NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Pontiac G8 Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Pontiac G8 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 71 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Pontiac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Pontiac G8. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Pontiac G8 owner complaints

Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Pontiac G8, describing incidents dated June 1, 2007 to September 9, 2025.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 25 complaints
Electrical System 14 complaints
Suspension 10 complaints
Power Train 8 complaints
Steering 8 complaints
Engine 6 complaints

Of the 71 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 71 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11692271 · Filed October 9, 2025
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…
ODI #11425179 · Filed July 16, 2021
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…
ODI #11328416 · Filed June 11, 2020
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…

Read all 71 complaints

Steel Cable that Anchors Seat Belt may Fail

NHTSA #15V399000 · Seat Belts · NHTSA notice

Reported June 23, 2015 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 47,042 vehicles

Repair completion: 47.27% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 15206 · Owners notified July 5, 2016 · Vehicles built July 25, 2007 – May 16, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Knee Contact may Turn Ignition Switch Off

NHTSA #14V540000 · Electrical System — Ignition · NHTSA notice

Reported September 9, 2014 · General Motors LLC

Potentially affected: 47,043 vehicles

Repair completion: 45.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 14445 · Owners notified February 4, 2015 · Vehicles built July 25, 2007 – May 16, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

HEAD INJURY CRITERIA TEST/AIRBAGS/FMVSS 208

NHTSA #11V534000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported November 4, 2011 · GENERAL MOTORS LLC

Potentially affected: 38,444 vehicles

Owners notified November 30, 2011 · Vehicles built November 2, 2007 – February 5, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

TPMS & BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SWITCH/FMVSS 138 & 108

NHTSA #09V172000 · Service Brakes, Air — Antilock — Control Unit/Module · NHTSA notice

Reported May 21, 2009 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 35,038 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 09101 & 09046 · Owners notified May 21, 2009 · Vehicles built September 30, 2007 – May 31, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

GM RECALL NO. 09101 & 09046.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

2008 Pontiac G8 4-DR w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

71 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Pontiac G8.

Electrical System

ODI #11692271

Incident: September 9, 2025 · Filed: October 9, 2025

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.

Electrical System

ODI #11425179

Incident: July 16, 2021 · Filed: July 16, 2021

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.

Steering; Electrical System; Air Bags

ODI #11328416

Incident: June 11, 2020 · Filed: June 11, 2020

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

Air Bags; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes

ODI #11278461

Incident: November 2, 2015 · Filed: November 6, 2019

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.

Air Bags; Service Brakes

ODI #11267736

Incident: October 1, 2019 · Filed: October 10, 2019

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

Air Bags

ODI #11164628

Incident: November 5, 2018 · Filed: January 2, 2019

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING IN SEAT TO ACTIVATE. CODES RECIEVED: U0170, B0081.

Air Bags

ODI #11164627

Incident: November 5, 2018 · Filed: January 2, 2019

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT REGISTER A PERSON SITTING IN IT TO ACTIVATE AIR BAG SYSTEM. CODES RETRIEVED: U0170 AND B0081. ODOMETER: 86,000

Air Bags

ODI #10939737

Incident: July 1, 2016 · Filed: January 4, 2017

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 Bags

ODI #10913783

Incident: August 7, 2016 · Filed: October 4, 2016

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

Air Bags

ODI #10907119

Incident: September 16, 2014 · Filed: September 16, 2016

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.

Other Pontiac G8 model years

Check your 2008 Pontiac G8 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Pontiac G8 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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