUDER EACH DAY.

STEERING COLUMN RATTLES ON MOST ROADS

I HAVE A OPEN RECALL ON MY VIBE FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. IT HAS BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND I STILL DO NOT KNOW WHEN I WILL GET A REPLACEMENT. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND GM ABOUT THIS AND THEY CAN'T TELL ANYTHING EITHER. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME FIX THIS PROBLEM. I LIVE IN THE SOUTHEAST OF VIRGINIA. WE HAVE VERY HIGH HUMIDITY AND HEAT. THESE TWO FACTORS ARE THE PRIME ISSUES CAUSING THESE AIR BAG PROBLEMS. WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ON A FIX FOR THIS. ALSO, I JUST RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT TK HOLDINGS HAS FILED FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY. IS THIS GOING TO CAUSE ME NOT TO GET A AIR BAG REPLACEMENT?

STEERING COLUMN RATTLES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AND BRAKING. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT RATTLES AND SHAKES CONTINUALLY.

Mileage: 76,700

RATTLING DURING LOW SPEEDS, FEELS LOOSE AND UNCORTABLE, REPORTED TO DEALER AFTER FIRT YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, PURCHASED NEW, SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND FEELING UNSAFE. EACH TIME REPORTED WAS TOLD NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM JUST NOISY, COULD REPLACE COLUMN AT MY COST BUT NOISE WOULD PEOBABLY RETURN, NOW FEELING UNSAFE

Mileage: 8,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. WHEN SHE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,400. UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ UPDATED 01/17/17.*JB

Mileage: 30,400

SOMETIMES WHEN ACCELERATING, IT'S SLOW TO MOVE, THEN A SUDDEN JERK HAPPENS IF I PUT PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, I CAN BE ENTERING MY GARAGE OR ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN. CAN BE SCARY WHEN IT JERKS DURING ACCELERATION. THE STEERING COLUMN IS BEGINNING TO RATTLE AND SHAKE AT ABOUT 45 MILES SOMETIME AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL,A VERY ROUGH RIDE ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT,FEELS LIKE IT'S FALLING APART. THE THIRD ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT STAYING ON IN BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDES WHILE DRIVING. WHEN I WENT TO DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BUT GETTING A DIAGNOSTIC TOMORROW FOR THAT. BOUGHT THE CAR USED LAST YEAR WITH ABOUT 37,000 MILES,ALWAYS SERVICED AT THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I NOW HAVE A LITTLE OVER 53,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS TIME,JUST LOCAL DIVING.

Mileage: 51,000

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). *TR

Mileage: 86,008

MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE BASE 1.4L HAS SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT STEERING ISSUES THAT MAKE IT FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AT AROUND 30 MPH AND THEN AGAIN AT 70 MPH THERE IS A RATTLE THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING MOTOR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (2 SEPARATE ISSUES WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY). CURRENTLY OVER 100,000 AS AN ORIGINAL OWNER.

Mileage: 100,000

VERY PRONOUNCED STEERING RATTLE AT LOW SPEEDS OVER ROUGH TERRAIN AND ALSO WHEN BRAKING.

Mileage: 100,000

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT RATTLES AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AT A SLOW SPEED.

Mileage: 30,000

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP, SHAKING AND VIBRATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CAR IN GENERAL OCCURS. IT'S FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO FALL APART. THIS OCCURS IN SPEEDS OVER 25 MPH.

Mileage: 58,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A KNUCKLE ON THE LOWER END OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS UNCHARACTERISTICALLY ENLARGED AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,500. UPDATED 1/13/16 LN *CN

Mileage: 79,500

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WITHOUT NOTICE MY STEERING HAD NO POWER, REALLY SCARED BECAUSE I COULD BARELY STEER THE CAR, SO GLAD I WAS IN A 45 MILE ZONE. I LOOKED AT MY DASH LIGHTS, THERE WAS SHOWING A RED BATTERY LIGHT, SEVERAL BRAKE SYMBOLS, SOMETHING ABOUT THE TRACTION LOSS. I NEED MY CAR SO BADLY, I DON'T KNOW IF GMC WILL COVER THIS. IF I HAD NOT PULLED OFF ROAD AND CALLED MY HUSBAND I WOULD OF WRECKED BECAUSE OF IT BEING SO HARD TO STEER. HE CAME AND SLOWLY DROVE IT HOME AND I FOLLOWED HIM IN HIS CAR. NO NOTICE AND NO WARNING AT ALL.

Mileage: 132,000

TOOK MY CAR TO [XXX] BECAUSE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT THE SAME PART THAT THEY BEEN RECALLING ON THERE OTHER CARS. WHEN I CALLED CHEVROLET THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY CAR AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO FOR ME BUT WORK WITH THE PRICING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 62,000

MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE BASE 1.4L HAS SERIOUS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT STEERING ISSUES THAT MAKE IT FEEL VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS A RATTLE THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING MOTOR AND INTERMEDIATE SHAFT (2 SEPARATE ISSUES WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) WHICH MAKES THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT'S BROKEN AND FALLING APART. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING IS UNPREDICTABLE, IT OVERCORRECTS AND FISHTAILS BACK AND FORTH. THIS CAR FEELS LIKE A DEATH TRAP, I COMPLETELY REGRET MY PURCHASE AND FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS UNSAFE FOR THE LONG TERM. THESE ISSUES ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TOYOTA MATRIX AS THEY WERE MADE IN THE SAME PLANT WITH THE SAME PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,400.

Mileage: 96,400

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. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND LOCAL SPEEDS THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO CORRECT THIS THE CAR OVER CORRECTS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT. FREQUENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP (ESPECIALLY ON AN UNEVEN ROAD) THE CAR PULLS SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT (ALMOST 90 DEGREES). *TR

Mileage: 22,542

AT SPEEDS BELOW 25 MPH, A RATTLING IS HEARD AND FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING COLUMN BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, PER GM. THE CAR STILL MAKES THE NOISE AND VIBRATION... AND IS GETTING WORSE. A SEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM REVEALED MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I COULD SELL OR TRADE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE IT BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. NO WARNING SIGNS OF ANY NATURE. CAN NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND DEALERSHIP CAN NOT LOOK AT IT UNTIL 4 DAYS. *TR

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 WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES OR BUMPS. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE ISSUE. SEEMS AS IF SOME COMPONENT HAS COME LOOSE. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 35 MPH THE VEHICLE'S STEERING BECOMES UNPREDICTABLE. INITIALLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE WANDERING DIRECTION OF THE CAR NOTHING WILL HAPPEN. WHEN CORRECTING FURTHER THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH ITSELF AND OVER-CORRECT. IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE DRIVING THROUGH A WIND TUNNEL OR GETTING PASSED BY LARGE TRUCKS EVEN IF THERE IS NO WIND AND NO OTHER VEHICLE AROUND. WHEN THE WIND IS BLOWING IT FEELS AS IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON ICE. THIS BECAME AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM WHEN WINTER WEATHER HIT AND ROADS ACTUALLY BECAME ICY OR SNOWY. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE STEERING WHEEL WILL OCCASIONALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY TURN AT LEAST 45-90 DEGREES IN EITHER DIRECTION RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE "WANDERING" INTO AN ADJACENT LANE.

Mileage: 35,500

THE POWER STEERING FAILED COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT, PRESENTING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER STOPPING, ALL FUSES WERE CHECKED AND FOUND OKAY. SHUTTING OFF/RESTARTING CAR DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. STEERING REMAINS DISABLED. NO OTHER SYMPTOMS OR PROBLEMS. CAR IS BEING TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

THE ELECTRIC STEERING IN THE CAR DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO STEER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. THE STEERING IN NUMB AND IT MAKES A NOISE AND IT TAKES 3 SECONDS FOR IT TO ADJUST. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM THROUGH OTHER COMPLAINTS BUT WHY ARE YOU GUYS HESITATING TO ANNOUNCE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRIC STEERING? *TR

Mileage: 5,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC VIBE. SHE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN PULLING TO THE LEFT AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT WOULD PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. SHE HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE ACCELERATOR ALSO BECAME STUCK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38000.

Mileage: 38,000

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH, MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING THROUGH A WIND STORM. THIS REQUIRES ME TO CONSTANTLY CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE DIRECTION THAT I INTEND. THIS CAN BE ANNOYING AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS. I AM MOST CONCERNED THAT IF THE WHEEL PRESSURE IS NOT MAINTAINED AT THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE, ONE COULD EASILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. (I CHECK AND MAINTAIN THE AIR PRESSURE IN MY TIRES, MONTHLY.) *TR

Mileage: 3,000

2009 PONTIAC VIBE STEERING FEELS LIKE STEERING WHEEL NOT CONTROLLING DIRECTION OF VEHICLE AND SLIGHT TURNS CAUSE CAR TO TURN MORE THAN IT SHOULD. WHEN PARALLEL PARKING ON LEFT SIDE OF ONE-WAY STREET AND PULL INTO TRAFFIC, NO VISIBILITY TO SEE IF CARS COMING FROM BEHIND. *TR

Mileage: 4,000

WANDERING STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF MY 2009 PONTIAC VIBE VERSUS STABLE STEERING OF MY 2006 PONTIAC VIBE. *TR

Mileage: 20

2009 PONTIAC VIBE, WHICH IS MECHANICALLY IDENTICAL TO TOYOTA MATRIX, WHICH IN TURN IS BASED ON TOYOTA COROLLA. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAVE REALLY LIGHT STEERING (TOO MUCH BOOST FROM ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) THAT IT BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AND DANGEROUS WHEN THE SPEED IS OVER 50MPH. I KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON TOYOTA COROLLA BUT I THINK NHTSA SHOULD BE AWARE THAT TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE SHARE THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 10