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2008 Pontiac G5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

96 reports with mileage · 19 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports

Steering complaints

23 reports
Clear category filter
71,000 miles · Aug 27, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS CLEANED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. KMJ UPDATED 10/17/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10537523

105,000 miles · Jul 10, 2013
SteeringCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR BODY REPAIR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP FOR BODY REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED A WAS FUSE FROM THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE HAD BLOWN AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS A INCLUDED AND REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V073000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524104

189,000 miles · Oct 19, 2012
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME BUT WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC OR THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V073000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 189,000.

NHTSA ODI #10481191

85,500 miles · Jun 19, 2012
SteeringSuspension

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING IN THESE CARS. STEERING WILL STILL LOCK UP, AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS. THE RECALL TWO YEARS AGO HAS NOT HELPED THE SITUATION. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING RACK WITH THESE CARS. SUSPENSION/STEERING CLUNKS AND RATTLES LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF! VERY UNSAFE…

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THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING IN THESE CARS. STEERING WILL STILL LOCK UP, AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS. THE RECALL TWO YEARS AGO HAS NOT HELPED THE SITUATION. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING COLUMN AND STEERING RACK WITH THESE CARS. SUSPENSION/STEERING CLUNKS AND RATTLES LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF! VERY UNSAFE! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462249

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2011
Steering

NO STEERING, CRASHED INTO A POLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439048

40,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
SteeringSuspension

VEHICLE STARTING MAKING CLUNKING AND RATTLING SOUNDS IN FRONT SUSPENSION. HAD TO HAVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS REPLACED, NEW TIE RODS, AND SWAY BAR LINKS INSTALLED. BEFORE THE REPAIRS, THE STEERING HAD BECOME EXTREMELY LOOSE AND WAS HARD TO HANDLE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428386

69,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, SECONDS LATER THE POWER STEERING HAD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, SECONDS LATER THE POWER STEERING HAD SUDDENLY STOP FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 69000.

NHTSA ODI #10362419

20,000 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Steering

WHILE TRYING TO PARK MY 2008 PONTIAC G5, THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP. NO WARNING LIGHT OR WARNING MESSAGES COME ON. THE STEERING LITERALLY LOCKS FOR A SECOND AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AT ABOUT 20,000 MILES. IT WILL DO THIS OCCASIONALLY WITHOUT WARNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323961

15,000 miles · Apr 5, 2010
Steering

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT ON A 2008 PONTIAC G5 WAS REPLACED DUE TO CLUNKING WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING AT A LOW SPEED. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 15,000 MILES AND THE PART WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 29,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323910

34,000 miles · Apr 5, 2010
SteeringSuspension

CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS IN A 2008 PONTIAC G5 (CHEVY COBALT TWIN) NEEDED REPLACING AT 34,000 MILES. STEERING WOULD MAKE LOUD NOISES WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING CAN FALL APART IF NOT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323907

Official recalls

4

14V171000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 10, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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 the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

14V047000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:ignition:switch

Feb 10, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

Electrical System:ignition:switch

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

12V459000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Sep 19, 2012

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, or Texas; model year 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arizona; and model year 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, or Texas. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump module may crack, which could cause a fuel leak.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.

10V073000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

Mar 3, 2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 CHEVROLET COBALT AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 PONTIAC G5 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC POWER STEERING. THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF POWER STEERING ASSIST IS LOST, IT WOULD REQUIRE GREATER DRIVER EFFORT AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS ARE BEING NOTIFIED ON A ROLLING BASIS BETWEEN MARCH 29 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2010. A COPY OF THE MAILING SCHEDULE IS LOCATED IN THE RECALL FILE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE10005 · Electric Power Steering Failure

Opened Jan 27, 2010 · Closed Jul 19, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System

In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).The letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.The letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that production of a new motor started in December 2009.GM's recall repair procedure instructs dealers to replace the EPS motor in all recalled vehicles. ODI's analysis of all information available related to sudden loss of EPS assist while driving in the MY 2005 through 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles shows current complaint and warranty rates of 323/100,000 vehicles and 0.4% respectively.In response to ODI's request for information, GM identified 81 complaints where a crash was claimed that may be related to loss of EPS assist.ODI's analysis of all crash claims was based on verifiable factors such as; whether a loss of EPS was indicated at the time of the crash by a chime or malfunction indicator lamp or if a EPS related component malfunction was identified after the crash occurred.With this method ODI identified 36 possible crashes related to EPS failure.GM assessed crash claims based on the available facts and excluded crash claims that indicated that the vehicle was travelling at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater.GM said that it believes if power assist is lost while a vehicle is moving at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater there is a small difference in steering efforts perceived in subjective evaluations at those speeds and it is unlikely to lead to loss of vehicle control. Based on GM's safety recall, this investigation is closed.