2009 Pontiac G8: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2009 Pontiac G8: 4 recalls, 144 owner complaints and up to 20 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Tires, Brakes (air) Vehicle recall #09V172000 · 2009 · 35,038 vehicles
What's wrong: 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment" and federal motor vehicles safety standard no. 138, "tire pressure monitoring systems". The brake pedal position switch May have been incorrectly programmed. With this condition, the brake lamps May be continually illuminated and fail to warn a following driver when the vehicle is braking. Also certain vehicles May have incorrect values programmed into the…
Why it matters: Inappropriate, non-standard lights could increase the risk of a crash or driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the brake position sensor and the remote control door lock receiver with the correct values free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before June 5, 2009.
Airbags Vehicle recall #11V534000 · 2011 · 38,444 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, this delay May result in increased head injury to certain front seat occupants.
The fix: Gm dealers will reprogram the sensing and diagnostic module free of charge. The safety recall began on November 30, 2011.
Electrical Vehicle recall #14V540000 · 2014 · 47,043 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/rke transmitter assemblies, and cut and fit a revised key blade and housing assembly, in which the blade has been indexed by 90 degrees, to the original rke transmitter assembly. Gm issued an interim…
Seat belts Vehicle recall #15V399000 · 2015 · 47,042 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant May not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly which includes the steel cable, free of charge. These replacement parts reposition the tensioner cable out of the path of entry into the vehicle and uses a more flexible cable, set at a more upright angle. The recall…
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 8 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (69): the most common themes are warning light on (29), fails to deploy (6).
- Suspension (20): the most common themes are noise or vibration (8), steering problems (4).
- Electrical (20): the most common themes are electrical failure (11), warning light on (4).
- Transmission & drivetrain (9): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (5), noise or vibration (2).
The 2009 Pontiac G8 has 144 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 3 G8 model years for complaints (2.0× the average G8 year). Complaints peaked in 2014 (24 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 50,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2008 (71 complaints, 4 recalls), 2010 (1 complaints, 0 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S5) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 24 | 18 | Regular |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 20 | 15 | Regular |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 20 | 15 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2009 Pontiac G8.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2009 Pontiac G8 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2009 Pontiac G8. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2009 Pontiac G8 problems?
Owners have filed 144 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (69), suspension (20), electrical (20).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Pontiac G8 get?
EPA ratings run up to 20 mpg combined (3.6 L, Automatic (S5)), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2009 Pontiac G8 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.