KnownCarProblems2008 Pontiac G8 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Pontiac G8, most often about the air bags (35% of complaints, typically around 72,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about G8 model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2008 Pontiac G8 problems
Air bags
25 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles.
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…
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 11v534000 (air bags) but did not want to have the repairs performed because there was an additional component associated with the air bag that needed to be…
Electrical
14 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 87,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
The key fob contains the ignition key and unfolds with a button press, but the spring mechanism holding it open is a bit weak. When you have it attached to a key chain, the weight of the keys can fairly easily make the key fob fold over in an "l" shape with the key in the ignition. This happens while driving often…
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the contact lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the median strip and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was…
Suspension
10 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The car shakes when turning slightly to the left at approximately 50 MPH. I came to find out from a garage that the lf control arm needs to be replaced. You can actually wiggle the tire from left to right when it is up on a jack. Two years ago, the right side had the same problem and was replaced.
I took my car in for routine maintenance because I felt some shaking in my tires. I figured it was just in need of a tire rotation & alignment.. Turns out its something wrong with my suspension arm bars. Conveniently I am 4000 out of my manufacturer warranty. I have a 3rd party warranty through american auto and they…
Transmission
8 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
Automatic transmission displays unacceptable latency during downshifts and unpredictable transmission response to throttle inputs . This results in unpredictable vehicle behavior, especially during freeway merges or other situations where a moderate amount of engine power is required. This is an ongoing, constant…
Automatic transmission displays unacceptable latency during downshifts and unpredictable response to throttle inputs . This results in unpredictable vehicle behavior, especially during freeway merges or other situations where a moderate amount of engine power is required. This is an ongoing, constant problem that I…
Steering
8 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the contact lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into the median strip and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and there were no injuries reported. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. While driving approximately 50 MPH around a curve, the steering wheel seized and caused the vehicle to crash into a tree. The air bags deployed. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained a cut around the left eye which required medical attention. The vehicle was not…
Engine
6 complaints · 9%I was driving down 95 south near baltimore at about 70mph at 7am this morning when my 2008 Pontiac G8 gt (with the l76 6.0lv8 engine) alerted me that the engine was hot. I immediately pulled over and when I popped the hood I saw the upper radiator hose was not attached to the radiator anymore and a lot of coolant had…
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was towed to the dealer for diagnosis, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 6%Ignition key fell into two pieces. Both pieces need to be touching to each other to start the engine. It's impossible to start the engine if you are stranded and nervous. I bought this car as a previously owned vehicle from williams used cars, elkton, md 21921 the 28th day of may 2013. They want me to pay for a new…
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Pontiac G8 recalls
Seat belts
Risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Electrical: ignition
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 cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: 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 ad
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: In the event of a crash, this delay may result in increased head injury to certain front seat occupants.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Wheels and tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2008 Pontiac G8
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Pontiac G8?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (25 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); electrical (14 complaints, typically around 87,500 miles); suspension (10 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Pontiac G8 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 23, 2015 (seat belts). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Pontiac G8?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about G8 model year since 2000, with 71 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Pontiac G8 years
- 2008
- 2009