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Pontiac G8 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

216 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

51,432 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 186 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 90 of 216 complaints (41.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3214.8%
Steering behavior219.7%
Electrical and battery issues198.8%
Transmission and shifting125.6%
Engine operation31.4%
Fuel system concerns10.5%

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.

Air Bags
90
Electrical System
31
Suspension
20
Steering
15
Suspension:Front
11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
9
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
8
Engine
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags90
Electrical System31
Suspension20
Steering15
Suspension:Front11
Power Train:Automatic Transmission9
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)8
Engine8

Air Bags: 90; Electrical System: 31; Suspension: 20; Steering: 15; Suspension:Front: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 8; Engine: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
45
25,000 to 49,999
44
50,000 to 74,999
50
75,000 to 99,999
26
100,000 to 149,999
18
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00045
25,000 to 49,99944
50,000 to 74,99950
75,000 to 99,99926
100,000 to 149,99918
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 50; 75,000 to 99,999: 26; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (50). 30 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.

2008
10
2009
22
2010
11
2011
13
2012
11
2013
19
2014
30
2015
34
2016
25
2017
12
2018
5
2019
8
2020
8
2021
5
2022
1
2023
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200810
200922
201011
201113
201211
201319
201430
201534
201625
201712
20185
20198
20208
20215
20221
20231
20251

2008: 10; 2009: 22; 2010: 11; 2011: 13; 2012: 11; 2013: 19; 2014: 30; 2015: 34; 2016: 25; 2017: 12; 2018: 5; 2019: 8; 2020: 8; 2021: 5; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 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 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 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 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 ↗

Owner report 10277700 · 2009-07-22 (July 22, 2009)

2/23/2009: LEAVING STOP LIGHT, CAR QUITE RUNNING AND I PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. FOUND OUT CAR WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT GAUGE SHOWED A LITTLE OVER A 1/4 TANK. DEALERSHIP SAID GAUGE CLUSTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND CHANGED THE CLUSTER. 7/12/2009: AT 25 MPH CAR QUITE RUNNING AND I PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND I KNEW I WAS OUT OF GAS AGAIN. THE GAS GAUGE SHOWED JUST UNDER 1/4 TANK. I GOT SOME GAS AND WENT TO THE GAS STATION. THE GAS TANK HOLDS 19 GALLONS, BUT I ONLY ABLE TO P…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,829 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277700 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2008
4
2009
4
2010
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20084
20094
20100

2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 0

Year-by-year records

Pontiac G8 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2008714Not available
200914440
201010-4