Car Moon

It's official: that little snafu Toyota had a few days ago with the stalling Corollas has evolved from an Engineering Analysis to a full-blown (voluntary) recall. The world's largest automaker will recall around 1.13 million vehicles, specifically the 2005-08 Corolla and Matrix (and Vibe?) for "improperly manufactured" engine control modules. Toyota will replace the modules for free on affected cars, while providing people who have already had to replace theirs with the opportunity to file a claim for reimbursement.

Toyota isn't out of hot water just yet, although many people have conveniently forgotten their accelerator issue after BP went all "Look at me! I'm dangerous, too!" For those who don't recall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been dealing with another problem regarding some ToMoCo products: a stalling issue with up to 1.2 million 2005-2007 Corollas and Matrixes (Matrices?). That means possibly beating dead-horse Pontiac some more, since the Vibe was a brand-engineered Matrix.

Following the announcement on the termination of the Pontiac Vibe that was the last remaining project of the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint venture with Toyota, the so-called 'New GM' said today that it plans to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection without its 25-year old California tie-up with the Japanese automaker.

Only a week after General Motors stated that the Vibe would be the only Pontiac model to be offered for retail sale in the brand's 2010MY portfolio, the automaker announced today its decision to discontinue production of the compact crossover by the end of August 2009. The Vibe is produced alongside its sister model, the Toyota Matrix, at the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) facility jointly operated by GM and Toyota in Fremont, California.

As you all know, the Pontiac era is scheduled to end by late 2010 so it comes to no surprise that the only model offered for retail sale in General Motors' 2010 Product Guide for the United States is the Vibe - most probably because of the fact that it is produced by GM's joint venture with Toyota called NUMMI. The compact crossover continues in the new model year with a few minor upgrades.