Pontiac Vibe Brake Problems

Brake complaints by model year

Which parts fail

• Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  3
• Pedals and linkages
  2
• Power assist › Vacuum
  2
• Conventional › Mechanical
  1
• Foundation components › Master cylinder
  1
• Antilock › ABS warning light
  1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  2043%
• 25k–50k
  919%
• 50k–75k
  511%
• 75k–100k
  715%
• 100k–150k
  511%
• 150k+
  12%

What owners report

I bought a 2010 Pontiac Vibe and 3 months later the front end of the car started shaking real bad so I called up koehne auto to tell them and they wouldn't as much as tale it for a test drive to see what I was talking about. They kept on looking at the front end and kept telling me that there was nothing wrong with the brakes that the tires were bald so they put $500 dollars worth of tires on the car and then I went back to them and told them that the problem wasn't still fixed so I went to my private mechanic and he looked at it and found our the bearrings and the stablizer bar was shot and it was dangerous to drive and they still assisted over at koehne auto that it was the tires being baled so I decided not to pay the whole amount of the car payment because I was not going to have my family of being in jeopardy of being killed. …

Tl contact owns a 2010 Pontiac Vibe. While driving approximately 40 MPH and accelerating around a curb the vehicle jerked to the right violently. The contact was able to control the vehicle, it was taken to the dealer where the technicians were unable to duplicate or diagnose the failure. The contact stated the failure occurred a second time while driving approximately 70 MPH on the highway. The anti lock brakes locked and the vehicle would slide while the brakes were applied. The contact stated the vehicle flipped over while driving down a hill. The air bags did not deploy. The contact and the passenger sustained bumps, bruises, and scratches and were transported to the hospital by ambulance where they were released with no major injuries. A police report was filed. The contact stated there were visible skid marks on the road where the vehicle was sliding. …

The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Vibe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the vehicle speed control (VSC), ABS, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who was unable to duplicate the failure; however, the independent mechanic replaced the heat shield. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

I been trying to get the recalls to be fix but both the dealers and GM haven't been able to help due to parts discontinued, I been trying to get this issued resolve for a year or so. I need help please, they just keep saying that all recalls on this vehicle don't have the parts for it and don't know what else to do.

Tl contact owns a 2007 Pontiac Vibe. While driving 70 MPH at night, in dry weather conditions, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle spun around. He lost control of the vehicle and crashed. While accelerating from a stop, the tires and wheels spun around dramatically. He notified the manufacturer, but they did not provide any assistance. The dealer information was unknown. The current mileage was 26,000 and failure mileage was 20,000.

I was traveling at approximately 65 miles and hour but traffic came to immediate stop so I hit brakes to miss traffic ahead. Immediately car went into skid and out of control. I tried to avoid hitting median after car began to slide toward the left and it over-corrected to the right and I hit a semi truck's tire and spun 180 degrees.

Summary: could not stop car using brake pedal. Needed to use park brake to stop car. Later discovered leak in l. Rear brake pipe, near end of it. However, my car has a split service brake system. (one hydraulic circuit for brakes in l. Rear and r. Front; and, another circuit for brakes in r. Rear and l. Front.) so, my car had one failed circuit, due to leak in l. Rear brake pipe; and, one good circuit for brakes in r. Rear and l. Front. But, good hydraulic circuit failed to stop car. Therefore, car failed to perform as specified by the electronic code of federal regulations, title 49, chapter v, part 571, section 571.135, paragraph s7.10, hydraulic circuit failure. Diagnostic notes: (a) master cylinder, both front calipers, and both rear wheel cylinders appear to work correctly, (b) no fluid leaks anywhere except in l. …

I was driving my 2006 Pontiac Vibe south on interstate 79 in rural pennslvania when the brakes soundly failed to respond. I stepped on the peddle but the car failed to slow, and the cruise control failed to disengage. To avoid an hitting the car in front of me, I swerved into the shoulder, continuing to apply the brakes. As I tried to slow, the car fishtailed and I skidded into the interstate again and hit the opposite guardrail. Antilock brakes did not engage. Finally, when I crashed, the car's airbag failed to deploy, despite the entire front end of the car caving in (resulting in a total loss of the car). Fortunately, I was wearing my seat belt and did not strike another vehicle, so none one was hurt, but the car was a total loss.

Related recalls (1)