NHTSA Complaint #10445031 — 2009 PONTIAC VIBE

WHEN COMING TO A STOP, OCCASIONALLY THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MANY, MANY OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JULY 11. WHEN COMING TO A FAST STOP (SUCH AS WHEN SOMEONE PULLS OUT IN FRONT OF YOU OR SOMEONE SUDDENLY STOPS IN FRONT OF YOU -- ABS IS NOT BEING USED AS THESE ARE NOT PANIC STOPS) THE BRAKES WILL WORK AS THEY SHOULD UNTIL THE CAR IS ALMOST STOPPED AND THEN THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD AND I SUDDENLY NEED TO APPLY MORE FORCE TO THE BRAKES TO MAKE THE CAR STOP. I SUSPECT THAT THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR IS USING ENGINE BRAKING TO ASSIST IN SLOWING DOWN THE CAR AND WHEN THE CAR HITS A CERTAIN SPEED (OR SOME OTHER VARIABLE) THE ENGINE BRAKING IS TURNED OFF WHICH CAUSES THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE THAT I NEED TO APPLY TO THE BRAKES TO SUDDENLY INCREASE WHICH GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CAR IS LUNGING FORWARD. REGARDLESS OF WHAT IS CAUSING THIS ISSUE TO OCCUR, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE GROWN USED TO THIS ISSUE AND NOW CAN COMPENSATE FOR IT, BUT IT IS STILL DISTRESSING WHEN IT OCCURS. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER VIBE/MATRIX OWNERS AND THEY ALL STATE THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD EASILY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR