repaired · 2017 Q4
Seat belts
Risk. If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
2009 Pontiac G8Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 144 owner complaints about the 2009 Pontiac G8, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-399 the manufacturer reports only 43% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 8, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2009 Pontiac G8 has problems
144 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
69Air bags4 crash/fire/injury
20Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
20Suspension
9Power train
7Exterior lighting
6Steering
6Tires
6Electronic stability control (ESC)
6Service brakes
3112 other systems5 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 69 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 20 | 1 |
| Suspension | 20 | 0 |
| Power train | 9 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 |
| Tires | 6 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 0 |
| 12 other systems | 31 | 5 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
4 recalls
2009 Pontiac G8 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
no report yet
Antilock: control unit/module
Risk. 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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
56kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 62 air bags complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.
9under 30k miles56under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
14 owners mentioned a cost$979median
Middle half: $855 – $1,075
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2009 vs. every other G8 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the G8 median. How we score
'08'09'10
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2009 Pontiac G8 safety ratings
2009 Pontiac G8 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What G8 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, he noticed that the airbag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the airbag warning light remained illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2009 PONTIAC G8. The contact stated that at start-up, the airbag default warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact proceeded to drive and noticed that the light was no longer on the instrument panel. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of…
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that the airbag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer and was informed that the front passenger’s side airbag sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the…
Own a 2009 G8?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.