Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
330–25K
2925–50K
3950–75K
1475–100K
8100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
144 reports
74,960 miles · Mar 30, 2018
Air Bags
STARTED MY G8 TODAY AND RECEIVED AIR-BAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 75K MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR SEEMS TO GO OFF DURING SYSTEM CHECKOUT EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER PRESENT. BUT…
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STARTED MY G8 TODAY AND RECEIVED AIR-BAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 75K MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE NOTICED WITHIN THE PAST FEW MONTHS THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR SEEMS TO GO OFF DURING SYSTEM CHECKOUT EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER PRESENT. BUT NOW, WITH THE ALARM AND WARNING LIGHT I AM NOT SURE IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. MANY INTERNET BLOGS INDICATE THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. THE REPAIR INDICATED COSTS OVER $1000, INCLUDING PARTS. IT SEEMS A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED LONG AGO FOR SUCH A CRITICAL SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE WITH RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGE.
NHTSA ODI #11082224
20,000 miles · Feb 28, 2018
Engine
RIGHT SIDE OIL LEAK FROM THE VALVE COVER, LEAKING ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD @20000 MILES. FIRE CONCERN.
NHTSA ODI #11075419
68,000 miles · Dec 26, 2017
Air Bags
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 REPLACED WITH A NEW CLOCKSPRING, (WITH A NEW P/N 922340…
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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 REPLACED WITH A NEW CLOCKSPRING, (WITH A NEW P/N 92234063). COST $800, AND ANY AFFINITY I HAD FOR GM. AIRBAGS COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT BE WEAR ITEMS ON VEHICLES.
NHTSA ODI #11056684
40,000 miles · Sep 18, 2017
Suspension
FRONT END KNOCKING NOISE OVER BUMPS
NHTSA ODI #11024116
50,000 miles · Sep 5, 2017
Air Bags
TOOK 2009 PONTIAC G8 GT IN FOR AIRBAG RECALL TO REPROGRAM AIRBAG TIMING. TWO DAYS LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, CONTACTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS IT CANT BE A COINCIDENCE THAT THEY JUST WORKED ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND NOW THE CAR HAS A AIRBAG ISSUE. THEY WANTED $149 TO RE-DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED IN MY OPINION. DOING…
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TOOK 2009 PONTIAC G8 GT IN FOR AIRBAG RECALL TO REPROGRAM AIRBAG TIMING. TWO DAYS LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, CONTACTED SERVICE DEPARTMENT AS IT CANT BE A COINCIDENCE THAT THEY JUST WORKED ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND NOW THE CAR HAS A AIRBAG ISSUE. THEY WANTED $149 TO RE-DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM THAT THEY CREATED IN MY OPINION. DOING A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH OF THE PROBLEM, SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE RUN INTO THE SAME SCENARIO OF THE LIGHT COMING ON AFTER HAVING THE RECALL PERFORMED. I REFUSE TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND STILL HAVE NOT HAD THE ISSUE RESOLVED. GM NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ISSUE ANOTHER RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11021403
67,000 miles · Apr 23, 2017
Suspension
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES AND CLUNKS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. BOTH BALL JOINS HAVE TEARS IN THE RUBBER BOOTS WHICH I'M SURE CAUSES WATER AND ROAD DEBRE TO ENTER BALL JOINT AND CORRODE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND WHEN A BALL JOINT LETS GO IT CAN BE FATAL SENDING THE CAR IN ANY UNCHOSEN…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FRONT SUSPENSION SHAKES AND CLUNKS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. BOTH BALL JOINS HAVE TEARS IN THE RUBBER BOOTS WHICH I'M SURE CAUSES WATER AND ROAD DEBRE TO ENTER BALL JOINT AND CORRODE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND WHEN A BALL JOINT LETS GO IT CAN BE FATAL SENDING THE CAR IN ANY UNCHOSEN DIRECTION. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS HAPPENING TO EVERY SINGLE PONTIAC G8 OWNER I'VE COME ACROSS. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING, BALL JOINT LETS GO ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WILL GO INTO A ROLL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION
NHTSA ODI #10979964
10,600 miles · Apr 12, 2017
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE "AIR BAG FAULT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND MODULE WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PPS SENSOR AND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G8. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE "AIR BAG FAULT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND MODULE WERE FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PPS SENSOR AND MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,600.
NHTSA ODI #10972079
61,000 miles · Apr 11, 2017
Engine
HELLO, I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY TO INFORM YOU OF A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL GM LS ENGINES THAT COME WITH ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT (AFM) OR DISPLACEMENT ON DEMAND (DOD). THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE BEGIN TO FAIL SOMEWHERE AFTER 40,000 MILES - WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE OCCURRING IN MY OWN VEHICLE AT JUST OVER 61,000 MILES. I…
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HELLO, I AM WRITING TO YOU TODAY TO INFORM YOU OF A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL GM LS ENGINES THAT COME WITH ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT (AFM) OR DISPLACEMENT ON DEMAND (DOD). THE LIFTERS IN THE ENGINE BEGIN TO FAIL SOMEWHERE AFTER 40,000 MILES - WITH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE OCCURRING IN MY OWN VEHICLE AT JUST OVER 61,000 MILES. IF YOU WERE TO GOOGLE "LS DEAD LIFTER", "LS LIFTER FAILURE" OR "GM PISTON SLAP", THE ISSUES ARISES. I HAVE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC DIVISION AT GM TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THERE IS "NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE THE ENGINE IS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY". THIS IS A BS AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A RECALL IF IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND FROM WHAT I READ ON A COUPLE FORUMS, GM HAS EVEN SENT A TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) TO THEIR DEALERS IN THE PAST IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE ON THIS ENGINE FOR SEVERAL DIFFERENT GM MODELS. SYMPTOMS AND NOISE ON THE "DEAD LIFTER" ISSUE: YOU WILL HEAR A TICKING OR KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE ITSELF UPON START UP. NOISE TENDS TO BE LOUDER ON A COLD START UP AND WILL GRADUALLY SOFTEN (BUT NOT COMPLETELY GO AWAY) ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM. THE TICKING OR KNOCKING NOISE CONTINUES DURING IDLING AND REVVING, SPEEDING UP AS YOU PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR.
NHTSA ODI #10971938
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2017
Air Bags
RECEIVED NOTICE IN THE MAIL FOR TWO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I WORK IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A MOTORCYLE DEALERSHIP SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH RECALL PROCEDURE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT DATE. I ASKED IF ALL PARTS WERE IN STOCK AND INFORMED THAT THEY WERE. I SHOW UP TO MY APPOINTMENT AND COUPLE HOURS…
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RECEIVED NOTICE IN THE MAIL FOR TWO OPEN RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I WORK IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF A MOTORCYLE DEALERSHIP SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH RECALL PROCEDURE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT DATE. I ASKED IF ALL PARTS WERE IN STOCK AND INFORMED THAT THEY WERE. I SHOW UP TO MY APPOINTMENT AND COUPLE HOURS LATER WHILE IM BACK AT WORK I AM INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT IN AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESCHEDULE ME FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT. GET SET UP FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT DROP MY CAR OFF HEAD BACK TO WORK. HOURS LATER IM INFORMED CAR IS READY FOR PICKUP. I GET THERE AND ONE RECALL WAS PERFORMED WHICH WAS THE SEAT BELT RECALL, WHICH STILL LEAVES THE AIRBAG RECALL YET TO BE PERFORMED. I WAS CONTACTED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER SOME TIME LATER AND HE APOLOGIZED AND THAT WAS IT STILL WAITING TO THIS DAY TO BE LET KNOWN SOMETHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10959720
65,000 miles · Mar 9, 2017
Air Bags
AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES AIRBAG IS OFF, EVEN WHEN 180LB ADULT PASSENGER IS PRESENT ON SEAT. THIS CONTINUED FOR SOME TIME UNTIL THE AIRBAG FAULT LIGHT ACTIVATED AND INDICATED AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. GM WANTS $957 IN ORDER TO FIX THE ISSUE.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2009 Pontiac G8 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year