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ProblemsByVin File / 2009-PONTIAC-G8
2009 · Pontiac

Pontiac G8 problems

4 safety recalls. 144 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.8 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
4
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
62 reports · avg $1,100
severe
suspension
17 reports · avg $900
moderate
electrical
14 reports · avg $850
moderate
powertrain
7 reports · avg $2,500
moderate
lighting
6 reports · avg $250
moderate
steering
6 reports · avg $700
severe
brakes
5 reports · avg $450
moderate
tires
5 reports · avg $150
moderate
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2009 G8?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2009 G8 · powertrain
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING ASS'Y HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE OF MOAN/ROARING NOISE THAT INCREASES AND DECREASES AS SPEED INCREASES AND DECREASES. NOISE BECOMES NOTICEABLY LOUDER AS YOU MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN - WHICH CAUSES THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL TO HAVE AN INCREASE IN WEIGHT…
12/29/2016 · NHTSA ODI #10938412.0
2009 G8 · steering
ABOVE ABOUT 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL HAS A SHAKE AND THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THEY DO NOT FEEL IT, SEEMS LIKE THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT SEEMS LIKE GM WANTS NOTHING TO DO WITH. THIS IS A LINK TO A 30 PAGE THREAD OF PEOPLE…
12/28/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10441569.0
2009 G8 · airbags
WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON HIGHWAY, AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT ACTIVATED AT 68000 MILES, WHICH DISABLED AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THE CAR. GM DEALER READ AIRBAG FAULT CODE WHICH INDICATED CLOCKSPRING FAULT. (P/N 92184056) DEALER REPORTED THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THEY…
12/26/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11056684.0
2009 G8 · airbags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT AIR BAG SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED. THE…
12/09/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10555267.0

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Active recalls showing 3 of 4

severe NHTSA 15V399000 23/06/2015

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

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

Fix: 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.
severe NHTSA 09V172000 21/05/2009

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

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.

Fix: 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.
severe NHTSA 14V540000 09/09/2014

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

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.

Fix: 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.
View all 4 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2009 Pontiac G8 reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 144 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Pontiac G8 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2009 Pontiac G8?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 62 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Pontiac G8 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2009 Pontiac G8?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 144 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 21 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Pontiac. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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