FaultScore

2009 Pontiac Vibe stability control problems

11 of the 600 complaints about the 2009 Pontiac Vibe are about the stability control — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 59,250 miles.

A

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 9 81.8%
Traction Control System 2 18.2%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Hummelstown, PA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TL* 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.

NHTSA complaint #11039937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Hawley, PA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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).

NHTSA complaint #11005353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Greenville, IL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #10874386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,008 miles Bluff City, TN

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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).

NHTSA complaint #10865061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Fairmont, WV

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #10706553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles NEW Berlin, WI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #10592037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sacramento, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

STARTER GRINDS & WHINES BEFORE STARTING. ALL DASH WARNING LIGHT COME ON & STAY ON.

NHTSA complaint #10586166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,000 miles NEW Berlin, WI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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).

NHTSA complaint #10512278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 63,500 miles Grand Island, NY

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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.

NHTSA complaint #10381370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Maple Ontario Canada, 00

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

2009 VIBE HAD RECALLS DONE TO MY CAR YET IT STILL ACCELERATED UP OVER 2000 RPM AND 70 KM WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PEDAL ALSO THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AT SAME TIME. IN MY OPINION IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GAS PEDAL OR FLOOR MATS..THE DEALER CAME AND PICKED IT UP AS IT WOULDN'T STOP DOING IT. THEY CHANGED CAM SENSOR IT DIDN'T WORK .THEN THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE PUTTING IN NEW COMP. SYSTEM. ITS WILL BE A MONTH THIS WED. AND CAR IS STILL AT DEALERS.

NHTSA complaint #10355049 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,013 miles Gaithersburg, MD

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION SYSTEM CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE PCM (COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS EVERYTHING) DUE TO A SHORT. WITHIN 2 DAYS THE WARNING LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM THE DEALER PERFORMING THE REPAIRS OBTAINED INFO ON SIMILAR REPORTED CLAIMS FROM THE GM COMPANY. IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS AN OXYGEN SENSOR THAT GOES BAD AND DOES NOT SET OFF A WARNING AS IT SHOULD, AND THIS AGAIN CAUSED THE PCM TO AGAIN SHORT OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY GOOD ABOUT FINDING THE PROBLEMS AND DOING THE REPAIRS; BUT NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE A CAR I JUST BOUGHT 2 MONTHS AGO, FOR FEAR THAT THE COMPUTER WILL AGAIN BURN OUT AND I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE!

NHTSA complaint #10340189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2009 Pontiac Vibe problems

← Full 2009 Pontiac Vibe report