2009 Radio Knob revisited

[DrummerBoy]

So, I now have 4500 miles on my 2009 Vibe. The first radio was replaced after 3 months due to the notorious on/off/volume knob breaking off after very light use. The second replacement refurb. radio was installed at 3 months and 1200 miles, this one was used for 2 months and a total of 3 times when it also broke in the same manner. So now the dealer orders another refurb. unit as it seems these radios are no longer avaiable as new, and installs it. I haven't really used the radio much, maybe a handfull of times and treat the knob with kid gloves, well today guess what? The same knob breaks off again in the same exact spot. This has got to be a defective design, and I will not take it back to the dealer again. I may try writing to GM and trying to get it replaced with a different type of radio. How many of you have also had the dreaded radio knob problem?

[09vGT]

ME!.. But only tune knob. I don't use the volume knob much as I have steering wheels controls. When mine broke it was WAY out of warranty. So I just leave it. If the volume knob break, I'll probably just pull out the radio and glue that sucker in! Hope you have good luck!

[star_deceiver]

Not yet. I'm out of warranty so if it goes it will get replaced with something else.

[lowincash]

Yeah my volume/on/off knob broke off over a year ago and when I went to the dealer they were going to replace it with a refurbished one but I didn't want a refurbished one on a new car =/ I told the dealer a lot of people are having this issue and I have a feeling it'll break off again on the refurbished one. He told me there's no recall on it.I just ended up changing the whole thing to an aftermarket head unit so I can also enhance the sound a bit plus have a few more other options.But yeah, there's probably a design flaw on these radios with the super weak knobs =/

[dayday]

Mine was the tuning knob. I had it replaced under warranty and then took it out and installed an aftermarket radio.

[Bikerscum]

My original volume knob broke, the one on the refurb replacement broke in a month. Yeah, it's obviously a defect.

[itlldofarm]

My 2009 Vibe's on/off knob broke too, really has me mad! It's certainly defective, don't know what I'm going to do yet....GRRRRRR!

[alex_nrv]

I have a 2009 Vibe with steering wheel volume and tune control... If I would change my head unit for something else... would these steering wheel controls still work? Are they re-plugable? I never really messed around with a car sound system so I have no clues at all...

[09vGT]

Quote, originally posted by alex_nrv »I have a 2009 Vibe with steering wheel volume and tune control... If I would change my head unit for something else... would these steering wheel controls still work? Are they re-plugable? I never really messed around with a car sound system so I have no clues at all... A lot of times you have to buy an adapter for it to work.

[vibenvy]

Neither of our Vibes have had any problems with the knobs breaking off. We've had them both for two years now.

[Bikerscum]

Can I have your radio Oct. 21?

[DrummerBoy]

Conclusion to the story.... I contacted GM via the email address on their website. They were very qiuck to respond and seemed to want to help rectify the radio knob malfunctio,LOL. They claimed that they have not heard of any issues or complaints regarding the radio knob defect. I told them that I find that hard to believe being there are postings and articles here and on other groups all reporting the same defects and issues.I personally know 2 other 2009 Vibe owners who had the same issue. He responded by saying that they don't read or monitor user websites since it's not a very good indication of an end users experience with a product. I responded by begging to differ with their lack of interest in what their customers think of their products and other positive or negative experiences they may be encountering as a consumer of an expensive item. The end result was an offer to bring my car back to the dealership and have them order another refurbished radio, only to return when it arrives and have it installed. This would most likely result in the same defect after another few months so I declined to take them up on their offer. I asked if they can replace it with a similar radio, or a refurbished radio with a different knob design, and they stated that was not an option. They contacted the dealer where I purchsed the car and they in turn contacted me to bring it in for replacement. I guess they can see on their database that I own three fairly new GM vehicles and never use the warranty service. I also use the GM mastercard to get the rebates when purchasing new cars every three years. They seemed eager to assist me as a valued customer, but failed to find an acceptable solution to an ongoing problem, or even acknowledge that a problem exists, so I will look into after market radios to install, and next year when I look for a new vehicle I may look to Ford or Chrysler.

[DressedInBlack]

i noticed today that my tuner knob is sounding funny when being used and it feels flimsy and loose. oh well.hey DrummerBoy, lets go to Rooney's on Jog and Okee and have a pint of Guinness in memory of the departed radio knobs!

[DrummerBoy]

Sounds goood to me!!I tink that hot weather has something to do with these knobs breaking, since mine was fine until the temps started getting really hot.

[journeyforce]

It seems GM knows that this is an issue and sells the knob by itselfit is part number #19204643http://parts.nalleygmc.com/sho...80698I might pick some up

[Kincaid]

My 2009 w/25k miles has not had a problem yet. If heat is an issue, that might be why. My car rarely sits out in the sun for more than an hour at a time.

[vit]

Yup, 2010 GT - volume knob broke at around 23k.

[journeyforce]

So I got my knobs from the eBay seller. They can be bought from any GM dealer. In my other post in this thread i list the part number.Two things I noticed1. The reason it requires removing the front of the radio is because there is a lip on the back to keep it from falling off2. The inside of the knob is clear plastic to help allow light to shine out the top of the knob at night. It looks thin and cheap. outside Heat may play a part of the reason that it breaks but it may also be the heat from the light behind the knob that causes it to be weak. I noticed tonight as I was driving home the knobs were slightly warmConclusion, had GM made the knobs black with no back light then the knob may have lasted the life of the radio

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by journeyforce »So I got my knobs from the eBay seller. They can be bought from any GM dealer. In my other post in this thread i list the part number.The part number is: #19204643. I saw them on eBay the other day and thought they were pretty pricey (I don't remember how much they were and can't seem to find them now). MSRP is $6.67. For something this small it would probably be more cost effective to order from your local GM dealer and avoid having to pay shipping.

[journeyforce]

Yes you are correct about the price on the ones from the eBay seller. However I have bought from these folks several times in the past so I paid less for the knobs then listed in the auction.But you bring up a good point about a local dealership. My post was to simply give the part number and call attention to the fact that there was somebody selling them on eBay(so if you did not have a dealer willing to get them for you here is a way)

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by journeyforce »Yes you are correct about the price on the ones from the eBay seller. However I have bought from these folks several times in the past so I paid less for the knobs then listed in the auction.But you bring up a good point about a local dealership. My post was to simply give the part number and call attention to the fact that there was somebody selling them on eBay(so if you did not have a dealer willing to get them for you here is a way)Well, if you got them for cheaper than I don't blame you for getting them on eBay .I just figured I'd post about the dealership since others may not think of it. If a dealer doesn't want to order a part for you, you need to find a different dealer .

[file014]

My power/volume knob imploded last week on my 2009. I took it into a chevy dealer for that and a couple other issues. They got the part for the other issue today but said another week for the knob. After it broke I pulled on it to try to take it off, but wouldnt come off. I'll have to stock up on extras and learn to take the radio fascia off once warranty runs out in 3 months.Looks like online they are $5-6.50 but usually $10 shipping. I'll probably order at least 2 which make them $10 each. Still better than a new radio.

[file014]

My radio knob broke for the second time. I plan to remove it in pieces without taking apart the dash. Hopefully I can preserve the knob enough to match it up with one from radio shack or somehwere that will fit right on without taking the car apart.

[wonderdog]

I replaced mine, not to bad a job but come on why make it so difficult in the first place. Now if it were me and I never intended these knobs to be replacedI would have made them solid for an extra 2 cents.