2008 Pontiac G5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
115 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
70,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 96 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 115 complaints (25.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 28 | 24.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 21.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.6% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 29 |
| Steering | 23 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 29; Steering: 23; Air Bags: 22; Electrical System: 21; Suspension: 6; Engine: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 6
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 19 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 14 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 14; 2011: 11; 2012: 12; 2013: 8; 2014: 16; 2015: 14; 2016: 11; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 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 10316055 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) FALL OF 2009 IN A 2008 PONTIAC G5 [XXX]TRAVELING NORTH ON RT 119 TOWARD INDIANA PA, SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT CAR STEERING FAILED CAR WENT DIRECTLY INTO THE GUARD CAUSING MY MOTHER , SISTER AND HER FRIEND TO BE BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316055 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318186 · 2010-03-09 (March 9, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5 COUPE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH IN A PARKING LOT THE CONTACT TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO TURN CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE POST. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318186 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360780 · 2010-10-16 (October 16, 2010)
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK IT TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS ON AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE GAS CAP NOT BEING TIGHT ENOUGH. ABOUT 3 DAYS LATER, I FIND A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE UNDERNEATH MY CAR. IT WAS DRIPPING FROM THE TANK. THEN, I TOOK IT IN TO A NEARBY SHOP AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT THE SEAL ON MY GAS TANK IS BAD. SO, I'M HAVING TO PAY TO GET THE WHOLE GAS TANK REPLACED. I LOOKED UP RECALLS, AND I NOTICE THAT THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 MODEL OF MY VEHICLE (ONE YEAR OLDER THAN MY CAR). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,675 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463093 · 2012-06-25 (June 25, 2012)
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS THE INSIDE OF MY CAR REEKS OF GAS. IT SMELLS BAD AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF MY CAR AS WELL. THE CAR DRIVES FINE BUT IT IS SLOW TO START FOR THE FIRST CRANK OF THE DAY. I TOOK THE CAR FOR AN OIL CHANGE TODAY AND WAS INFORMED THAT GAS WAS ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE THE CAR TO CATCH FIRE. I CALLED MY LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PART, BUT HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND NUMEROUS FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH THE PONTIAC G5. NEED INFORMATION ON HOW/WHEN GM IS GO…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10345877 · 2010-07-28 (July 28, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE FROM AN INTERIOR BOLT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL AND ONTO ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 38,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375562 · 2011-01-11 (January 11, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. IN ORDER TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. A MECHANIC FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS ABLE TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE MECHANISMS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN FRACTURED, LEADING TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MECHANISMS WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN REPAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275325 · 2009-06-30 (June 30, 2009)
PAUL MUTERSBAUGH'S 2008 PONTIAC G-5 WAS T-BONED. HE REMEMBERS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKE, TO NO AVAIL. THE AIR BAGS IN THE BACK SEAT DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD SO QUICKLY THAT THERE WAS ONLY ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE OCCUPANTS FROM THE BACK SEAT OUT. NOT EVEN ENOUGH TIME TO SAVE ANYTHING IN THE CAR. THE CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND. NOTHING BUT A SHELL IS LEFT. I MET A GENTLEMAN AT THE LAS VEGAS TRUCK SHOW ON JUNE 25TH. HE SAID YOU COULD SEND SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318887 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION, MY PONTIAC G5'S BRAKES FAILED TO WORK. I COULD TELL THE HYDRAULICS SYSTEMS WAS WORKING AS I COULD HEAR METAL ON METAL BUT IT DID NOTHING TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S CDR SHOWED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT FULL THROTTLE ALTHOUGH I KNOW MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS EVIDENCED BY THE METAL ON METAL SOUND. PLUS A WITNESS SAW SMOKE COMING FROM MY VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO TURN PRIOR TO GOING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND AIMED FOR A FIRE HYDRANT TO TRY TO SLOW DOWN. IT DID NOTHING TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, I TR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10318887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380013 · 2011-02-02 (February 2, 2011)
TL *THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP COLLECTED DUST AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AS A RESULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380013 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10497855 · 2013-02-12 (February 12, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE HESITATED THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD FAILED. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10316255 · 2010-03-03 (March 3, 2010)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN ACTING UP AND IT FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED CLUTCHES THAT WERE BINDING AND REPLACED MANY OTHER PARTS. THE TRANSMISSION TO THIS DAY STILL ACTS UP AND HAS A VERY NOTICEABLE JOLT WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR BREAKS DOWN AGAIN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10316255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10576583 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
AS I WAS TURNING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, ON MY WAY TO DROP MY SON OFF AT DAYCARE BEFORE WORK, EARLY MARCH 27TH, 2014, MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FROM THE STOP SIGN I WAS STOPPED AT. IT WAS EXTREMELY SCARY, ESPECIALLY WITH MY YOUNG SON IN THE BACK SEAT. MY CAR IS A MANUAL, AND THE STICK SHIFT WOULD SLIP INTO EACH SLOT BUT NOT ENGAGE THE GEAR, WHICH LEAD ME TO ASSUME THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT. MY CAR REMAINED RUNNING, EVEN WITH MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH, AND IN ANY GEAR, INCLUDING REVERSE. I ENDED UP HAVING TO PUSH MY CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD A…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576583 at NHTSA ↗