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 76 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Pontiac G5, and it carries 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 24 | 32% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 12% |
| Steering | 7 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 5% |
| Air bags | 4 | 5% |
| Power train | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Engine | 2 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
All gauges on dash starting going up and down, Anti theft light, power steering light, low fuel light. Car slipping or having hard time going and possibly the key transponder ignition / chip key anti theft shut down.
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The contact owned a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) and 14V171000 (Electrical System). The contact requested to be removed from the r
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present. Upon inspection, it was discovered that fuel had leaked from above the fuel tank. The cause of the fa
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
My 2009 Pontiac G5 was driven to work this morning 6-10-21and parked in a Michigan State vehicle garage. Security notified me at work that my vehicle had a puddle of gas under and near a rear tire. I removed vehicle fro
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL LINE LEAKAGE - GAS LEAKS OUT QUICKLY UNTIL THE TANK IS EMPTY. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A HUGELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 PONTIAC G5. A MASSIVE GAS LEAK IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES ON DRIVER SIDE JUST IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL WELL.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL LINES CORRODED AT LEFT REAR WHEEL CAUSING A MAJOR FUEL LEAK.
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL LEAK. OVER DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL . FUEL FEED LINE IN AREA COVERED WITH MOON TAPE BEHIND HEAT SHIELD. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED A FUEL LEAK ON FEED LINE JUST BEYOND THE FUEL FILTER. NOW HAVE TWO FUEL LEAKS. FUEL RETURN
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2009 Pontiac G5. 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 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 ignitio
Risk: 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" pos
Fix: 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 w
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
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.
Fix: 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 s
UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year
Risk: If the ignition switch moves from the run position to accessory, the car would stall and the air bags will not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of personal injury to the occupants.
Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of c
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007 Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent vehicles originally sold or currently registered in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas; model year 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Saturn ION vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 21, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles in for r
| Reliability raw | 65 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 47 | below average |
| Efficiency | 51 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel/propulsion system is the most reported area with 24 of them (32%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 65/100 (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 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 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.