2009 Pontiac G8
Early-defect pattern 15.8% of complaints about the 2009 Pontiac G8 came in its first year of service — a higher share than 96% of the 212 2009 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is air bags (70 complaints), typically at 6.5 yr or about 56,000 miles.
- Complaints
- 184
- Median age at failure
- 5.5 yr
- Median mileage
- 41,826 n=159
- Crash / fire / tow
- 6.5% of reports
- Safety recalls
- 4
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.
Air bags 7,000 mi 2.7 yr in service
SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (WEIGHT 125LBS) THE AIRBAG DOES NOT TURN ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS IN NORMAL TOLERANCES AND IT COULD BE THE WAY SHE IS POSITIONED IN THE SEAT. THE LOANER CAR I WAS DRIVING (2011 CADILLAC DTS) THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CAME ON AND STAYED ON THE ENTIRE TIME SHE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY LIABILITY. I HAVE BEEN ON THE PONTIAC G8 FORUM WEBSITE AND OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING. *TR
Air bags 36,665 mi 4.8 yr in service
STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON,WITH A CHIME SOUND. CALL DEALER AND WAS TOLD CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. *TR
Air bags 72,000 mi 4.8 yr in service
I HAVE AN DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE ISSUE, HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME THAT A MISSING CLIP IS CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO MALFUNCTION. I HAVE SEEN THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. I FEAR THAT THE AIR BAG COULD BLOW UP IN MY FACE AS I'M DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 65 MPH!! THE ONLY THING THE DEALER HAS TO OFFER IS REPLACE THE AIRBAG AT 1100.00. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND GM SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR PROBLEM. *TR
Suspension 10,000 mi 10 mo in service
THE 2009 PONTIAC G8 HAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END. AT 16000KM THE BALL JOINTS WERE FALLING OUT ON MY PONTIAC G8. THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A CONTROL FAILURE OF THE CAR AND A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS THE DEALER HAS STATED THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS CAR TO BE UNSAFE, AND FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT. *TR