What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2008 Pontiac G8

Typical pattern

8.9% of complaints about the 2008 Pontiac G8 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2008 vehicle — around the middle of the 262 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is air bags (25 complaints), typically at 7.3 yr or about 72,000 miles.

Complaints
90
Median age at failure
5.8 yr
Median mileage
60,000 n=76
Crash / fire / tow
4.4% of reports
Safety recalls
4

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Air bags
25 reports · 72,000 mi
7.3 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V399000 2015-06-23
Seat belts

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to October 22, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

14V540000 2014-09-09
Electrical system:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to December 6, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

11V534000 2011-11-04
Air bags:frontal:sensor/control module-inactive

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2009. A 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DEVICE (ATD) IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST EXCEEDED THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA (HIC) REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITIONED FULL FORWARD, THE SEAT POSITION SENSOR WILL CAUSE A 30 MILLISECONDS DEPLOYMENT DELAY BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES OF THE DUAL-STAGE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG.

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.

09V172000 2009-05-21
Service brakes, air:antilock:control unit/module

GM IS RECALLING 35,038 MY 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS". THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKE LAMPS MAY BE CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED AND FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING. ALSO CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE INCORRECT VALUES PROGRAMMED INTO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM T

INAPPROPRIATE, NON-STANDARD LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR DRIVING ON A SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER-INFLATED TIRE CAUSES THE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAN LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE.

In owners’ own words

Air bags 7,500 mi 1.2 yr in service
AIR BAG MODULE IS BAD. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON AND AIR BAG IS DISABLED. GM RECOMMENDED THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE WRONG MODULE (IN THE PASSENGER SEAT). THE MAIN MODULE WAS NOT AN AVAILABLE PART AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM AUSTRALIA. GM DOES NOT SEEM TO STOCK CRITICAL PARTS FOR THIS AUTO AND NOW IT'S WELL OVER A MONTH THAT I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS PART.. IF IT EVEN IS THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT APPEARS TO BE WIDE SPREAD IF YOU VIEW THE COMPLAINTS ON THE USER G8 FORUM ON LINE. *TR
Air bags mileage not reported 11 mo in service
I PURCHASED A NEW CAR IN JULY 2008 AND THE AIRBAGS ONLY DETECT MY WEIGHT PART OF THE TIME. ACCORDING TO GM AND THE DEALERSHIP, THE AIRBAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DETECT UP TO 125LBS. I WEIGH 134LBS. WHEN I STATED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED TO ME THAT EVEN WEIGHT OVER 125LBS MAY OR MAY NOT BE DETECTED. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY STATED THEY TRUST WHAT EVER THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME. THIS INFORMATION DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. I THOUGHT AIRBAGS ARE FOR SAFETY. *TR
Air bags 30,000 mi 1.3 yr in service
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

Other G8 model years

20092008

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