VehicleVerdict

2008 Pontiac G5 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

A typical year for this model

The 2008 Pontiac G5 sits mid-pack among G5 years: 154 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 129, with 5 recalls and one closed investigation. Reports tied to this model year include 20 deaths and 67 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across fuel system (35), airbags (27), and electrical system (25), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect.

154

NHTSA complaints

5

Recalls

1

Investigations

31

Crash-involved

4

Fires reported

67

Injuries

20

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2008 compare to other G5 years?

G5 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted249 complaints2007: 249 complaints2008: 154 complaints2009: 104 complaints2010: 2 complaints
G5 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2008 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all G5 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2008 Pontiac G5 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Fuel System3523%
Airbags2718%
Electrical System2516%
Steering2315%
Suspension85%
Brakes64%
Engine64%
Transmission53%
Speed Control43%
Lighting32%
Body & Structure32%
Seat Belts21%
Latches & Locks21%
Other21%
Tires & Wheels21%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2008 Pontiac G5 have recalls?

5 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

14E021000Electrical SystemApril 30, 2014 · 14,529 units

Defect

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.

Consequence

If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.

Remedy

UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners requiring additional information on that recall campaign should contact GM at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac) or 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn).

14V171000Electrical SystemApril 10, 2014 · 2,191,014 units

Defect

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence

If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

14V047000AirbagsFebruary 10, 2014 · 2,190,934 units

Defect

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

12V459000Fuel SystemSeptember 19, 2012 · 49,768 units

Defect

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.

Consequence

Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

10V073000SteeringMarch 3, 2010 · 1,050,889 units

Defect

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence

IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

CAR LEAKS GAS TOWARD FRONT OF CAR DRIVER SIDE AFTER IT HAS BEEN RUNNING. IT ALSO HAS AN ODOR OF GAS RADIATING AROUND THE CAR AFTER IT HAS BEEN RUN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM IN REGIONALLY HOT STATES. GM ALAN ADLER SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR CARS THAT HAS THE PROBLEM OUTSIDE OF THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 4, 2020

I WAS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT THEN SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES, I HIT THE REAR OF THAT VEHICLE IT WAS A 2011 FORD FOCUS THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. MY VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · January 6, 2015 · crash

THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY SONS 2008 PONTIAC G5 BURNT UP TODAY. IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND THAT IT APPEARED TO START IN AN AREA NEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL. IT APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · December 9, 2011 · fire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5 COUPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH IN A PARKING LOT THE CONTACT TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO TURN CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE POST. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VIN WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · February 1, 2010 · crash

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVIN ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE FRONT RIGHT FELL TO THE GROUND AND THE CAR SPUN OUT AND SLID INTO A DITCH. THE FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT FAILED AND BROKE APART. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE REPLACES BALL JOINTS ON THESE CARS AT THE RATE OF FIVE CARS PER MONTH. WHILE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · September 20, 2011 · crash

2008 Pontiac G5 — common questions

Is the 2008 Pontiac G5 reliable?

It is close to typical for the G5: 154 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and 1 investigation on file.

What are the most common 2008 G5 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are fuel system (35 complaints), airbags (27 complaints), electrical system (25 complaints).

Does the 2008 Pontiac G5 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns affecting the 2008 Pontiac G5. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2008 Pontiac G5 under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Pontiac G5 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the G5 years to avoid are 2007. The cleanest record among G5 years belongs to 2010.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.