1. 2.4L oil consumption. This was a shock since my 2003 Vibe's engine is bulletproof. Going by part change dates it looks like I can probably avoid this problem:
GM parts giant:
June 2008: Piston redesign.
September 2008: Piston oil nozzle redesign.
December 2008: Crankshaft and balancer shaft bearing redesign.
Thus I want a Vibe built no earlier than September '08, and probably December '08 or later. I suppose it's possible that the crank/balance shaft bearings could alter piston dynamics and lead to oil consumption, and if not, they must have been change for a good reason.
2. Defective electronic power steering design. This one has me spooked. I've viewed youtube videos of the rattle and it's exactly the sort of annoyance that would put me in a mental hospital. Reportedly a GM mechanic told one GenVibe member than as many as 50% of 2nd Gen Vibe's are plagued by the rattle and it could become a safety concern if left unfixed. The safety bogeyman is a common sales tactic for mechanics but usually they're honest about a problem's prevalance.
I'm looking at Vibes with 40K to 90K miles so would most have the rattle by then? I also read about one owner who replaced the steering column three times with each fix lasting less than 20K miles. To paraphrase Ian Fleming, one fix I can handle, two fixes is dicey, three fixes is enemy action.
Yet the rattle seems to be only part of the problem. Toyota implemented a "silent recall" to install recalibrated EPS control modules for those who complained about a vague on-center feel at highway speeds:
Some of the descriptions of the Corolla/Matrix EPS highway behavior are what I would consider deal-breakers:To avoid a costly and expensive recall, Toyota and the federal regulators agreed that Toyota would send out a Technical Service Bulletin to its dealers advising the technicians to check tire and pressure alignment. If that did not work, Toyota would replace the computer that governs the electronic power steering with a new unit that had been “re-tuned” with an “alternative steering feel.”
Hopefully that's just legal hyperbole, but I'll test drive any prospective Vibe at highway speeds. Have any GenVibe members have succeeded in getting an updated EPS control module installed by Toyota? I like a good handling car so I'd view the expense the same as a sway bar or strut upgrade.In 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated the alleged electric power steering problems, but closed the investigation in 2011. The investigation was opened after complaints about steering wheels that didn't feel "on-center" and left drivers feeling like strong crosswinds were pushing the cars sideways.
Anything else I should look out for? I've noticed dealers seem to think the 2nd Gen Vibe GTs all age like wine. What a shame GM didn't keep the Vibe going under the Chevrolet brand. I need to buy American since many in my extended family work in the auto industry and the Vibe was a great a loophole for a reliable car. The other used car I'm thinking about is a Ford Focus hatchback but its transmission has a reputation for crapping the bed; it's the literal embodiment of Found On Roadside, Dead!
Thanks for any advice or leads on used Vibe GTs.