NHTSA Complaint #10321495 — 2004 PONTIAC VIBE

MY 18 YR SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2004 PONTIAC VIBE HOME IN RUSH HOUR BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC ON A CURVY, MOUNTAINOUS, TWO LANE ROAD ON STATE ROUTE 4 IN (NEAR WHITE ROCK) IN THE LOS ALAMOS NM AREA AROUND 4PM. HE WAS DRIVING UNDER 55 MPH AND AS HE ROUNDED ONE OF THE CURVES, HE WAS UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD AND IT RAN STRAIGHT OFF THE ROAD(TO THE RIGHT), INSTEAD OF TURNING, OVER HEAVY BRUSH AND SEVERAL IRON FENCE POSTS. HE HAS ALWAYS CLAIMED THE CAR BRAKES AND STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE MANY ADULT WITNESSES CONFIRMED THE CAR "SUDDENLY VEERED OFF" FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THE TRACKS INDICATED THE CAR REMAINED IN A STRAIGHT LINE THE ENTIRE TIME. THE AIR BAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. I HAD NOTICED THE CAR SOMETIMES WASN'T TRACKING WELL ON TURNS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE GAS TANK WAS LOW. THE ADULT WITNESSES ALL COMMENDED OUR SON ON HIS DRIVING ABILITY AS HE AVOIDED HITTING OTHER CARS. A DRIVER IN THE HUMMER BEHIND HIM ASSURED US THAT "SOMETHING MUST HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE CAR - NOT HIS FAULT -TOO SUDDEN - MIRACLE HE DIDN'T ROLL ." THE HUMMER DRIVER HAD BEEN BEHIND OUR SON FOR SOME TIME. THE (STATE FARM)INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. WE LIKE THE VIBE AND PURCHASED A 2009 REPLACEMENT. WE ASSUMED THAT OUR SON'S INEXPERIENCE AND YOUTH WERE MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS, BUT THAT SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH CAR DUE TO STRAIGHT TIRE TRACKS AND WITNESS STATEMENTS. THE EXAMINATION OF THE CAR FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AND STEERING PUMP AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT EXTENSIVE DAMAGE UNDERNEATH PREVENTED ANY REAL ANALYSIS. MY SON REMAINS ACCIDENT FREE WITH THIS EXCEPTION AND HAS ONLY 1 SPEEDING TICKET RECEIVED THIS YEAR. WE HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THESE TYPE OF ACCIDENTS WITH VIBE/MATRIX. I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STEERING AND DRIVE THE NEW VIBE MORE GENTLY, BUT LOVE GETTING OVER 30 MPG.