2010 Pontiac Vibe

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.

The air conditioning vents spew out white dusty powder which is suspscted to be aluminum oxide, a known carcinogenic.

NHTSA ID

11480855

Incident

Jun 24, 2022

2010 PONTIAC VIBE STRUCK VEHICLE THAT CROSSED INTO RIGHT OF WAY OF PONTIAC VIBE AT 25 TO 30 MILES PER HOUR. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT DASHBOARD NOR DID SEAT BELT LOCK UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE UNDERWENT AIRBAG INFLATOR REPLACEMENT MAY 24TH 2018 PER RECALL #17477 PARTS 77204 AS LISTED ON REPAIR INVOICE.

NHTSA ID

11286297

Incident

Nov 12, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES BADLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AND ALSO WHEN MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE WHILE STATIONARY. ALSO SHUDDERS WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ID

11244493

Incident

Nov 21, 2018

BURNING EXCESSIVE OIL. SAME ENGINE AS THE TOYOTA 2AZ-FE. GM WILL NOT HONOR EXTENDED WARRENTY

NHTSA ID

11151966

Incident

Nov 16, 2018

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. DAVIS CHEVROLET (2277 SOUTH LOOP W, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77054, (832) 554-9250) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11140638

Incident

May 23, 2016

VSC OFF STABILITY INDICATOR - TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TCS WARNING LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS GO ON INDICATE SYSTEM FAILURE IN THE RAIN OR AFTER A EXTENDED SPELL OF VERY HUMID WEATHER. WHILE DASH LIGHTS ARE ON THERE IS NO ANTILOCK OR STABILITY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11123898

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC VIBE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. JOE LUNGHAMER CHEVROLET (475 SUMMIT DR, WATERFORD TWP, MI 48328, (248) 683-7100) STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

11101157

Incident

Jul 12, 2016

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. I ASKED THEM TO LOWER THE CAR PAYMENT TO 250 BECAUSE OF ALL THE REPAIRS I HAD TO PAY FOR BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT GO GOOD FOR THE REPAIRS. SO I STOPPED MAKING PAYMENTS IN OCTOBET RECIEVED ONE LETTER ABOUT THEM THREATIING TO REPO THE CAR JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND THEY DIDN'T COME TO REPO IT UNTIL 3 MONTHS LATER ON MARCH9TH AT 6 OR 7:30 IN THE EVENING. I PAID OVER 5 GRAND BEFORE I HAD STOPPED MY PAYMENTS. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS PLUS THE HIGH CAR PAYMENT.OF 442.54 I FOUND OUT THERE ARE 6 RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND THEY DIDNT ALERT ME UNTIL A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE CAR WAS REPODE. I WOULD LIKE MY MONEY BACK FROM ALL OF THE REPAIRS I MADE PLUS THE MONEY I PAID ON THE CAR AND A NEW CAR.

NHTSA ID

11078498

Incident

Oct 3, 2017

Mileage

114,000 mi

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH