2009 Pontiac G5 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
76 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
70,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 63 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 76 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 19.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 18.4% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 18.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 9.2% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 5.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 3.9% |
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 | 27 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 27; Electrical System: 20; Steering: 12; Air Bags: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Engine: 4; Power Train: 4; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 13 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 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 7; 2012: 6; 2014: 17; 2015: 6; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2018: 6; 2019: 2; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 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 10427099 · 2011-09-25 (September 25, 2011)
MY WIFE NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CAR AND AFTER SEARCHING FOR PROBLEM FOUND FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF TANK AND SEEPING DOWN ONTO THE FRAME AND OTHER AREAS. I FOUND THAT 2007 MODELS WERE RECALLED IN 2009 FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT NEWER MODELS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10427099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435391 · 2011-11-13 (November 13, 2011)
I WAS PRESENTED WITH THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF BEING UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN MY IGNITION TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I REPEATEDLY SHIFTED THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO LOOSEN THE KEY. MY ATTEMPTS ALSO INCLUDED ENLISTING THE HELP OF MY WIFE TO MAKE SURE I WAS TRYING TO SHUT THE CAR OFF CORRECTLY. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY, I PULLED THE FUEL PUMP RELAY TO STARVE THE VEHICLE OF FUEL AND IT SHUT OFF WITH THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,474 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10347896 · 2010-08-07 (August 7, 2010)
2009 PONTIAC G5, CAR IS RUNNING CAN NOT TURN ENGINE OFF WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CAN NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH. DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE TO SHUT ENGINE DOWN, CALLED PONTIAC DEALER TOLD TO BRING CAR IN THAT THEY WERE SEEING A LOT OF THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10347896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359006 · 2010-10-04 (October 4, 2010)
THE KEY CANNOT DISENGAGE THE ENGINE. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I TROUBLESHOOT THE ISSUE BY TRYING TO DISENGAGE BOTH IN PARK AND NEUTRAL. THE ISSUE RAISES A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE CAR BECOMES OUT OF CONTROL THERE IS NO WAY TO KILL THE ENGINE OTHER THAN DISCONNECTING FROM THE CARS BATTERY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT IT MAY CAUSE PANIC AND UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS BEING THAT THE CAR MAY BE LEFT ON IN ENCLOSED PLACES WHERE THE DRIVER DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO KILL THE ENGINE IN THIS SITUATION. ALSO, UPON CALLING THE D…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249981 · 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)
VEHICLE HAD FAULTY TERMINAL CONNECTION CAUSING A LOSS IN POWER STEERING AND PROBLEMS WITH DISPLAY/ODOMETER/TACHOMETER. THIS WAS REPAIRED. VEHICLE MANUAL TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN PUTTING INTO 3RD GEAR, EVEN WITH FULLY DISENGAGED CLUTCH. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WITH COLDER TEMPERATURES, BUT ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM, 3RD GEAR DOES NOT GRIND. POTENTIALLY AN ISSUE WITH SYNCHRONIZATION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341940 · 2010-07-08 (July 8, 2010)
MY SON WAS DRIVING A 2009 PONTIAC G5 IN A HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH +/- AND WENT TO MAKE SUDDEN TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. HE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND EVEN PULLED THE E-BRAKE TO NO AVAIL AND HIT A BLOCK WALL. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT HE SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AS WELL AS OTHER BUMPS AND BRUISES. THE VEHICLE HIT THE WALL AT APPROXIMATELY A 20 DEGREE ANGLE HITTING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT CORNER AT THE HEADLIGHT AREA. THE IMPACT RESULTED IN MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT CORNER PANEL, HOOD, DRIVER…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10341940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10564867 · 2014-02-18 (February 18, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIACT G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10564867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594326 · 2014-05-27 (May 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION AND STALLED INTERMITTENTLY MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10594326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369097 · 2010-12-03 (December 3, 2010)
[XXX] ON OR ABOUT 8:50 P.M. ON SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2010, MY WIFE [XXX] ROCHESTER, NY 14624 [XXX] , WAS APPROACHING A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE DOLLAR TREE IN SOUTH TOWNS PLAZA, HENRIETTA, NY AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, COASTING TO A STOP WITH HER FEET ON NEITHER THE GAS NOR BRAKE PEDAL, WHEN OUR 2009 PONTIAC G5 NY LICENSE [XXX] , LURCHED OUT OF CONTROL, JUMPED OVER THE MEDIAN CURB IN FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE, SO FAST THAT THE CAR BECAME MOMENTARILY AIR BORN, AND STRUCK THE CONCRETE BASE OF WHAT WAS ONCE EITHER A STOP SIGN OR LAMP POS…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10380926 · 2011-02-07 (February 7, 2011)
THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE TORQUE CONVERTER ENGAGING/DISENGAGING, REPEATEDLY EVERY 3 TO 7 SECONDS, UNDER STEADY THROTTLE, GOING BETWEEN 35 AND 42 MPH. IT WILL START THE ENGAGING/DISENGAGING "HICKUPS". WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS MISSING, OR A FEELING OF IT HAVING THE "HICKUPS" OR "JERKING", WORSE UPON AN INCLINE IN THE ROAD. *LN
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380926 at NHTSA ↗