Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Pontiac G8, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 20 | 28% |
| Suspension | 9 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 8 | 11% |
| Power train | 6 | 8% |
| Engine | 4 | 6% |
| Steering | 4 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
| Air bags | 1 | 1% |
| Air bags | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the key was accidentally bumped, and the ignition switch was knocked out of the run position, turning off the engine. There were no warnin
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that after turning off the vehicle, the ignition key could not be removed from the ignition switch. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WAS DRIVING ON BOTH HIGHWAY & NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT & WARNING TONE CAME ON. AFTER MANY DIAGNOSIS DRIVE TESTS, I LEARNED THAT EVERY TIME MAKING A COMPLETE LEFT U-TURN THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT FAULT REMAINS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS KNOWN BY GM AS BEING DEFECTIVE AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE ABS, TRACTION CON
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
KEEP GETTING AIR BAG LIGHT ON CODE U0170 AND B0081 SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC G8 NEEDS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE REAR ABS SENSORS AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUE WITH IT NOT WORK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT REGISTER A PERSON SITTING IN IT TO ACTIVATE AIR BAG SYSTEM. CODES RETRIEVED: U0170 AND B0081. ODOMETER: 86,000
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT REGISTER WHEN A PERSON IS SITTING IN SEAT TO ACTIVATE. CODES RECIEVED: U0170, B0081.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
FAULT LIGHT ACTIVATION,FAULT CODE STATES IT'S THE PASSENGER SEAT MODULE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE WILL BE NO AIRBAG ACTIVATION . THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH ALL G8 VEHICLES, DO YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE AN INVESTIGATION IN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Pontiac G8. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: 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 caus
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 bee
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 s
Risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
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
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 STAND
Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Fix: GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
GM IS RECALLING 35,038 MY 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS". THE BR
Risk: 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.
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. OWNERS M
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 73 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 20 of them (28%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.