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Pontiac Vibe Transmission Troubles

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Comments

  • lalswiftlalswift Member Posts: 14
    Don't listen to anything GM has to say. They will string you along with "concerned" emails and phone calls. You will get nothing from them in the end. My part failed before the recall and caused complete tr :mad: ansmission damage. GM owes me the cost of the new transmission since they admitted the part was faulty. They did nothing. They will just wear you down. Lauren
  • kansasgalkansasgal Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2005 Vibe and because the check engine light came on, I was told by the dealership I needed a new PCM. I replaced it and within one or two days is when the recall was in the news. However, the dealerships were in denial, and I had to wait MONTHS with many letters, phone calls and copies of documentation in order to get reimbursed.

    Now the check engine light came on again on an out of town trip while using the CRUISE CONTROL. I stopped at a shop who did a diagnostic and told me the code was P 0741 and that is was the torque converter in the transmission. He re-set the code (light went off) and I continued to drive to my destination. Driving home on the highway with the CRUISE CONTROL on again, the light came back on .

    Took it to a dealer ( didn't give me the code in my paperwork), but told me it is the TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SOLENOID and that it will cost me about $1000 to replace and "clean the pan".

    I'm not a mechanic, but I think there is still something wrong with the PCM they put in or some other electrical signal. My car has no symptoms, the light is not on now, even though I drive it daily. Any one having similar problems or any ideas? Thanks.
  • lodaloda Member Posts: 1
    Today picked up 2007 Vibe from local GM shop. Brought it in for PCM replacement under the recall. There were no problems with car until then. Driving from their place noticed that car was shaking and vibrating a lot. When stopped at red light with transmission in D, car was shaking so much that could see my hands on the wheel vibrating, stopped immediately, engine seems to be vibrating excessively at low RMPs... Will bring the car back tomorrow. What a nightmare that GM is.
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    loda,

    I apologize for the problems you are experiencing with your vehicle. I understand how frustrating this can be with having to take the vehicle back. Please keep me posted on any information from the dealership.

    Thank you,
    Caron, GM Customer Service
  • scrappydscrappyd Member Posts: 27
    Reply to all on the transmission issue. I have the same exact outcome as most people above. The car broke down (stopped) and thousands later I got it fixed all while GM dening any help though they acknowledge a problem. I got a letter to get submit claims I did and still no word or assistance. Now, once again on a high way this time the engine light comes on and new error codes PO441, PO455, P2195 come up. After general repair (filters, gas check, coolant etc $510)..the mechanic could not find or trace the issue back to the car. They actually DIDN'T charge me for the diagnostic. I bring it in to GM and they can't find a problem. I see some of the same discussions on
    http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=9365
    Does anyone have error code PO441, PO455 P2195 and know what they are. I pray every time I get into the car. This is crazy :lemon:
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    scrappyd,
    The dealer couldn't tell you what the codes were for? Or were the codes cleared and they read that there weren’t any codes present? Can you please email me with your VIN and current mileage? I look forward to your response.
    Christina
    GM Customer Service
  • scrappydscrappyd Member Posts: 27
    Christina
    GM Customer Service:
    That is correct. The codes were "cleared" when I brought it in. As I mentioned the correspondence you responded to the codes are
    Does anyone have error code PO441, PO455 P2195

    I'm still waiting on GM to repay the recall PCM issue I had to have fixed which was prior to GMC acknowledging the full recall. In fact, I just got a notice to bring the car in for something that had to be fixed (totally unmovable & down car) over 13 months ago. Can you help with that too?
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    scrappyd,
    I was trying to look into those codes for you. Can you please email me with your VIN and current mileage? I look forward to hearing from you.
    Christina
    GM Customer Service
  • axl151axl151 Member Posts: 4
    My 07 grinds on a downshift to 2nd gear above 35 mph. This all started immediately after changing the trans oil at 60k. The books all call for 75w90 synthetic gear oil, but what drained out was much thinner than that. At 70k, 2nd was pretty much unusable, and 2 different dealerships claimed there was not a problem, and that downshifts were unnecessary. "You shouldn't use the trans to help stop the car, just jam on the brakes" is what the service manager told me.

    I wound up taking to chain trans shop, and got a $2k+ rebuild. 10k miles later, trans won't go into 1st if moving at all. The shop changed the oil in an attempt to uphold their warranty, 1st gear problem goes away. Now, 2nd gear grinding came back today! The specified gear oil, seems to be the problem. This all started with draining out an unknown, very thin oil, and replacing it with what the owner's manual calls for. I'm beyond frustrated, and so is the chain shop.

    Does anyone know what kind of oil would make this trans work?
  • gmcustsvcsarahgmcustsvcsarah Member Posts: 1,964
    Axl151,

    Thank you for posting. If you’re willing to email me your VIN (please include your name and user name), I can ask our Technical Assistance Center for more information on this issue.

    Best,
    Sarah
    GM Customer Service
  • axl151axl151 Member Posts: 4
    It's been a while since I sent over my VIN and contact info, has there been any progress on this? I really need to get this car driving again.
  • madmac1968madmac1968 Member Posts: 2
    I received a recall notice in the mail a few weeks ago. Scheduled an appointment with the local dealer this week to have the PCM replaced. When I arrived for the appointment the dealer said he did not have the part. I'm not sure why I made the appointment if they did not have the part.

    Scheduled a second appointment for the next week. Today (two days before my second appointment) my transmission locked up. I called the GM Customer Service Center. I must tow the car to the local GM dealer at my expense. Then they will replace the PCM. If this does not solve the problem (does anyone think it will) the dealer will have to diagnose the problem at my expense. If they determine the transmission failure is due to the PCM then I may get help. Otherwise, it is at my expense.

    Tax dollars bail out GM then they announce record profits this past week. I hope they stand behind their product.
  • lalswiftlalswift Member Posts: 14
    GM will not do the right thing, trust me. You may get a few emails that seem sincere but they are just a game. They have no integrity. They know they have damaged a lot of transmisions but they will not stand behind their product. They were too big too fail. We are to little to help. I will NEVER buy a GM.
  • maxx4memaxx4me Member Posts: 1,340
    agreed!
  • lubeexpertlubeexpert Member Posts: 16
    I am wondering, do you (& all Vibe owners) know that the Pontiac Vibe is only part GM? The Powertrain & Drivetrain are totally Toyota.
  • madmac1968madmac1968 Member Posts: 2
    I am perfectl aware that Toyota made the drivetrain. In fact, that is a major reason I purchased the Vibe. I am also aware that I cannot expect Toyota to warranty a GM product.
  • 0rch1d0rch1d Member Posts: 2
    My Vibe has been nothing but a horror story for the last couple of years. The check engine light came on giving a transmission code. We paid to have the transmission rebuilt, then the check engine light came back on about a week later. We took it back and was told it was the PCM, so we paid to have that replaced. The check engine light continued to come back on over and over again. We returned it to the mechanic many times they could not find anything wrong with the transmission or the PCM. They even replaced the PCM again to try and fix it. Then it was recalled so we took it to the GM dealership. They said the PCM that was on the car was not the one that was recalled and it should be fine. We told them about the check engine light issue and they told us it was the transmission and we would have to get a new one. Oh and they would charge another 3000 to do it. No one an seems to know what to do to fix this car. I have to pass emissions testing next month and that will never happen with the check engine light on. I have been a loyal GM owner for 17 years, but not after this fiasco.
  • lalswiftlalswift Member Posts: 14
    I feel your pain. Our 2005 was a nightmare too. GM offered a lot of false hope and no help. They still owe us about $3000 for our transmission that was ruined by the faulty PCM. I would suggest making a complaint through your State dept of consumer affairs and the National Traffic Safety Agency. If enough complaints start piling up, maybe GM will finally do the right thing. :mad:
  • gmcustsvcsarahgmcustsvcsarah Member Posts: 1,964
    Orch1d,

    If we can check up on this situation with your dealership, please send an email to socialmedia@gm.com with the following information: your name/Edmunds username, phone and address, the last 8 of your VIN and current mileage, and the name of your dealership.

    All the best,
    Sarah
    GM Customer Service
  • jessicar1jessicar1 Member Posts: 1
    I have had the same problem with my vibe. I got the first recall notice and shortly after my transmission started shutter and check engine light came on. When I had the the check engine light checked it said torque convertor was stuck off. After I took my car in to have the pcm replaced my car was doing it more and more often. I took it to another dealer and they looked at it for 2 days when finally called me and said the pcm that the other dealership was bad. My car stop shuttering when I left there but now a year and half later it is doing the exact thing. I have called Pontaic several times and I get no where. I am contacting my Lawyer cause I am tired of playing games.
  • 0rch1d0rch1d Member Posts: 2
    So I sent all of the information requested to the GM customer service person who posts on this forum and was informed there was nothing they could do for me. If only I had driven my car another 20 miles to the dealership with the check engine light on and the hard shifting, then they would apparently stand behind their product. I guess they wanted me to risk my life driving 20 miles on the interstate with a faulty PCM/transmission.
  • redman14redman14 Member Posts: 1
    So my wife had the PCM on her 2006 VIBE replaced in October 2011. A couple of weeks ago the car started having symptomatic problems described in the PCM recall letter (harsh transmission, engine stalling to be exact). We took it back to the dealership that replaced the PCM and they are saying that the PCM is fine but the evaporative canister needs to be replaced.

    I don't know enough about cars but does a faulty evaporative canister cause similar issues to that of a faulty PCM or is the dealership pulling my chain on this one?
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    redman14,
    Thank you for taking the time to post your question. Unfortunately I do not have technical information. If you are unsure of your dealers’ diagnosis I would recommend getting a second opinion from a different GM dealer. Please keep us updated on your concerns. Please feel free to email me directly.
    Christina
    GM Customer Service
    SocialMedia@GM.com
  • lalswiftlalswift Member Posts: 14
    Good luck with your vibe transmission. Unfortunately, you will need to do all of it on your own. GM will initially act concerned but will ultimately offer no support or financial compensation. We spent $3000 fixing our transmission after the PCM failed. The PCM was a known defect and caused a lot of damage. GM was too big too fail so taxpayers bailed them out. I, apparently am too small.
  • peace1073peace1073 Member Posts: 1
    I am having the same issue with my car...
    I had the PCM Recall part changed on August 1, 2012 & my check engine light came on after about 1,500 miles, had the code read it said TCC solenoid ...
    This seems like a common issue... not sure what to do now...
  • onteoonteo Member Posts: 4
    Hi I have a 2003 vibe and the manual transmission shudders in 1 st gear. My gm dealer can't find that the manual granny's have a pressure switch, and no recall. Anyone have an idea on what to do?
  • onteoonteo Member Posts: 4
    Hi I have a 2003 vibe and the manual transmission shudders in 1 st gear,but not every time. No rhyme or reason. My gm dealer can't find that the manual transmission's have a pressure switch, and no recall on it Does Anyone have an idea on what to do?
  • onteoonteo Member Posts: 4
    What a waste of time the 800 Pontiac number was. In india Had never had a call about a Pontiac transmission with my problem before. Called the same dealer I just left to ask them the same questions I just asked them. No wonder people are buying foreign cars.
  • onteoonteo Member Posts: 4
    What a waste of time the 800 Pontiac number was. Russel In india Had never had a call about a Pontiac transmission with my first gear shuddering problem before. Called the same dealer I just left to ask them the same questions I just asked them. Anyone know of how to reach a specialist not just a call center ? No wonder people are buying real foreign cars.
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    Good morning onteo,
    We're sorry that your experience with the Customer Assistance Center was frustrating; if you wanted to forward the last 8 digits of your VIN to us, we can check into the Service Request they set up. We can be reached at socialmedia@gm.com

    Sarah, GM Customer Service
  • nessasuenessasue Member Posts: 1
    the last snow storm i hit a snow drift and all of a sudden i had no movement woulldn't go a head or back wondering if the recall on the pcm could be the reason the car still runs great.
    I am also having trouble with my 2009 vibe everytime it needs AWD the engine light come on and an ecs light whats that
  • gmcustsvcgmcustsvc Member Posts: 4,252
    nessasue,
    If you would like for us to check to see if there are any open recalls on your 2005 Vibe, please email us the last 8 digits of your VIN at socialmedia@gm.com.

    As your engine light is coming on, it may be a good idea to get your 2009 Vibe in to be checked out. Let us know if we can be of any assistance to you in that process.

    Sarah, GM Customer Service
  • bigcman1796bigcman1796 Member Posts: 1
    i have a 03 vibe 5 speed. i have had the car for a year and a half love the car but about 2 weeks ago i started hearing a grinding noise, i checked and found out that the bearing in the transmission is going out so i called gm customer service and they refused to listen to me about the transmission all they were interested in was finding out when i would be bringing my car in for a recall on a totally unrelated issue. obviously they are aware of many problems this car has since there have been recalls on multiple issues with this car but for some reason they are ignoring the faulty manual transmissions they are putting into these cars. after doing some research online i have found out that many people are having these same issues so i am seriously considering filing a class action lawsuit especially since this is a problem that could have (if not already) cost people their lives. anyone interested in participating let me know.
  • lburgelburge Member Posts: 1
    Caron,
    I have a 2007 Pontiac Vibe that I purchased on 4/22/2008. Vin# 5Y2SL65807Z419828. About 2 months ago I had the ECM recall work done as the car started to act up with harsh transmission shifting. All was good until a week ago on the freeway with the cruise control on the check engine light turned on again with the torque converter solenoid code. I currently have no symptoms but expecting them soon. After reading blog after blog and never having any problems with the vehicle before the ECM issue I believe the current issue is in conjunction with the previous one. Is there anything GM can do for me or am I at the mercy of the dealerships? Please help.
    Craig B.
    cburge@wi.rr.com
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