2008 Pontiac G8 Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Pontiac G8.

< older2009
Complaints
91
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2008 Pontiac G8 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#125 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:66,209 mi
#213 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:89,284 mi
Crash-related:1
#38 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:79,850 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Pontiac G8.

Airbags
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,209
Electrical Faults
13
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
89,284
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
79,850
Suspension Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
47,546
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
78,833
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
2,750
Suspension:Front
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches / Locks
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Pontiac G8. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Pontiac G8

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~132,529 vehicles.

15V399000Seat Belts
~47,042 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to October 22, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

14V540000Electrical System:ignition
~47,043 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to December 6, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition key with their knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

11V534000Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive
~38,444 affected

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2009. A 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DEVICE (ATD) IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST EXCEEDED THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA (HIC) REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITIONED FULL FORWARD, THE SEAT POSITION SENSOR WILL CAUSE A 30 MILLISECONDS DEPLOYMENT DELAY BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES OF THE DUAL-STAGE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG.

Other Pontiac G8 Years

2008 Pontiac G8 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Pontiac G8 reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2008 Pontiac G8 has 91 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 25 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Pontiac G8?
Top reported problems: Airbags (25 complaints, avg 66,209 mi); Electrical Faults (13 complaints, avg 89,284 mi); Steering Defects (8 complaints, avg 79,850 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Pontiac G8?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 66,595 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Pontiac G8?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Pontiac G8 include 3 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Pontiac G8 have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 132,529 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Pontiac G8?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Pontiac G8 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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