VehicleVerdict

2009 Pontiac G8 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 185 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.0 times the median G8 year — the 2009 model ranks #1 of 3 G8 years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Complainants reported 12 injuries in total across these filings.

Airbags leads the complaint categories with 70 reports (38% of the total).

185

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

12

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2009 compare to other G8 years?

G8 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2009 highlighted185 complaints2008: 91 complaints2009: 185 complaints2010: 2 complaints
G8 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2009 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all G8 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2009 Pontiac G8 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Airbags7038%
Electrical System2715%
Suspension2212%
Brakes105%
Transmission95%
Tires & Wheels84%
Lighting74%
Steering63%
Seats53%
Fuel System53%
Body & Structure42%
Seat Belts42%
Engine32%
Speed Control21%
Other21%
Visibility & Wipers11%

Does the 2009 Pontiac G8 have recalls?

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

15V399000Seat BeltsJune 23, 2015 · 47,042 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly which includes the steel cable, free of charge. These replacement parts reposition the tensioner cable out of the path of entry into the vehicle and uses a more flexible cable, set at a more upright angle. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 15206.

14V540000Electrical SystemSeptember 9, 2014 · 47,043 units

Defect

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.

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. 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.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/RKE transmitter assemblies, and cut and fit a revised key blade and housing assembly, in which the blade has been indexed by 90 degrees, to the original RKE transmitter assembly. GM issued an interim notification to owners on December 31, 2014. The recall began on February 4, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14445. Note: Until the recall has been performed, it is very important that drivers adjust their seat and steering column to allow clearance between their knee and the ignition key.

11V534000AirbagsNovember 4, 2011 · 38,444 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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

Remedy

GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

09V172000Tires & WheelsMay 21, 2009 · 35,038 units

Defect

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 THAT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE TELLTALE UNTIL TIRE PRESSURE FALLS BELOW VALUES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE BRAKE POSITION SENSOR AND THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCK RECEIVER WITH THE CORRECT VALUES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING 52 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BUMPER OF A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO YIELD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPINE, ANKLES, NECK, AND RIGHT SHOULDER, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 1, 2018 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 4, 2014 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED. HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE STRUTS INSULATED ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE DEALERS ARE ALSO OUT OF THE PARTS AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · January 7, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · November 20, 2014

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO IMMEDIATELY DOWNSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, LEAVING CAR AND DRIVER IN PRECARIOUS PREDICAMENT WITH TODAY'S HIGHWAY SPEEDS. TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSES A VIBRATION WHEN SPEED DECREASES AND CAUSES DOD TO BE IMPLEMENTED. DEALER HAS NO SOLUTION. *TR

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 16, 2008

2009 Pontiac G8 — common questions

Is the 2009 Pontiac G8 reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 185 complaints put the 2009 model at #1 of 3 G8 years. It is one of the G8 years to avoid.

What are the most common 2009 G8 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are airbags (70 complaints), electrical system (27 complaints), suspension (22 complaints).

Does the 2009 Pontiac G8 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2009 Pontiac G8. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Pontiac G8 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the G8 years to avoid are 2009. The cleanest record among G8 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.