2007 Pontiac Solstice Problems

What owners report

Complaints for this model year are dominated by the passenger-seat occupant sensor: owners repeatedly describe a "service air bag" message with the passenger air bag shown as off, often at low mileage and sometimes again after the air bag recall work was done. A smaller but consistent group of reports covers harsh automatic-transmission downshifts while slowing, engine stalling or no-restart in cars that had ignition switch work, and a parking brake that does not hold on an incline. Most reports arrive well under 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Service air bag light, passenger air bag reads off

   • 172 complaints (59%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (139 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 52 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe a service air bag message on the driver information display together with the passenger air bag indicator staying off, sometimes with an adult belted in the seat and sometimes with the seat empty. Several say the sensor first worked intermittently and then failed outright. Complaints commonly mention a dealer diagnosis of the passenger presence system module and quotes ranging from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars, with some work partly covered as goodwill and later failing again. Reported across a wide mileage span, with many appearing between roughly 12,000 and 60,000 miles and a number below 20,000.

   Recall 17V061000

   What to check: With the key on, sit in the passenger seat and confirm the passenger air bag indicator switches to on and that no service air bag message appears; ask for receipts showing whether the seat module was replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The pps is throwing service air bag system on dash and its not arming its self > the car dont even have 40 thousand miles , my understanding their is a recall on this junk but general motors said the when I called they say no open recalls ! What he heck ? This is very dangerous for the passenger and lilable for me< ins co< and general motors”

   NHTSA complaint #11384260, filed 2020-12, 34,000 miles

   “Service airbag message appeared on lcd display, passenger airbag will not turn on when a passenger is in the seat. Because I was concerned with my daughters safety, I paid over $900 to have this repaired. This appears to be a common issue and should result in a recall due to its directly preventing the function of a crash safety system intended to save lives.”

   NHTSA complaint #10516161, filed 2013-06, 33,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning after recall work or parts wait

   • 110 complaints (38%)
   • median 43,500 mi at 8.9 yrs old (59 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $852 (median of 29 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Several owners describe the air bag warning light coming on right after ignition-switch or air bag recall work, or waiting months for campaign 17V061000 because dealers said the parts were not available. One report notes the same warning code still stored after the recall repair. Dealers in these complaints often asked for a diagnostic fee or said the vehicle was not covered, even where the warning was tied to the campaign. Spread from roughly 19,000 to 180,000 miles, with several reports in the 25,000 to 55,000 mile range.

   Recall 17V061000Recall 14V171000Recall 14V047000

   What to check: Check the recall status by VIN at a dealer and ask for the repair paperwork; then confirm the air bag warning light is out and stays out on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took our Solstice to a GM dealer in alcoa, tn on july 28, 2014 for the ignition cylinder recall. The ignition cylinder was replaced by the dealer. While driving home I noticed the dealer had move the steering wheel to the maximum tilt up position. When I moved the steering wheel to a middle tilt position the service airbag warning light activated. No one was in the passengers seat at this time. This warning had never been activated before. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10629777, filed 2014-08, 20,679 miles

   “I just had my ignition changed under the GM/Pontiac recall, and we were driving the car down the highway. My check airbag sensor started flashing on and off intermittently and so did my passenger airbag off light came on each time the check sensor light came on. I did have a passenger in the right passenger seat. The next day I drove the car and the check airbag sensor was on steady. I took my car to my local GM dealer and they stated I had a passenger side airbag sensor failure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10653757, filed 2014-11, 19,500 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Harsh downshifts and jerking when slowing down

   • 16 complaints (6%)
   • median 59,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2023

   Owners describe the automatic transmission downshifting hard as the car slows to roughly 20-30 mph, feeling like the brakes are being applied or the car is being thrown into reverse. Some report the engine light coming on with the jerking, and one complaint says the transmission was replaced after the behaviour began. Others mention rough or erratic idle after transmission work. Reported from a few thousand miles up past 100,000, with most between about 50,000 and 75,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and let the car coast down through 30-20 mph to feel for a thump or lurch on downshifts, and ask whether the transmission fluid or unit has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When applying brakes at approximately 15 MPH, the car jerked very hard and I heard what sounded like the back wheels almost lock up. It almost felt like it was suddenly thrown into reverse & the car was trying to adjust. It occurred every time I slowed down to turn or stop when applying the brakes. Luckily the 18 wheeler behind me coming off the interstate was far enough behind me but had he been much closer, he would have crushed me! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10610027, filed 2014-07, 73,565 miles

   “While driving my 2007 Pontiac Solstice my car jerks hard when I slow down to around 20-30 MPH. When the car down shifts while slowing down it feels like my car is braking hard when the transmission shifts gears. It is absolutely terrifying!!! While driving to work or with my child I never know when its going to happen and I know that eventually it will lead to me or one of my loved ones being seriously injured or killed!!! I cannot afford a new vehicle, but I do not know what to do. Those it have a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10725879, filed 2015-06, 100,138 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Engine stalls or will not restart

   • 13 complaints (4%)
   • median 54,750 mi at 7.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2026

   Complaints describe the engine quitting while driving, sometimes with check engine and battery lights, and in one case after a crash the air bags did not deploy. Owners also mention the key not turning, or being able to remove the key with the ignition not in the off position. In one report a replacement ignition switch was itself suspected of failing and the car would not restart. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 40,000 miles.

   Recall 14V171000Recall 14V0470001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Confirm the ignition switch recall was completed, try removing the key with the car running as a check, and ask whether the car has ever stalled or needed a tow for a no-start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving to my sons house, the engine stopped. Fortunately I was not far from the house and was able to coast in. I was unable to restart the engine so I had the car towed to my house. I checked with the local GM dealer and was told that I was up to date on the recalls. A mechanic checked the car. It seems that the new ignition switch is faulty as well”

   NHTSA complaint #11377236, filed 2020-11, 37,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the engine stalled without warning and caused the vehicle to swerve forcefully off the roadway. The contact then crashed into a tree and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained head trauma from striking the windshield and a police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage facility. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10578199, filed 2014-04, 34,800 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Parking brake does not hold on an incline

   • 8 complaints (3%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2023

   Owners report the parking brake failing to hold the car on a mild slope unless a gear is engaged, and one describes the car rolling about 50 feet down a driveway while left in first gear with the brake set. Others mention a hard jerk or near lock-up of the rear wheels when braking at low speed, and one notes a brake warning light that comes and goes. Reported from about 23,000 to 74,000 miles.

   What to check: On a safe incline, set the parking brake with the car in neutral and see whether it holds; ask when the rear brakes and parking brake adjustment were last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was parked in a private driveway on an incline and left with engine off, parking brake engaged and in 1st gear. Vehicle was found after it rolled down the incline approximately 50 feet and was stopped by having run into a group of 7 foot height hedges. The vehicle was still in first gear with the emergency parking brake still engaged when recovered.”

   NHTSA complaint #10463109, filed 2012-06, 23,400 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake warning light illuminated and when the brakes were engaged the light turned off. The problem recurred intermittently. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10605734, filed 2014-06, 30,000 miles

Buying note. Check the air bag and ignition recall history by VIN before buying, and treat a lit air bag or service air bag message as something to resolve before purchase. A slow-speed test drive and a parking brake check on a slope will also show two of the more common mechanical complaints.

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.