When my husband drives our 2008 Pontiac Vibe, it will sometimes lurch forward when he hits the brakes. I found a recall for 2009-10 Vibes with a similar problem, but not for 2008. The dealer knows about this, but does not want to fix the problem because their mechanics can’t duplicate it. They’ve had the car for over a month. We don’t want to drive the car if it’s dangerous. Does anyone know of a similar problem with 08 Vibes?
They’ve had your 2008 car in the shop for over a month?
Just on that basis, you would qualify for a Lemon Law settlement in many states.
I suggest that you educate yourself regarding the terms of this statute in your particular state by looking at www.lemonlawamerica.com
Even if it does not actually come down to a Lemon Law settlement, just a well-worded certified letter to the vehicle manufacturer informing them of your intention to file a Lemon Law claim if the vehicle is not fixed promptly can move them to suddenly find a fix.
I did this for a friend, and suddenly Toyota saw fit to send their Regional Service Rep AND a Japanese engineer to the local dealership. In about 3 hours, they had found and fixed the problem that had eluded the local mechanics on two previous repair attempts.
Why people tolerate situations like this when there is legal recourse available, is beyond my comprehension.
Thanks for the info. I looked at the site, and while we probably would not qualify under the lemon law, we are planning to see a lawyer about it.
I’m really curious.
Can you explain why your 2008 car that has been in the shop for over 30 days does not qualify under your state’s Lemon Law?
Do you live in a “red” state with little consumer protection?
It’s possible that the fault must be verified as well as rendering the vehicle unusable. But I think they’re doing the right thing in checking with a lawyer.
It’s not the dealer, He is just the middleman. The issue is with NUMMI (Toyota and GM partnership. They build the Vibe and Matrix. BTW, there are no recalls on the Matrix for 2008, either.
Why go directly from frustration at the dealership to paying an attorney?
I would recommend first sending a polite, yet firm letter to GM (address is in the Owner’s Manual) informing them of your intention to file a claim under the Lemon Law of your state. Be sure to quote appropriate verbiage from that statute, as well as detailing the problem, the amount of “down time” in the shop, and the dealership’s apparent inability to resolve the problem.
If GM does not respond appropriately to the letter, then, by all means contact an attorney. However, if my experience is typical, an attorney is not necessary. I just hate to see people spend money when it is not necessary.