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Pontiac G8Model year report

2009 Pontiac G8 Problems

Complaints
144filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
50,000miles, 125 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 6.0L 8-cyl RWD · 15 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2009 Pontiac G8 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Pontiac G8 most often describe an airbag fault warning light that comes on at startup, usually traced by dealers to the passenger presence sensor/module or, less often, the clock spring. Front suspension noise and clunking from worn ball joints and lower control arms is the second recurring theme, and a smaller group of complaints covers brake lights that stay on, rough or delayed transmission shifting, and ignition key concerns tied to a recall.

  1. Air bags

    Airbag fault light / passenger presence module

    • 58 complaints (40%)
    • median 58,450 mi at 6.1 yrs old (52 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $957 (median of 11 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2022

    The airbag or SRS warning light comes on and stays on, sometimes intermittently, often shortly after starting the car. Dealers typically read codes B0081 and U0170 and tell owners the passenger presence sensor or module has failed and needs replacement, with quoted repairs commonly in the several-hundred-to-over-a-thousand-dollar range. Several owners report the light appeared after an airbag recall reprogramming was performed, and some were told their vehicle was not covered by recall 11V534000. A few describe the clock spring as the diagnosed cause. Reported from a few thousand miles up to well past 100,000 miles, with many cases in the 30,000-70,000 mile range and some owners noting the light appears in cold weather.

    Recall 11V534000

    What to check: Start the car and confirm the airbag/SRS light goes out after the bulb check. Ask whether the passenger presence module or clock spring has been replaced, and have any stored airbag codes read before purchase.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Today I woke up and starting receiving the air bag fault error. Contacted my local GM dealership and was told it's the passenger side module that need to be replaced. They quoted me $1200 for parts and labor. This is a safety critical component that should not fail as it disables the air bag system which could be life threatening in an accident. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11322556, filed 2020-04, 147,226 miles

    “Air bag fault warning on my hud, along with the corresponding light, comes on when it gets cold out. Every time it gets below about 35 degrees this light will come on and disable all of my air bags. This has happened ever since I have owned this car. I have consulted with my local GM dealership and the diagnosis indicated to replace the passenger presence module . …”

    NHTSA complaint #11300814, filed 2020-01, 130,000 miles
  2. Suspension

    Front suspension clunk and worn ball joints

    • 17 complaints (12%)
    • median 30,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
    • filed 2009–2017

    Owners describe clunking, groaning, cracking or shaking from the front end, sometimes noticeable at any speed or when braking. Dealers and independent shops commonly diagnose worn lower control arm ball joints or the control arm itself, and some owners report repeat failures after an earlier repair. Repairs were described as paid by the owner when the vehicle was not covered by a recall. Reported from as few as 3,000 miles up to about 55,000 miles, with several cases under 20,000 miles.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Listen for clunks or groans over bumps and while turning, and have the front ball joints and control arm bushings checked for play or torn boots on a pre-purchase inspection.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10979964, filed 2017-04, 67,000 miles

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10290064, filed 2009-10, 11,000 miles
  3. Brakes

    Brake lights staying on or not working

    • 10 complaints (7%)
    • median 70,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2020

    Owners report the brake lights remaining illuminated with no pedal input, or failing to light when the pedal is pressed, sometimes with an abnormal clicking sound at startup. Some describe the pedal needing to be pulled up to turn the lights off. Complaints note the vehicles were not included in recall 09V172000, which concerns the brake pedal position switch programming. Reported between roughly 41,000 and 79,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

    Recall 09V172000

    What to check: With the car parked, have someone watch the rear lights while you press and release the brake pedal, and confirm the lights go out fully when the pedal is released.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Brake lights will illuminated - when the brake paddle is pushed up the brake lights will turn off for a short time and than illuminate again. This happens when the vehicle is stationary, in motion, on a city street and on the highway.”

    NHTSA complaint #11327683, filed 2020-06, 79,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH attempting to engage the brakes, the vehicle jerked and veered to the left without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the rotors and calipers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. However, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000. Updated 12/19/14 updated 09/28/2015”

    NHTSA complaint #10653946, filed 2014-11, 36,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Ignition key and stalling concerns

    • 11 complaints (8%)
    • median 17,025 mi at 3.4 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2009–2023

    Owners describe the key being loose in the ignition, the car failing to start until several attempts, and in some cases the engine shutting off while driving. Complaints mention recall 14V540000 for the ignition, with some owners reporting the key would not insert after the recall work was done or that parts were unavailable for the repair. Reported from about 15,000 to 25,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

    Recall 14V540000

    What to check: Ask whether the ignition recall 14V540000 was completed and whether the key and ignition cylinder were replaced; check that the key seats firmly and the engine starts reliably.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “First occurred n 11/23/2009. On the interstate it loses all power, engine shuts down, ignition stops, power steering stops, brakes fail - complete vehicle stoppage and full operating systems shut down without warning at 70 MPH, twice! Second occurrence was 1/26/2010.”

    NHTSA complaint #10308246, filed 2010-02, 17,150 miles

    “The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 14v540000 (electrical system). Upon receiving the vehicle, the contact found that the key would not insert into the ignition. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,722.”

    NHTSA complaint #10714043, filed 2015-05, 15,722 miles

Buying note. A 2009 G8 can be a satisfying car, but budget for a pre-purchase inspection that specifically checks the airbag system codes and the front ball joints, and confirm which open recalls have actually been completed on the specific vehicle.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 144 consumer complaints for the 2009 Pontiac G8. 125 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 50,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 994 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seats (5), Seat belts (4), Body and structure (4), Engine (3), Other or unknown (3), Vehicle speed control (2), Wheels (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I started my car and the airbag fault light is on. I did some research on this and I see mamy mamy people are having the same problem. I am not spending over a thousand dollars on a problem GM supposedly fixed with a recall already--how convenient the warranty is expired. Perhaps since so many people have the same complaints GM will do another recall and fix this for us.”

NHTSA complaint #10592157, filed 2014-05, 51,748 miles

Electrical system: “Our 2009 Pontiac G8 gt with 54,000 miles starting having the air bag fault light show up during startup of the vehicle. This fault stayed illuminated at all times. I researched this fault on the internet, including Pontiac forums, and found that there was a significant amount of other Pontiac G8 owners that have had a similar fault. I also found on the internet that there was a large amount of GM products that has the same fault. I found that the majority of the findings on the internet stated that the issue was the passenger presence module and/or sensor. …”

NHTSA complaint #10584996, filed 2014-04, 54,000 miles

Suspension: “I recently encountered a clunking/knocking noise in the front drivers side of the vehicle when going over small bumps, as well as severe shaking/vibration when braking and steering. This made it difficult to control the vehicle, especially at higher speeds and on freeway curves. Since the vehicle is no longer under warranty, I took the vehicle to a trusted local mechanic. They informed me that the front lower control arms needed replacement. …”

NHTSA complaint #10443281, filed 2012-01, 54,000 miles

Brakes: “Brake lights stay on whole driving and parked, after further research found out it was a GM recall no. 09101 & 09046 but my vehicle's VIN doesn't fall under recall list.”

NHTSA complaint #10945292, filed 2017-01, 108,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 125 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,000 and 71,000 miles.

11%0–1015%10–2523%25–5031%50–7511%75–1006%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (125 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 50,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’09’11’1324’15’17’19’21’23
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Pontiac G8 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
G8 RWD3.6L 6-cyl5-speed automatic172520$3,350
G8 RWD6.0L 8-cyl6-speed automatic152418$3,700
G8 RWD6.2L 8-cyl6-speed automatic132015$4,450
G8 RWD6.2L 8-cyl6-speed manual132015$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2009 Pontiac G8 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 994 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 994 bulletins →

Other model years of the Pontiac G8

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200914450,0004—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20087153,0004—20Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling

All Pontiac G8 model years

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Pontiac G8?

Owners of the 2009 Pontiac G8 most often describe an airbag fault warning light that comes on at startup, usually traced by dealers to the passenger presence sensor/module or, less often, the clock spring. The issues reported most often: Airbag fault light / passenger presence module; Front suspension clunk and worn ball joints; Brake lights staying on or not working.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Pontiac G8 have?

NHTSA recorded 144 consumer complaints for the 2009 Pontiac G8 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2009 Pontiac G8 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 69 complaints (48% of the total), followed by electrical system with 20.

Has the 2009 Pontiac G8 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Pontiac G8 get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Pontiac G8 (G8, 6.0L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2009 Pontiac G8 reported?

Among the 125 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 50,000 miles and the middle half falls between 23,000 and 71,000 miles; 50% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.