2008 Pontiac G8
The Verdict
The 2008 Pontiac G8 has 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (33 complaints) and body (23 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 81/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Pontiac G8, consider the 2010 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2010 has 98% fewer complaints
View the 2010 Pontiac G8 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 4
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
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 EQU...
Risk
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. OWNER...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 ...
Risk
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 pa...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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 ...
Risk
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 c...
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 ...
Reported Sep 9, 2014
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 (...
Risk
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.
Reported Apr 11, 2011
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the key was accidentally bumped, and the ignition switch was knocked out of the run position, turning off the engine. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V540000 (Electrical System). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the recall was marked closed by the dealer without performing the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the ignition key could not be removed from the ignition switch. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
WAS DRIVING ON BOTH HIGHWAY & NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT & WARNING TONE CAME ON. AFTER MANY DIAGNOSIS DRIVE TESTS, I LEARNED THAT EVERY TIME MAKING A COMPLETE LEFT U-TURN THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR WOULD DISAPPEAR. HOWEVER ONCE COMPLETING THE FULL LEFT U-TURN, AND DRIVING STRAIGHT CENTER WHEEL POSITION, THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR LIGHT AND WARNING TONES WOULD REOCCUR. WHEN CONTACTING MY ONSTAR MONITORING SERVICE, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO AN OVER THE AIR DIAGNOSTIC FAULT CODE TEST. IT CAME BACK AS FAULT CODE B0012 FOR CLOCKSPRING, DRIVER STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LOOP FAILURE. WHENEVER THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR IS ACTIVATED ON THIS MODEL, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND NONFUNCTIONAL IN PREVENTING MAJOR INJURIES WHICH CAN LEAD TO FATALITIES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE OF THE REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING PART COST, AND WAS QUOTED IN THE $450.00 RANGE PLUS LABOR TECH INSTALL. IN ADDITION, WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A KNOWN DEFECT ON THIS MODEL AND SINCE IS AIRBAG RELATED, SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS GENERAL MOTORS. I COULD BE LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER OWNERS TO MISINTERPRET THE SEVERITY OF THIS DEFECT, AND BE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT WILL FAIL TO SAVE MY LIFE IF EVER INVOLVED IN A MAJOR COLLISION. THIS SHOULD NOT GO UNNOTICED & SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED & RESOLVED JUST LIKE THE ONE THAT WAS FOR OTHER MAJOR CAR MANUFACTURERS FOR FAULTY AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT ISSUES. AS TO THIS DATE 06/11/2020 THE ISSUE KEEPS RECURRING ON EVERY DRIVE ON ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY. THANK YOU FOR SERVING YOUR CITIZENS & THE COMMITMENT OF MAKING THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE FOR SAFETY. *TR
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT FAULT REMAINS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS KNOWN BY GM AS BEING DEFECTIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND STABILITY CONTROL INDICATORS ARE ILLUMINATED AND WILL NOT FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED TO CHECK ALL FUSES, THE WIRING HARNESS, REPLACE WHEEL BEARINGS, AND CHANGE ALL WHEEL SENSORS. ALL ITEMS WERE REPLACED AND THE FAILED SYSTEM REMAINS INACTIVE. THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED BY REMOVAL OF THE SEAT, CUTTING INTO THE SEAT AND INSTALLING A NEW SENSOR. THEN THE VEHICLE MUST BE REPROGRAMMED BY AN AUTHORIZED GM SERVICE FACILITY. THIS REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $1,200.00. THE FAILED SYSTEMS OCCUR IF MOVING OR NOT AND IS A LIFE SAFETY CONCERN.
KEEP GETTING AIR BAG LIGHT ON CODE U0170 AND B0081 SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC G8 NEEDS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUE WITH IT NOT WORKING AND REPLACED THEM 2 TIMES WITH NEW SENSORS
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING IN SEAT TO ACTIVATE. CODES RECIEVED: U0170, B0081.
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT REGISTER A PERSON SITTING IN IT TO ACTIVATE AIR BAG SYSTEM. CODES RETRIEVED: U0170 AND B0081. ODOMETER: 86,000
FAULT LIGHT ACTIVATION,FAULT CODE STATES IT'S THE PASSENGER SEAT MODULE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE WILL BE NO AIRBAG ACTIVATION . THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH ALL G8 VEHICLES, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM?
AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED, WHICH MEANS THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK. THERE IS AN AIR BAG RECALL TO THIS CAR, BUT THEY WILL NOT FIX MY CAR'S FAULT LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY DEFECT THAT MANY GM HAVE, ACCORDING TO YOUR WEBSITE. THANK YOU MY CAR HAS 30,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY MODULE - FAILURE THE FAILURE OF AN ELECTRONIC MODULE LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, DEFAULTS THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO "OFF". COST IS JUST UNDER $1,000 FOR DEALER REPLACEMENT. DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS NO METHOD TO TURN ON THE AIRBAG SYSTEM - REGARDLESS OF PASSENGER OR NOT. BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE (MANY FAILURES RECOGNIZED SINCE THE 2006 SOLSTICE MODEL) ANY PASSENGER IS SUBJECT TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION WITHOUT ACTIVE AIRBAG. THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE NEGATES THE DEALER COST TO REPAIR. COMPLAINT FILER FEELS THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT MODULE SHOULD BE HALF OF THAT QUOTED BY THE DEALER SINCE GENUINE GM PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AT $275 INSTEAD OF DEALER COST OF $417 AND THAT LABOR OF 2.5 HOURS TO REPLACE MODULE UNDER THE SEAT IS EXCESSIVE BASED ON TIME TAKEN BY OTHERS SELF-CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. (TIMES INDICATED RAN FROM 20 MINUTES TO 45 MINUTES FOR MOST). BECAUSE OF COSTS, MANY OF THESE MODULES WILL (LIKELY) GO UN-REPAIRED AND POTENTIALLY UN-REPORTED IF SOLD AS A USED VEHICLE..
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS STRETCHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
MY CAR HAS JUST OVER 100K AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH CODES B0081 AND U0170. THE AIRBAGS ARE NOW NOT FUNCTIONING BECAUSE OF A FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE. IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE (ABOUT 95% OF THE TIME). THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES, STAYS ON, AND THE VEHICLE SHOWS AN AIRBAG FAULT WARNING. FROM THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE, THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE PONTIAC G8 AND THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS INOPERABLE ONCE THIS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE ARE DOZENS, IF NOT HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MODULE AND THE FACT THAT IT DISABLES THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND THE END CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL TO REPLACE THIS MODULE, CONSIDERING THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AND THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V399000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V399000 (SEAT BELTS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 08/16/16*LJ UPDATED 08/17/16. *JB
MY AUTOMATIC LOCKS ON MY 2008 PONTIAC G6 QUIT WORKING ON THE BACK DOORS. MY HAZARD LIGHT BUTTON WILL GO ON BUT WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN YOU SHUT IT OFF. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MY POWER STEERING LIGHT ON MY RADIO COMES ON. IT HAS FLASHED OFF ONCE AND THEN THE OTHER DAY, IT CAME ON AND STAYED ON UNTIL I SHUT MY CAR OFF. I HEAR A SQUEAL ALSO THAT IS GETTING WORSE. AND THE OTHER DAY I WENT TO GO UP A HILL COMING OUT OF TOWN AND IT MADE A WEIRD NOISE; I LEFT OFF THE GAS AND IT QUIT. IT ONLY HAS 54,500 MILES OR SO ON IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. ...UPDATED 03/31/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. IT WAS DUE TO A LOOSE WIRE UNDER THE SEAT. UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB
I HAVE GOTTEN A "AIRBAG FAULT" WARNING EVERY TIME I START MY CAR. APPARENTLY THIS IS DUE TO A CENSOR GIVING OUT AND TO REPAIR THE ISSUE COSTS ABOUT $1000. THIS IS HIGHLY UNSATISFACTORY AS MANY USERS OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE WHEN OPERATING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THIS IN A SENSE RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE AS DRIVERS (SOME UNAWARE), WHIVH I WAS NOT, ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY OPERABLE AIRBAGS. THE COST TO REPAIR IS VERY HIGH FOR A FEATURE THAT IS A SAFETY STANDARD ACROSS THE INDUSTRY. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER HAVE ANY FAULTS OR FAILURES UNLESS IT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED OR TAMPERED WITH. IT IS QUITE DISAPPOINTING THAT A SYSTEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED OR TAMPERED WITH CAN HAVE SUCH COSTLY FAULTS/FAILURES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS SCARY. I FEEL LIKE SOME THING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THE MODULE THAT WILL FIX THIS ISSUE ASAP. THIS AIR FAULT IS PUTTING MANY FAMILIES AT RISK OF LOSS OF LIFE!!! BRING ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE OR TO WHAT IS CAUSING IT.
THE VEHICLE HAS AN AIRBAG FAULT THAT DISABLES THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. TO REPAIR THE ISSUE COSTS OVER $900. THIS IS HIGHLY UNSATISFACTORY AS MANY USERS OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE WHEN OPERATING THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THIS IN A SENSE RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO OPERATE AS DRIVERS (SOME UNAWARE) ARE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY OPERABLE AIRBAGS. THE COST TO REPAIR IS VERY HIGH FOR A FEATURE THAT IS A SAFETY STANDARD ACROSS THE INDUSTRY. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE SHOULD NEVER HAVE ANY FAULTS OR FAILURES UNLESS IT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED OR TAMPERED WITH. IT IS QUITE DISAPPOINTING THAT A SYSTEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED OR TAMPERED WITH CAN HAVE SUCH COSTLY FAULTS/FAILURES. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS ON 2008-2009 MY PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND GM NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL TO PERMANENTLY ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS ONLINE FROM G8 OWNERS REGARDING THE DOOR LOCKS FAILING ANYWHERE FROM THE FIRST YEAR TO SEVERAL YEARS LATER. THIS PREMATURE FAILURE MAY OCCUR ON ANY FRONT, REAR, LEFT, OR RIGHT DOOR. WITH LESS THAN 40,000 TOTAL PONTIAC G8 PRODUCED, IDENTICAL FAILURES ON MULTIPLE OWNERS' VEHICLES INDICATE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED FAILURE. THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR WITHIN THE DOOR LOCK/LATCH MECHANISM IS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND REPEATED LOCKING/UNLOCKING FUNCTIONS. THE RESULT OF THIS FAILURE IS THAT THE DOOR WILL NO LONGER LOCK/UNLOCK. THE DOOR LOCK DESIGN DOES NOT ALLOW FOR MANUAL OVERRIDE OF SLIDING THE INTERIOR LOCK HANDLE UNLESS ELECTRICAL CURRENT IS APPLIED TO THE MOTOR. GM USED TO COVER THE COST OF REPLACING THESE PARTS UNDER THE 3-YEAR, 36,000-MILE BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY. THE AGE OF THESE VEHICLES HAS DETERMINED THAT THE PARTS ARE NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. OWNERS MUST REPAIR THE DEFECT AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. NEW OEM PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN REVISED TO IMPROVE QUALITY. OWNERS HAVE NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS FAILURE AS THE REPLACEMENT PART WILL AGAIN REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT OWNERS' EXPENSE. THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE WHICH GM FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: -DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND DRIVER/PASSENGERS CANNOT ENTER THE VEHICLE. -DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND DRIVER/PASSENGERS CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE, LEADING TO DRIVER/PASSENGER ENTRAPMENT AND/OR DEATH/SERIOUS INJURY IN EVENT OF COLLISION. -DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AND PASSENGERS CAN OPEN DOOR WHILE AT SPEED. -DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AND COULD OPEN IN EVENT OF COLLISION. -DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AND VEHICLE/BELONGINGS/DRIVER/PASSENGERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THEFT/HIJACKING.
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