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2008 Pontiac SolsticeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 159 owner complaints about the 2008 Pontiac Solstice, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-061 the manufacturer reports only 42% of affected cars repaired.

2008 Pontiac Solstice
56
CarFlaw IndexSolid year20% below the Solstice median · #3 of 4 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 42%Owner complaints15913 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage39kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 27, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Pontiac Solstice has problems

159 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags993
Service brakes, hydraulic291
Electrical system150
Seats100
Service brakes72
Structure61
Engine50
Power train30
Vehicle speed control21
7 other systems102

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2008 Pontiac Solstice 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.

42%repaired · 2019 Q2

Sensor: occupant classification

Recall 17V-061 · Jan 26, 2017 · 91,007 vehicles · 38,035 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

72%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 14V-171 · Apr 10, 2014 · 2,191,014 vehicles · 1,569,104 repaired

Risk. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

72%repaired · 2016 Q2

Air bags

Recall 14V-047 · Feb 10, 2014 · 2,190,934 vehicles · 1,571,075 repaired

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.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Front: anchorage

Recall 07V-454 · Sep 26, 2007 · 1,482 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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?

39kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 64 air bags complaints. 98% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
21under 30k miles63under 100k miles1100k 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

21 owners mentioned a cost

$885median

Middle half: $800 – $1,000

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

2008 vs. every other Solstice 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 Solstice median. How we score

'06'07'08'09'10
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 Pontiac Solstice safety ratings

2008 Pontiac Solstice Convertible in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2008 Pontiac Solstice frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2008 Pontiac Solstice side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Pontiac Solstice, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Passenger Sensing System Sensor MatDP16001 · closed Apr 24, 2017
    Led to recall 17V-061
  2. HVAC Blower Motor ConnectorDP20002 · closed Oct 27, 2022
    No recall
  3. INADEQUATE BRAKE POWER ASSISTPE08016 · closed Jun 24, 2008
    No recall
In owners' words

What Solstice owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The passenger presence sensor was fixed by the GM dealer after the safety recall was issued, but has failed again and now doesn't work. because the failure occurred more than 1 year after the dealer fixed it the first time, it is not covered for repair. Worse, if i was to order a new part and have…
Complaint 11663152 · May 27, 2025
The passenger seat air bag sensor is inoperative after having the recall completed April of 2022. When the vehicle was in for the recall, the sensor was fine, so the reinforcement strip was added. According to the recall reference N162080281, there is a 12 month warranty on the repair. Below is the…
Complaint 11514946 · Apr 1, 2023
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE CALLED THE NUMBER PROVIDED IN THE RECALL NOTICE AND A REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED HER THAT HER AIR BAGS WERE FINE DUE TO…
Complaint 11351162 · Aug 25, 2020

Own a 2008 Solstice?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.