Skip to content
Pontiac SolsticeModel year report

2009 Pontiac Solstice Problems

Complaints
36filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
31,730miles, 20 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns 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
21 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl RWD · 19 city / 27 hwy

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

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The part named most often is air bags, with 32 complaints (89% of the total), followed by electrical system (6) and seats (3). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 31,730 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 929 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the occupant classification, 1 NHTSA investigation and 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign, 1 NHTSA investigation and 210 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Passenger airbag indicator light always on. Driver info display always indicates service airbag (with alert tone) every time I start the car. I believe this is related recall 17v061000 for failures in the passenger side airbag sensor pps mat. Solstice repair was added reinforced tape. Cts repair for same issue was to replace the sensor. Many Solstice/sky owners are complaining the recall repair job failed a year after the fix, resulting in need to replace the sensor mat. …”

NHTSA complaint #11384058, filed 2020-12, 64,000 miles

Electrical system: “Service air bag notice displayed, red air bad warning idiot light on and the passenger air bag indicator light shows off even though a passenger was in the seat. Tried powering the car off and on with same result. This is a major safety issue is the passenger is not protected while riding in the vehicle. I have since read that many reports of the same issue have been reported and no safety recalls have been issued.”

NHTSA complaint #10745881, filed 2015-08, 21,602 miles

Seats: “Almost 36k miles and the service airbag light appeared on my dash while driving on a highway with a partner (adult over 150 lbs) and the passenger air bag turned off, I went out of the highway for his safety and drive slower our way back to work, but suddendly he kind of accomodate himself on the seat and the service airbag light disappered, so I asked him to move/change his sitting position on the seat and this way the light returned and then disappeard when he changed randomly his weight over the seat. …”

NHTSA complaint #11337373, filed 2020-07, 35,500 miles

Seat belts: “Purchased used 2009 Solstice on 9/30/13. Previous problem with previous owner but mossy motors, new orleans,la said most likely minor problem. Any time brakes are applied or moving 0 to 70 miles per hour the service air bag light comes on many times intermittently, along with the red warning seatbelt light. I do not know if it is driver or passenger. I do know that previous owner had same problem as per car fax. I am unsure if mossy motors in new orleans will fix it. Small car without airbag protection and seatbelt default spells fatality in serious accident. …”

NHTSA complaint #10550941, filed 2013-11, 5,100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 22,500 and 36,512 miles.

15%0–1020%10–2540%25–5025%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (20 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 31,730 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.

20122014112016201820212023
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2009 Pontiac Solstice. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Solstice · C RWDnot rated4 / 4———
Solstice · coupe RWDnot rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2009 Pontiac Solstice 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
Solstice RWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual192822$3,750
Solstice RWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192721$3,200
Solstice RWD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed automatic192421$3,200
Solstice RWD2.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual192521$3,200

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 Solstice → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

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. 929 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 929 bulletins →

Other model years of the Pontiac Solstice

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20093631,7303—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
200815927,1004—21Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
200729040,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200624336,0004—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Pontiac Solstice model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2009 Pontiac Solstice have?

NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 2009 Pontiac Solstice as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 32 complaints (89% of the total), followed by electrical system with 6.

Has the 2009 Pontiac Solstice been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 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 Solstice get?

The EPA rates the 2009 Pontiac Solstice (Solstice, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 19 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 31,730 miles and the middle half falls between 22,500 and 36,512 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.