GM tests Pontiac Vibe brakes opposite unintended increase in speed in arise of Pattern stop
Determined to allay any concerns which the Pontiac Vibe – a clone of the recalled Toyota Matr ix – has safety issues with its brakes, General Motors conducted its own vehicle tests over the weekend during the Milford Proving Grounds. “You ran the Vibe wide open at 60 miles an hour and the brakes were able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop within 169 meters, consistent with our internal requirement for brake performance,” said Martin Hogan, GM director of stop systems.
While the tests may have successfully exonerated the Vibe’s braking capability in a controlled unintended acceleration scenario, they did shed some light on a increasing distances required to move run-away vehicles to the stop. According to a recent autosnewspaper highway test of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT, their test car panic-stopped from 60 mph in only 127 feet. Converted, GM’s quoted stopping stretch is 507 feet – meaning the full-throttle Vibe took four times the stretch to come to a protected stop when fighting both inertia as well as engine power.
Nevertheless, prior to a Toyota recall announcements, GM says it had not perceived any relevant customer complaints upon its 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe models (although a Vibe is now included in dual Toyota recalls). The recent actions opposite Toyota did send the few Vibe business to GM’s hotline, but none have reported any crashes or injury. Even then, GM is quick to reiterate, “In the rare box of a sticking throttle, a motorist should apply the brakes firmly and steadily until you come to a stop. Do not pump the brakes, which can exhaust the accessible vacuum progress from the brake system.” Park the vehicle, and then have it towed to a GM dealer for inspection.
Gallery:2010 Pontiac Vibe
[Source: General Motors]
