GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

My wife's brand new 2009 with only 3500 miles was hit in July and the car has been in body shop ever sence. It seen the company that made the right air bag sensor is have what GM is referring to as "Commercial problems". and they have no idea when my brand new car will be repaired. GM does not know and is gennerally unwilling to ask if the Matrix part will work. I have talked to a half dozen people at GM with no success. The body shop will not even try the Toyota part unless GM states in writting it will work. Any Ideas.

Seems to me you've been without your new car long enough. Hiring an attorney will get things moving.

Have you tried getting the insurance company involved - is this an active claim or is this something the dealer did and they are trying to remedy the issue?I would try a different dealership or a private body shop... Edit:Just to note, an air bag sensor is a tricky situation as if they do install the wrong part, it is not confirmed, and you get into another accident down the road, the air bags do not deploy = lawsuit. GM, the dealer, or whatever should be at least supplying you with a loaner vehicle free of charge and paying your monthly car payments.

Perhaps you could call Toyota to see if you could get have the people who... yknow, built the car, tell GM if the sensor is the same. How is it possible that GM can't find out if the sensor is the same?

If the car is drivable, get it out of that shop NOW!!!Quote, originally posted by ou.grizzly »GM, the dealer, or whatever should be at least supplying you with a loaner vehicle free of charge and paying your monthly car payments. Demand this tomorrow when you go into the dealer!

I Insurance co is aware of it and how would a differnt body shop help?

I have tried many times to contact Toyota but I have gotten no response. The car was built in GM/Toyota jount venture that shut down in June. The Matrix was never made in this plant but in a Toyota plant in Canada.

How will moving the car help. If GM does not have the part and I have talked to GM HQ several times how will moving the car do anything but increase my liability.

Then don't move the car. They still owe you a car though. And they owe you payments on a car that THEY are holding you from.

Quote, originally posted by BJRMBA1 »I Insurance co is aware of it and how would a differnt body shop help? Ahh... You pay your insurance company to provide a service for you... Seems like the issue is with the body shop/dealer. I really do not even know why you are even doing any foot work and calling GM. Your gripe is with the body shop and the insurance company. Worse case the insurance company can locate a used airbag sensor off a totaled 09/10 Vibe and install it. Hey, it is your time and money - not mine... I only offer concrete suggestions - it is up to you to follow through. Quote, originally posted by BJRMBA1 »How will moving the car help. If GM does not have the part and I have talked to GM HQ several times how will moving the car do anything but increase my liability.have the car towed to a different shop on your insurance companies expense. But would suggest my other suggestion 1st to the insurance company.

Commercial Issues is a reference for ( Not supplying parts for lack of payment from GM ) or a (supplier who has closed its doors completely from economy and GM is working to resource a vendor to supply the Service Parts Components.)If the origional vendor closed up shop then you have an issue for quite some time if they don't have any built up stock in inventory at any of the SPO locations. They need to find potential sources, get them prints to work to, quote business, make prototypes, validate parts and pass, do all paperwork stuff, build actual equipment to produce product, run, assemble, test and ship parts. This process can take months to a year depending on the complexity and the different variables related to such a safety component. They may even have to install them and do crash testing with them at the proving grounds before being able to sell the parts.I am sorry sir but you are in an odd situation. Could always say forget the airbags until they get the part, throw an aftermarket steering wheel on it and enjoy driving and using the car until the part is available.Or see if they can call around to other dealers and get the part off another car and hold one of the unsold vehicles until a part is available.

...tell your GM dealership to "...go take one of a car on the lot..." and install it in YOUR car under warranty.

There were some people parting out cars on this site - maybe they have that part. Also on eBay - apparently people buy brand new Vibes and make money selling them piece by piece instead of by the whole. As you know, there are probably $70,000+ worth of parts on a $20,000 Vibe.

check out ebay Item number: 190338120462

No excuse for this. I can look up the sensor online & buy one ! I would place a firm call to the insurance company & repair shop telling them that a lawyer will be handling any further communication in the cars status.

In reading all of this I am reminded of the many posts that say "don't worry about parts for your Pontiac, the law says GM has to make parts available for ten years." Well, what happens if they don't? What happens is about the same thing that happens when you complain to the Federal Trade Commission that a business has made an unsolicited phone call to your home even though you are on the do not call list. Nothing!Not that I am worried as perhaps for the G8 there were no unique cars in the Pontiac line up - all were clones of something else made either by GM or in the case of the Vibe by Toyota. Body parts might be interchangeable as well - probably can put an entire new Matrix front end on a Vibe.

Quote, originally posted by Houston »Seems to me you've been without your new car long enough. Hiring an attorney will get things moving.Ha! I am an attorney. They ignore me as well. Might not be worth the hourly rate you will pay. State AG's office or BBB might be more help and it's free.