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2009 Pontiac G8

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

126 reports with mileage · 18 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 69 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Suspension complaints

20 reports
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14,034 miles · Jun 22, 2010
SteeringSuspension

MY 2009 PONTIAC G8GT WITH 14,000 MILES HAS HAD A FRONT END SHAKE IN IT SINCE NEW. HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED TO NO AVAIL. HE CAR HAS STARTED TO WANDER BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SO I DECIDED TODAY I WAS INSPECTING IT TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANYTHING. THE LAST TIME I HAD IT TO THE DEAL…

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MY 2009 PONTIAC G8GT WITH 14,000 MILES HAS HAD A FRONT END SHAKE IN IT SINCE NEW. HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED TO NO AVAIL. HE CAR HAS STARTED TO WANDER BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY SO I DECIDED TODAY I WAS INSPECTING IT TO SEE IF I COULD FIND ANYTHING. THE LAST TIME I HAD IT TO THE DEALER I TOLD THEM I COULD HER THE FRONT STRUT BUSHINGS GOING BAD THIS WAS ABOUT 1000 MILES AGO. TODAY DURING MY INSPECTION I FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT STRUT BUSHINGS ARE BAD. I WAS CHECKING A COUPLE OF FORUM BOARDS TODAY AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR AND PONTIAC AN GM ARE WELL AWARE OF IT. WHY HAVEN'T THEY ARE ANYBODY MADE GM STEP UP AND FIX THIS BEFORE SOMEBODY GET HURT OR KILLED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339586

23,000 miles · Nov 30, 2009
Suspension

AT 23,000 MILES MY LOWER FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT WENT BAD AND A WOBBLE WAS NOTICED WHEN BRAKING HARD. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND THIS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SOME VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL OR CAMPAIGN LIST. THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITHIN THE G8 COMMUN…

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AT 23,000 MILES MY LOWER FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT WENT BAD AND A WOBBLE WAS NOTICED WHEN BRAKING HARD. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND THIS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SOME VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL OR CAMPAIGN LIST. THE BALL JOINT PROBLEM IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITHIN THE G8 COMMUNITY BUT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY THE DEALERS OR GM. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, THIS PROBLEM COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES. THEY HAVE REDESIGNED REPLACEMENT CONTROL ARMS/BALL JOINTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BUT THEY HAVE LIMITED INVENTORY. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC TO INFORM THE CONSUMER OF THE POTENTIAL FAILURE AND DESTRUCTION THAT COULD TAKE PLACE. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE OPENED UP TO ALL G8'S NOT JUST BE VIN NUMBER. OBVIOUSLY THERE ARE MORE CARS THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT ARE NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294013

18,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED. HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE STRUTS INSULATED ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE DEALERS ARE ALSO OUT OF THE PARTS AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAG…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPAIRED. HE HAS TAKEN HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE STRUTS INSULATED ON THE VEHICLE WERE DEFECTIVE AND COULD NOT BE REPLACED. THE DEALERS ARE ALSO OUT OF THE PARTS AND DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #10291055

25,000 miles · Oct 29, 2009
Suspension

MY PONTIAC G8 GT HAS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEAR AND FAILURE FROM ALL FOUR OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS -- UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. GM HAS STATED THAT THIS WEAR IS FROM A BAD "BOOT DESIGN", BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH MULTIPLE BOOT REPLACEMENTS AND CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENTS THAT HAVE THEN GONE …

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MY PONTIAC G8 GT HAS EXPERIENCED PREMATURE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS WEAR AND FAILURE FROM ALL FOUR OF THE FRONT BALL JOINTS -- UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS. GM HAS STATED THAT THIS WEAR IS FROM A BAD "BOOT DESIGN", BUT THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH MULTIPLE BOOT REPLACEMENTS AND CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENTS THAT HAVE THEN GONE BAD -- ONCE AGAIN. THIS THEREFORE POINTS TO THE BALL JOINT DESIGN AS BEING THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE PREMATURE WEAR AND FAILURE! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON ALL FOUR OF THE CONTROL ARMS FOR THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BY A FAULTY BALL JOINT BREAKING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290222

5,700 miles · Oct 28, 2009
SteeringSuspension

":ALIGNMENT PULL" PONTIAC G8 2009. WHEN MAKING A SHARP TURN TO THE LEFT, STEERING DOES NOT COME BACK TO CENTER, PULLS TO LEFT. WHEN MAKING A SHARP RIGHT, STEERING DOES NOT CENTER, PULLS TO THE RIGHT. TIRE AIR PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED, TIRE HAVE BEEN BALANCED AND CHECK FOR OUT OF ROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290141

11,000 miles · Oct 28, 2009
Suspension

AFTER ONLY 11,000 MILES MY FRONT RIGHT BALL JOINT WAS BAD AND A WOBBLE WAS NOTICED WHEN BRAKING HARD. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE LCA TO FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE PREMATURE FAILURE AND COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE INJURIES IF A MORE SOLID FIX ISN'T COMPLETED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290064

10,000 miles · Oct 27, 2009
Suspension

FRONT SUSPENSION: CONTROL AND CASTER ARMS: BALL JOINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290028

3,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND HAVE FAILED AGAIN ALONG WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS VIN AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANU…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE LEFT SIDE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND HAVE FAILED AGAIN ALONG WITH THE RIGHT SIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR HIS VIN AND HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A TOTAL FAILURE AND TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ODI #10284751

45,000 miles · Aug 26, 2009
Suspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, HE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE LOWER CONTROL A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, HE NOTICED A LOUD NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500 AND THE CURRENT WAS MILEAGE 4,800.

NHTSA ODI #10281825

10,000 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Suspension

THE 2009 PONTIAC G8 HAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END. AT 16000KM THE BALL JOINTS WERE FALLING OUT ON MY PONTIAC G8. THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A CONTROL FAILURE OF THE CAR AND A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS THE DEALER HAS STATED THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OT…

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THE 2009 PONTIAC G8 HAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH FAILURE OF THE BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT END. AT 16000KM THE BALL JOINTS WERE FALLING OUT ON MY PONTIAC G8. THIS COULD HAVE LEAD TO A CONTROL FAILURE OF THE CAR AND A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AS THE DEALER HAS STATED THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS CAR TO BE UNSAFE, AND FEEL IT SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276710

Official recalls

4

15V399000 · Seat Belts

Jun 23, 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. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

14V540000 · Electrical System:ignition

Sep 9, 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. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

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. 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.

Remedy: 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.

11V534000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 4, 2011

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2009. A 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DEVICE (ATD) IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST EXCEEDED THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA (HIC) REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITIONED FULL FORWARD, THE SEAT POSITION SENSOR WILL CAUSE A 30 MILLISECONDS DEPLOYMENT DELAY BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES OF THE DUAL-STAGE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

09V172000 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock:control Unit/module; Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems

May 21, 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. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS". THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKE LAMPS MAY BE CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED AND FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING. ALSO CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE INCORRECT VALUES PROGRAMMED INTO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE TELLTALE UNTIL TIRE PRESSURE FALLS BELOW VALUES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems

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. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS". THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKE LAMPS MAY BE CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED AND FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING. ALSO CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE INCORRECT VALUES PROGRAMMED INTO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE TELLTALE UNTIL TIRE PRESSURE FALLS BELOW VALUES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Service Brakes, Air:antilock:control Unit/module

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. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS". THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY PROGRAMMED. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE BRAKE LAMPS MAY BE CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED AND FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING. ALSO CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY HAVE INCORRECT VALUES PROGRAMMED INTO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WILL NOT ILLUMINATE THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE TELLTALE UNTIL TIRE PRESSURE FALLS BELOW VALUES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.