Problems · by component

2009 Pontiac Vibe steering problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2009 Pontiac Vibe cite steering, 7% of all 528 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
35
7% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2024SteeringODI 11618100
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2023Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 11535337
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 2, 2020SteeringODI 11337174
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2018Steering, SuspensionODI 11153971
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2018Steering, SuspensionODI 11123976
“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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2017Steering, Air bagsODI 11041071

Showing 6 of 35 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.