vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Pontiac SOLSTICE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

36 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

31,730 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 36 complaints (86.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues25.6%
Braking behavior12.8%
Steering behavior12.8%

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.

Air Bags
31
Electrical System
5
Seats
3
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
1
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
Power Train
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags31
Electrical System5
Seats3
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification1
Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger1
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch1
Power Train1

Air Bags: 31; Electrical System: 5; Seats: 3; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification: 1; Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Power Train: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
8
50,000 to 74,999
5
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9998
50,000 to 74,9995
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 16 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.

2012
1
2013
3
2014
11
2015
4
2016
2
2017
3
2018
5
2020
2
2021
3
2022
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20133
201411
20154
20162
20173
20185
20202
20213
20221
20231

2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 11; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2018: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.

Examples from the source records

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

Owner report 10482206 · 2012-10-25 (October 25, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHEN A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS PRESENT AND THE OCCUPANT'S WEIGHT WAS 125 POUNDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE FRONT SEAT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST IN WHICH A TROUBLE CODE WAS NOT DETECTED; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS DUPLICATED INVOLVING THE AIR BAG INDICATOR MALFUNCTION. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10482206 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10522499 · 2013-06-30 (June 30, 2013)

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR NOT FUNCTIONING. SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING STAYS ON AS WELL AS IDIOT LIGHT ON DASH. LIGHT ON DASH INDICATES PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT ACTIVATED. TRAVELING ALONG FREEWAY AND SENSOR APPEARED TO BE WORKING FINE AND THEN LIGHTS AND WARNING WENT ON. CONTINUED TRAVELING AND ONE TIME IT STARTED FUNCTIONING AND THEN WENT OUT AGAIN AFTER MAYBE FIVE MINUTES. TRAVELED AN ADDITIONAL 4,000 MILES, BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACATION, AND MY WIFE DID NOT AND DOES NOT HAVE THE SECURITY OF HAVING HER AIRBAG FUNCTIONAL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 36,512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522499 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10524652 · 2013-07-13 (July 13, 2013)

RECEIVED A "SERVICE AIR BAG" NOTICE ON THE DASH. IT IS NOT TRIGGERED EVERY TIME THE CAR RUNS BUT IN READING FORUMS TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN BIGGER ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2011. MORE AND MORE SOLSTICE AND SATURN SKY CAR OWNERS ARE ASKING THIS SAME QUESTION. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE A PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR CONTROL UNIT UNDER THE SEAT BUT THE FIX IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THE SEAT. ANY RECALL FOR THIS WOULD BE SAFER FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS AS WELL. THANK YOU *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524652 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10550941 · 2013-11-05 (November 5, 2013)

PURCHASED USED 2009 SOLSTICE ON 9/30/13. PREVIOUS PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS OWNER BUT MOSSY MOTORS, NEW ORLEANS,LA SAID MOST LIKELY MINOR PROBLEM. ANY TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED OR MOVING 0 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON MANY TIMES INTERMITTENTLY, ALONG WITH THE RED WARNING SEATBELT LIGHT. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DRIVER OR PASSENGER. I DO KNOW THAT PREVIOUS OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM AS PER CAR FAX. I AM UNSURE IF MOSSY MOTORS IN NEW ORLEANS WILL FIX IT. SMALL CAR WITHOUT AIRBAG PROTECTION AND SEATBELT DEFAULT SPELLS FATALIT…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550941 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10566497 · 2014-02-28 (February 28, 2014)

THEY IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR KEPT RUNNING EVEN WHEN I TOOK THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 28,514 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566497 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10576347 · 2014-04-01 (April 1, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS. THE WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576347 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10584012 · 2014-04-21 (April 21, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG ERRONEOUSLY DEACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,432. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, SHE WAS INFORMED PROBLEM WAS A KINKED WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE LIGHT STAYED OFF, UNTIL APRIL 2014. ONSTAR DIAGNOSTIC DETERMIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,432 miles reported. Look up ODI 10584012 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10587163 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)

REAR DIFF HAS LEAK AFTER 22000 MILES THE SAME AS THE 06/07'S. CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 22,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587163 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

14V047000 · Air Bags | Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Reported: 2014-02-10 (February 10, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V171000 · Electrical System:Ignition

Reported: 2014-04-10 (April 10, 2014)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.

Consequence: If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac owners at 1-800-762-2737, and Saturn owners at 1-800-553-6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V061000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

Reported: 2017-01-26 (January 26, 2017)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 17036.

NHTSA campaign record ↗