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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Pontiac G3 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

18 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

45,224 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior316.7%
Steering behavior211.1%
Transmission and shifting15.6%
Engine operation15.6%
Electrical and battery issues15.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
4
Engine
4
Service Brakes
3
Air Bags
2
Power Train
2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Unknown Or Other
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System4
Engine4
Service Brakes3
Air Bags2
Power Train2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2
Unknown Or Other2
Vehicle Speed Control2

Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Air Bags: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2009
2
2010
1
2011
1
2012
1
2013
1
2014
4
2015
4
2017
2
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20092
20101
20111
20121
20131
20144
20154
20172
20181
20191

2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10513559 · 2013-05-26 (May 26, 2013)

I HAD A COUPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. FIST HAD TO REPAIR THE AC 3 TIMES, RADIO TWICE (REPLACED IT ON THE SECOND TIME). TWO MONTHS AGO BREAKING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND GOT IT FIXED (TOOK IT TO MIDAS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS). THEN I NOTICE THAT IT WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL STRONGLY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. NOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. ALL THE 3 BRAKING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IT IS NOT THE FUSE THAT YOU CAN…

Owner-reported narrative. 15,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513559 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10778137 · 2015-09-28 (September 28, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V460000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10778137 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10273646 · 2009-06-12 (June 12, 2009)

GAUGES IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DIFFICULT TO READ. THE TRIM AROUND THE CLUSTER DIVIDES THE GAUGES INTO INDIVIDUAL PODS. THE TRIM IS BLACK AND THE GAUGE FACE IS ALSO BLACK WITH RED INDICATOR NEEDLE. THE TRIM DOES NOT ALLOW ENOUGH LIGHT INTO THE POD AREA TO SEE THE NEEDLE IN THE DAYTIME. YOU CAN BARELY SEE THE NEEDLE EVEN WHEN THE CLUSTER LIGHTS ARE ON. THE GAUGES ARE SO SMALL, THE STEERING WHEEL BLOCKS VIEWING THEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10273646 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10587167 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)

HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONICS IN STEERING WHEEL. HORN,CRUISE,STEREO CONTROLS ALL WENT OUT AT ONE TIME . AIR BAGS TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN WITH PASSENGERS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 69,325 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587167 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10679610 · 2015-01-28 (January 28, 2015)

I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING A LOT. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS SLUSHY FLUID FLOWING FROM THE CAR AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY AUTO REPAIR SERVICE PROFESSIONAL FOR TESTING, AND THE TEST SHOWED THAT THE COOLANT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD COOLANT FLUID IN IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE COOLANT HOSE THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND AS A RESULT THE CAR DOES NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. THIS IS A VERY RARE SITUATION T…

Owner-reported narrative. 73,621 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679610 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10621641 · 2014-08-13 (August 13, 2014)

2009 PONTIAC G3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR OVER A YEAR, HE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, FOR THE ISSUE. EACH TIME, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS THIRTY, CLEANED IT, AND STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE FINE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED, THE COMPUTER WAS NOT RECOGNI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10621641 at NHTSA ↗