GM Details Fix for Faulty Pontiac Vibe Pedals

DETROIT — General Motors said Monday that repair parts for the sticking accelerator pedals on the 2009-'10 Pontiac Vibe will begin being shipped to dealers this week. The recall is related to the massive recall announced by Toyota last month.

The Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe are siblings mechanically, sharing a common platform. Both vehicles are involved in the defective-pedal recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that 70,806 2009-'10 Pontiac Vibe vehicles are involved in the recall.

GM said letters to Vibe customers will be sent on February 16 with instructions to contact Pontiac dealers after February 22 to have a precision-cut steel reinforcement bar or shim inserted into the accelerator pedal assembly. Toyota began making repairs on similarly affected vehicles over the weekend. As with the Toyota recall, GM said the installation will take approximately 30 minutes, "but customers may need to leave their vehicles with dealers for a longer period of time," it said in a statement.

GM also noted that customers will get a second letter when a remedy is announced for the recall covering floor mat interference with the accelerator pedal.

"For now, customers are urged to take out any removable floor mat and place it in the trunk of the Vibe and not replace it with any other mat," GM said. "Customers who choose against taking out the removable floor mat are encouraged to check the operation of the accelerator, brake and, if applicable," the clutch pedals to assure the floor mat does not interfere with them."

Unlike Toyota, GM has taken less fire from the Vibe recall because it is in the process of winding down the Pontiac brand.

Inside Line says: If you own the aforementioned Pontiac Vibe, be aware that a remedy is in the works for the defective accelerator pedal. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent