GM says Pontiac Vibe is safe, Toyota will pay for the fix

Despite its being included in the recent Toyota recalls, GM says that the Pontiac Vibe is safe to drive. The 2009-2010 Vibes were included in the recall by virtue of their being the sister vehicle to the Toyota Matrix and having been produced at GM and Toyota”s former joint venture plant in Fremont, California.

GM received no complaints of faulty accelerators before the Toyota recalls, but since the recall they have received several complaints of sticking accelerators, but it is believed that none of the complaints involved a crash or incident.

Both GM and Toyota seem to be trying to pawn responsibility off to the other for the recall, but GM spokesman Alan Adler has said that they believe Toyota to be responsible as they designed, engineered, and manufactured the Vibe. Toyota on the other hand, waives responsibility as they say GM had sourced pedals from CTS to build the Vibe as part of the joint venture.

“We ran the Vibe wide open at 60 miles an hour and the brakes were able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop within 169 meters, consistent with our internal requirement for brake performance.” said Martin Hogan, GM director of brake systems.

However this issue of responsibility is to be settled, GM has said it will communicate with Vibe owners about getting the vehicles fixed at Buick-GMC dealers once Toyota prescribes a fix. Until then, Vibe owners who experience a sticking accelerator should park the car and have it towed to a GM dealer.

Press Release:

GM Tests Show Vibe Brakes Can Stop Unintended Acceleration

General Motors has tested two Pontiac Vibe small SUVs and found the brakes stop the vehicle in case of unintended acceleration.

The 2009-10 Pontiac Vibe, a sister vehicle of the Toyota Matrix, is included in two Toyota recalls related to unintended acceleration, one for sticking accelerator pedals and one for possible floor mat entrapment. The Vibe was designed, engineered and manufactured by Toyota through August 2009 at New United Motor Manufacturing, which was a GM-Toyota joint venture.

“We ran the Vibe wide open at 60 miles an hour and the brakes were able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop within 169 meters, consistent with our internal requirement for brake performance.” said Martin Hogan, GM director of brake systems.

In the rare case of a sticking throttle, a driver should apply the brakes firmly and steadily until you come to a stop. Do not pump the brakes, which can deplete the available vacuum boost from the brake system.

Any customer who experiences any accelerator pedal issue should immediately park the vehicle, and have it towed to their GM dealer for an inspection.

Toyota has identified a repair for the Vibe, which will be serviced by GM dealers. GM and Toyota are sorting out how soon parts will be available. The Vibe braking tests were conducted by GM engineers on Saturday at the Milford Proving Grounds after several customers complained of sticking accelerator pedals following the Toyota recalls involving the Vibe were announced Jan. 21 and 27.

None of the complaints have resulted in a crash or injury.

Prior to the recall announcements, GM had not received any relevant customer complaints in the 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe. Nor were there any complaints found in a search of U.S. and Canadian databases.

GM will communicate with the approximately 99,000 Vibe owners in the United States and Canada as soon as additional information about the recalls is received from Toyota.

– By: Stephen Calogera