This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Pontiac G6 airbags problems
critical 68 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
68
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
14crashes
1fire
10injuries
2fatalities
What stands out
Owners have filed 68 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 6 model years of Pontiac G6 in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to complete a terminal replacement or connector re connection to correct a condition of Diagnostic Information for Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System, Intermittent AIR BAG Indicator/Lamp Illuminated with DTC(s) B0012, B0013, B0015, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 or B0044 Set (Inspect and Replace Connector Position Assurance (CPA) Retainer)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides Information on Passenger Presence Sensing System (PPS or PSS) Concerns with Custom Upholstery, Accessory Seat Heaters or Other Comfort Enhancing Devices
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗GENERAL MOTORS: DIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT RESTRAINTS, AIR BAG (SIR) INDICATOR/LAMP ON WITH DTC(S) B0012, B0013, B0016, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 OR B0044 SET. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A LOOSE, MISSING, OR BROKEN CONNECTOR POSITION ASSURANCE (CPA) RETAINER AT THE AIR BAG FOR THE SET DTC. INCLUDES TRAILBLAZER EXT. UPDATED 8/16/10. UPDATED 3/12/12.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Pontiac G6 airbag system generates complaints across five main failure categories. Most frequent is the passenger-side occupancy sensor fault: it fails internally or reads false, triggering a "service airbag" warning and displaying "airbag off" on the passenger side—even when the sensor was never manually disabled. Owners report this occurs as early as 5,000 miles and costs $700 to over $1,100 to replace at a dealership; replacement often fails to fix the light. Intermittent or permanent service-airbag warnings appear throughout the fleet with no clear root cause; dealers cannot consistently diagnose them, and owners report spending money on resets and sensor swaps without resolution.
More serious are multiple documented crashes in which front airbags failed to deploy during frontal, rear-end, and rollover impacts at speeds from 25 to 80 mph. Occupants were injured or killed. A handful of reports describe spontaneous airbag deployment—while starting the engine, pulling away from a traffic light, or parked with the engine off—striking occupants and in one case causing smoke and fire. Passenger sensors also malfunction by disabling the airbag if the occupant sits off-center, with no automatic reset while the vehicle is running. No manufacturer recall has been issued for the 2008 model year, though similar issues prompted recalls on 2006–2007 G6 models and other GM vehicles (Malibu, HHR).
Same Pontiac G6 airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger occupancy sensor failure / false 'airbag off' display
Passenger-side occupancy detection sensor (OPDS module under or integrated with seat) fails, causing the instrument cluster to display 'airbag off' on the passenger side even when no one has manually disabled it, or the sensor reads false and disables the airbag.
When: Typically observed between 5,000 and 129,000+ miles; some occurred within first few years of ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning light illuminated on dashboard; Instrument display reads 'passenger airbag off' or 'passenger system not engaged' without manual action; Light comes on intermittently then stays on permanently; Passenger airbag will not deploy in an accident due to sensor misdetection
Repairs/costs cited: $700–$1,100+ replacement of seat module or OPDS sensor; dealership repairs only per owners; replacement sometimes fails to resolve light.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued; owners cite 2006–2007 G6 recalls for similar issues; 2008 model year not recalled; GM noted similar problems reported in other GM vehicles (Malibu, HHR, etc.).
Intermittent service airbag warning light with root cause unclear
Service airbag light illuminates intermittently or continuously without clear cause, sometimes resolving on shutdown and restart, sometimes persisting. Owners and dealers cannot reliably identify or resolve the underlying fault.
When: Observed across the vehicle's lifespan; some at 35,000 miles, others at 100,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning on dashboard or center console display; Light flashes or stays on briefly after startup, then clears; Light comes on permanently and does not clear with vehicle off/on cycling; No crash or physical damage preceding the warning
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report $99 diagnostic fee to machine-scan at dealership; repairs attempted include sensor reset ($600), sensor replacement ($1,200), module replacement ($750–$1,100); repairs often ineffective.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; dealers acknowledge it is a known issue in some G6 models but offer no systematic fix; owners report hearing of similar complaints across GM brands.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Front driver and/or passenger airbags fail to inflate during impact events of sufficient severity (frontal, rear-end, and rollover collisions). Occurs even when airbag warning light was not present prior to the crash.
When: Occurs during actual crashes at reported speeds of 25–80 mph; one incident at ~5 mph (low-speed slide into ditch).
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment on driver and/or passenger sides during frontal collision; No deployment during rear-end impact with significant vehicle damage; No deployment during rollover or off-road collision; Occupants unprotected despite qualifying crash severity
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; no post-crash repairs attempted or data recovered in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No systematic response documented in narratives; one vehicle had been serviced for recalls within one year of failure; manufacturer may have investigated per police reports but no public action noted.
Spontaneous / inadvertent airbag deployment
Airbag deploys without any crash, impact, or user action—either while starting the engine, pulling away from a stop, or parked with engine off. Can occur on driver or passenger side.
When: One at 49,000 miles (upon engine start); one at traffic light during gentle acceleration; one while parked (vehicle smoking/fire reported).
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys without warning or impact; Deployment accompanied by loud explosion-like noise; Driver or nearby occupants struck by deploying airbag; Vehicle smoking or fire initiated by airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer attributed one case to moisture in the control circuit; vehicle with fire/smoke incident—no repair action documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One dealer noted moisture-related cause; no manufacturer recall or systematic response documented.
Passenger airbag sensor misdetection of occupant position
Passenger-side occupancy sensor fails to recognize or re-recognize a passenger sitting in the seat, or incorrectly disables the airbag if the passenger sits off-center. Sensor does not reset when passenger returns to center position without turning vehicle off.
When: Observed across vehicle mileage range; some owners report replacing sensor multiple times with same fault recurring.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag off light illuminates when passenger present; Sensor turns airbag off if occupant shifts off-center in seat; Sensor will not reset airbag to 'on' unless vehicle is shut down and restarted; No way to re-engage airbag while vehicle is running
Repairs/costs cited: $700–$1,100+ per replacement; multiple replacements reported as ineffective; some owners note repairs performed and same issue recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; dealers acknowledge problem but offer no long-term solution.
Synthesized from 68 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Pontiac G6?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2008 Pontiac G6?
It's a serious issue. 68 complaints have been filed, including 14 reports involving a crash and 2 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 54 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 63,000 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,000; a quarter make it past 115,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Pontiac/G6.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.