Pedal accelerator - when driving, the car accelerates on this own even when the accelerator pedal is not depressed. The result is increased speeds, and when reaching a stop, the car has to quickly be placed in neutral or park to stop the car, else, it will continue to move. There was a previous recall for this situation with GMC and there was an attempt to fix this issue with my vehicle.…
2009 Pontiac Vibe cruise control problems
severe 45 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
12crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 45 cruise control complaints filed for the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Pontiac Vibe we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 45.
Owners have filed 45 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2009 Pontiac Vibes describe a pattern of sudden, unintended acceleration during low-speed driving—particularly while braking at stop signs, in parking lots, and at intersections. The vehicle's engine jumps to 2500–6000 RPM while the driver's foot is off the accelerator or pressed on the brake. The acceleration persists for 2–3 seconds, pushing the car forward several feet even with firm braking. Several owners report this occurred at very low mileage (as early as 3,500 miles) and recurred at 170,000+ miles.
Critical issue: the brakes often fail to slow the vehicle during these events. Owners report having to shift to Neutral or Park, engage the emergency brake, or steer off the road to regain control. Multiple crash incidents are documented, with some owners unable to prevent collision.
Pontiac and GM issued recalls (10V018000, 10V024000) addressing sticky accelerator pedals and floor-mat interference, installing shims and removing floor mats. However, numerous owners report the defect recurs after recall repair—sometimes within weeks. ASE-certified technicians and mechanics who reported these failures dispute the floor-mat/wear explanation, citing instead possible electrical or computer faults (cruise control, ECU).
A separate intermittent problem: ABS, VSC (stability control), and traction control lights illuminate and systems stop working for minutes at a time, occurring roughly monthly. Dealers cannot diagnose the sporadic issue. One owner experienced transmission solenoid failure, followed by persistent battery and no-start problems after the solenoid replacement.
Owners also report over-sensitive or unresponsive accelerator behavior after recall repair, making smooth driving difficult.
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration during low-speed maneuvering
Vehicle accelerates suddenly while driver is braking or foot is off accelerator, typically at <30 mph in parking lots, intersections, or stop-sign approaches. Engine RPMs spike to 2500–6000 while brake pressure is applied. Multiple owners report persistent issue even after recall repairs (shim installation and floor-mat removal).
When: Varies; earliest reported at 3,500 miles; occurs through 170,000+ miles. Appears random, not weather-dependent despite recall description citing wear/environmental conditions.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine RPM increase while braking; Vehicle continues forward despite brake application; Transmission fails to downshift during incident; Brake engagement produces only slight resistance; Accelerator pedal physically released but engine does not idle
Codes mentioned: None reported by owners
Repairs/costs cited: Recall NHTSA 10V018000 and 10V024000 performed throttle assembly replacement and shim installation; floor mats removed. Multiple owners report defect recurs after repairs. Some dealers unable to reproduce issue or diagnose root cause. One owner reported new accelerator pedal installed at 35,000 miles.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 10V018000 (accelerator pedal) and 10V024000 (accelerator pedal); recalls attributed to sticky/sticking pedal and floor-mat interference. GM/Toyota stated remedy addresses internal wear and friction mechanisms. Manufacturer investigations mentioned but outcomes not reported. One owner notes GM claimed recall did not apply, then mailed recall notice two days later.
Cruise control unintended engagement
Cruise control activates on its own while driving at highway speeds. Owner reports wife experienced this on expressway (I-190) unprompted; owner with ASE advanced engine performance credentials believes this and sudden-acceleration episodes are related electrical/computer issues, not mechanical pedal faults.
When: Highway driving; one report cites I-190 expressway
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control engages without driver input; Occurs during active driving
Codes mentioned: None reported
Loss of braking / transmission control during acceleration event
When sudden acceleration occurs, brake pedal becomes ineffective or highly resistant; transmission fails to downshift to assist with deceleration. One owner at 15 mph could not stop vehicle by braking alone and crashed into cement pole. Another owner at 35 mph had to shift into Neutral, then Park to arrest motion.
When: During unintended acceleration episodes; reported at 15–35 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal unresponsive or severely resistant; Vehicle continues accelerating despite full brake depression; Transmission does not downshift when expected; Shifting to Neutral required to stop engine acceleration
Codes mentioned: None reported
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple crash incidents; owners forced to use emergency brake or neutral shift to stop vehicle.
ABS/VSC/Traction Control lights and intermittent loss of function
Dashboard warning lights (ABS, VSC, traction control) illuminate and systems become non-functional for minutes to hours, occurring once or twice per month. Owners tested in parking lots and confirmed brakes/VSC do not work when lights are on. Dealer and Pontiac unable to diagnose; online search reveals same issue across multiple owners. Similar recall exists for G6 but not listed for Vibe.
When: Intermittent; minutes to hours duration; once or twice monthly
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminates; VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) warning light illuminates; Traction control warning light illuminates; Anti-lock brakes fail during test in slippery conditions; VSC and traction control fail during test in snow
Codes mentioned: None reported by owners; one report mentions transmission solenoid code after separate incident
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers declined diagnosis due to intermittent nature; no repair attempted. One owner mentioned online reports citing bad gas cap, brake sensor connector, or cracked computer circuit board.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Pontiac stated never heard of problem; directed owner to dealer. Dealer (Salentine Pontiac) stated cannot diagnose intermittent issues. Owner notes similar recall for G6 but not Vibe despite online reports of same issue in Vibes.
Transmission solenoid failure with battery/electrical cascade
Vehicle would not shift into gear while at red light (VSC, engine, battery lights illuminated). Diagnostic showed transmission solenoid fault. After solenoid replacement, battery light came on intermittently, then persistently prevented restart.
When: At low mileage (not specified); solenoid replaced; battery issues occurred after repair
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not engage gear from Park/Neutral; VSC warning light illuminates; Engine warning light illuminates; Battery warning light illuminates; Battery light flickers on and off; Engine will not restart after shutoff
Codes mentioned: Transmission solenoid fault
Repairs/costs cited: Solenoid replaced at shop; battery/alternator belt checked; subsequent restart failures occurred.
Accelerator pedal insensitivity / over-sensitivity after recall repair
One owner reports recall repair (Toyota fix) made accelerator pedal overly sensitive, making speed control and smooth acceleration difficult. Another owner reports vehicle fails to accelerate above 20 mph and does not move when pedal applied; check engine and VSC off lights illuminate.
When: Post-recall repair; also reported at 167,000 miles (no acceleration issue)
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal overly sensitive after recall repair; Difficulty maintaining constant speed; Jerky acceleration; Vehicle fails to accelerate above 20 mph; Vehicle fails to move when accelerator applied despite transmission engagement
Codes mentioned: Check engine light; VSC off light
Repairs/costs cited: One owner describes Toyota fix as 'totally unsatisfactory.' Another owner at 167,000 miles with acceleration failure directed to GM but not diagnosed/repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall repair performed; issue recurs or new issues arise.
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2009 Pontiac Vibe?
It's a meaningful issue. 45 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 32 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 13,903 and 33,500 miles, with the median around 23,456. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,903; a quarter make it past 33,500. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Pontiac/Vibe.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.