Owners of 2007 Pontiac G5 models describe a pattern of electrical failures centered on the ignition system. The most serious: key sticks in the ignition or won't fully engage, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds. When this happens, power steering and power brakes fail. At least two owners reported crashes as a result. Dealers identified ignition switch and BCI (body control interface) faults; the manufacturer issued recall campaign 14V04700, but parts remained unavailable months after recall notices went out, leaving owners stranded.
Beyond the ignition, owners report erratic dashboard warning lights—check engine, power steering, anti-theft—illuminating simultaneously without obvious cause. One owner described the car acting as if accelerating and braking at once with no ability to steer. Diagnostics point to engine control module malfunction. Cooling fans run excessively after shutdown, draining batteries and preventing starts. Door locks fail intermittently. Air bag and seat belt warning lights stay on. Brake lights lag noticeably. One owner's trunk and electric start quit after dealer service work on the accelerator pedal, with the dealer blaming the customer.
The common thread: failures occur across mileage ranges and persist even after warranty expires, leaving owners to cover repair costs themselves.
Failure modes owners describe
Ignition switch sticking/failure
Key stuck in ignition or unable to turn fully to start position. Some vehicles stalled when key stuck. Owner narratives reference GM nationwide ignition switch recall campaign.
When: Various mileages reported: 5,000–120,000 miles; affects newer and higher-mileage examples equally
Symptoms owners cite: Key will not come out of ignition cylinder; Key cannot be fully inserted to start position; Engine stalls while key stuck in ignition; Vehicle loses power on highway after stalling
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service bulletin 09-02-35-005B dated February 4, 2010 addresses key stuck issue; owners report out-of-warranty repair costs ($45 diagnostic fee mentioned); replacement of ignition cylinder and BCI module needed per service records
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 14V04700 (ignition switch recall); parts unavailable at dealerships for months despite recall issuance; some vehicles still not covered under recall eligibility
Unintended power loss and stalling while driving
Vehicle loses engine power and stalls without warning during highway or city driving. Owner reports loss of power steering and braking on impact, raising safety concerns. Multiple owners report ignition switch fault as root cause.
When: Reported between 5,000 and 80,000 miles; several incidents on highways at 35–70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls or shuts down unexpectedly; RPM gauge drops to zero; Loss of power steering; Loss of power braking; Vehicle unable to be steered; Crashes reported due to loss of control
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic testing indicated ignition switch fault; towing required; out-of-pocket towing and rental costs cited by owners; one owner noted timing chain replaced twice prior to this issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ignition switch recall campaign 14V04700; manufacturer notified but vehicles not yet repaired due to parts shortage
Dashboard warning lights illuminating simultaneously/erratically
Multiple warning lights (check engine, power steering, anti-theft) illuminate at once without corresponding fault conditions. Occurs intermittently while driving. Engine control module suspected as root cause.
When: No specific mileage cited; occurs randomly during highway and city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light on continuously or flashing; Power steering warning light on; Anti-theft light on; All gauges act erratically; Vehicle behaves as if accelerating and braking simultaneously; Loss of steering control when lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: Multiple electrical system error codes per diagnostic scan
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnostic testing showed computer (engine control module) not operating correctly; one owner replaced battery due to bad cell, which temporarily reduced error codes; dealers unable to identify root cause during inspections
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for this symptom; owner reports knowing of numerous other affected vehicles online
Cooling fan running after engine shut-off
Engine cooling fans engage and continue running 15–20 minutes after vehicle is shut off, regardless of actual engine temperature or run time.
When: Early indication of broader electrical system degradation; followed by battery drain and no-start condition
Symptoms owners cite: Cooling fans run 15–20 minutes after engine shut-off; Battery drained due to prolonged fan operation; Vehicle will not start due to battery drain
Codes mentioned: Multiple electrical system error codes
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced battery due to bad cell; diagnostic showed engine control module operating incorrectly
Air bag warning lights and passenger air bag off indicator
Service air bag light and passenger air bag off indicator remain illuminated on dashboard. Owner reports this has persisted since purchasing vehicle used.
When: At least since vehicle ownership at 122,000 miles; affects vehicles at various mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Service air bag light on dashboard illuminated; Passenger air bag off light illuminated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) issued; recalls apply to this issue on multiple 2007 Pontiac G5 examples per owner research
Door lock/unlock malfunction
Remote key fob or driver door lock button fails to unlock all doors. Some doors require manual unlocking.
When: No mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Remote key fob does not unlock all doors; Driver door lock button does not unlock all doors; Some doors remain locked and must be manually unlocked
Brake light lag and center brake light illumination
Center brake light illuminates independently; main brake lights respond with significant delay when brakes applied.
When: Occurs occasionally, not consistently
Symptoms owners cite: Center brake light illuminates without braking; Main brake lights lag 0.2 to 0.5 seconds behind brake pedal application
Accelerator pedal sensor replacement and resulting electrical failures
After dealer replacement of accelerator pedal sensor (and later accelerator pedal itself) for reported power loss issue, automatic door trunk opener, trunk opener, and electric start ceased functioning. Dealer blamed owner for dropped keys.
When: December 2013, vehicle had previously experienced power loss at 70 mph in July 2013
Symptoms owners cite: Automatic door trunk inoperative after service; Trunk opener inoperative after service; Electric start inoperative after service
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer charged owner for accelerator pedal replacement; owner disputes cause, noting all systems worked before service
Seat belt pretensioner malfunction and check air bag light
Check air bag light flashes, prompting seat belt replacement. Seat belt kit replaced at owner expense.
When: July 30, 2012
Symptoms owners cite: Check air bag light flashing
Repairs/costs cited: Seat belt kit replaced; owner charged $100
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.