2008 Pontiac G8 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
53,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 71 complaints (35.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 12.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 11.3% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 11.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 25 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Suspension:Front | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Air Bags: 25; Electrical System: 13; Steering: 8; Suspension: 7; Engine: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Suspension:Front: 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 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 12 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 | 7 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 7; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 7; 2012: 6; 2013: 8; 2014: 5; 2015: 13; 2016: 9; 2017: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10235485 · 2008-07-23 (July 23, 2008)
MY SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2008 PONTIAC G8 GT ARE AS FOLLOWS: LAGGY THROTTLE/TRANSMISSION RESPONSE CAUSES PRECARIOUS POSITIONS. HAMPERS ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE. MAY CAUSE CAR TO ACCELERATE FASTER THAN INTENDED RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT. FOR EXAMPLE PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PART WAY RESULTS IN A LONG DELAY BEFORE THE CAR RESPONDS. WHEN THE CAR DOES RESPOND IT MAY ACCELERATE AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN INTENDED. THERE IS NO ACTUAL ACCELERATION FEEDBACK WHILE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE DELAY. IF I HAD INTENDED TO ACCELERATE USING SAY 1/4 TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235485 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286788 · 2009-10-08 (October 8, 2009)
BALL JOINT FAILURE, BOTH SIDES, FRONT SUSPENSION. LOUD CLUNKING OVER IRREGULAR SURFACES AND BUMPS, VIBRATION IN FRONT END, SHAKING/STRONG VIBRATION DURING BRAKING. INSPECTED BY DEALER, ALL BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FAILING. GM WARRANTY PERSONNEL DIRECTED ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THEY REFUSE TO COVER A LOANER OR RENTAL AND DECLARED THAT IT IS "A NON-SAFETY ISSUE". SINCE WHEN ARE PRIMARY ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR THE STEERING APPARATUS, SPINDLE, BRAKES, AND WHEELS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN? THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY INDIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10682466 · 2015-02-10 (February 10, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V540000 (ELECTRICAL) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DELAY WHO MADE THE CONTACT AWARE THAT IT MAY TAKE ANOTHER EIGHT MONTHS FOR THE PARTS TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10682466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10682796 · 2015-02-11 (February 11, 2015)
TL* 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 DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V540000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10682796 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289992 · 2009-10-27 (October 27, 2009)
I HAVE A 2008 PONTIAC G8 GT. THE ISSUE IS THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AROUND 43,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED GETTING VERY BAD SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE UNDER CERTAIN SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL GO INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE. WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT I'M FINE BUT IF I HEAD INTO ANY KIND OF A CURVE IN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING BADLY AND THE WHOLE CAR SHUTTERS. I'M OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY SO THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I DID HAVE THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THA…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234646 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
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 PROBLEM THAT I BELIEVE IS RELATED TO POOR PROGRAMMING OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234705 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
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 BELIEVE IS RELATED TO POOR PROGRAMMING OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513121 · 2013-05-22 (May 22, 2013)
TL* 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 APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513121 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683002 · 2015-02-12 (February 12, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, YET THE FAILURE KEPT RECURRING. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10683002 at NHTSA ↗