Total Complaints
25 filings
PONTIAC G3 · model year
25 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009PONTIACG3 carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 G3 is electrical system with 4 filings, followed by engine (4) and service brakes (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 2009 G3. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
25 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| ENGINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 Pontiac G3 vehicles. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the valves inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, affecting the closing motion of the valves.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE AND CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS SEALED SHUT, THE HEATER HOSE WAS HOT, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, OIL WAS MIXED IN WITH THE COOLANT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ARC AUTO STORE (95 DESIGN DR, NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO 64116, (816) 474-2277) WHERE A NEW TIE ROD, HEATER HOSE, THERMOSTAT, AND WATER PUMP WERE INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Mileage: 182,000
AIR PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT REMAINS CONSTANTLY ON (BLINKING) AFTER 8-9 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. MULTIPLE MECHANICS POINT TO COMPUTER ISSUE. ALL SENSORS CONFIRMED AS WORKING, AIR PRESSURE IS CORRECT IN TIRES.
Mileage: 50,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE OIL AS WELL AS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE AND THEN RESUMED DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (ANTHONY BUICK GMC IN GURNEE, IL) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOCATED IN WAUKEGAN, IL, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE ABS OR ONE OF THE BRAKE VALVES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V460000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000
Mileage: 57,000
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH GENERAL MOTORS TO SEEK A RESOLUTION TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO REPLACE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN OCTOBER 2016 IN ORDER TO PASS MY NEW YORK STATE EMISSION FOR ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION. HOWEVER, SINCE I DID NOT DO IT AT THE DEALERSHIP, GM WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. FURTHERMORE, I AM CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND HAVE TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, JUNE 9. I AM ATTACHING THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM ONSTAR AND MY EMISSIONS INVOICE FROM OCTOBER 2016. I AM ALSO INCLUDING ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT I HAD WITH GENERAL MOTORS. I DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE CAR FAX BUT THE ATTACHED ORDER FORM SHOWS THAT THERE ARE 63 RECORDS FOR THIS CAR. I HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE PURCHASING IT ON NOVEMBER 16, 2013 FROM KRISTAL AUTO MALL IN BROOKLYN, NY.
Mileage: 40,448
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V460000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V460000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Mileage: 68,000
CAR ALARM GOES OFF BY IT'S SELF EVERY SO OFTEN FOR NO REASON..
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING A LOT. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS SLUSHY FLUID FLOWING FROM THE CAR AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY AUTO REPAIR SERVICE PROFESSIONAL FOR TESTING, AND THE TEST SHOWED THAT THE COOLANT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD COOLANT FLUID IN IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE COOLANT HOSE THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND AS A RESULT THE CAR DOES NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. THIS IS A VERY RARE SITUATION TO SEE IN A CAR WITH THIS FEW MILES, FIVE YEARS OLD AND MAINTAINED WELL. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP BEGAN TO BLAME ME FOR IT BY SAYING THAT I PUT WATER IN THE COOLANT WHICH CAUSED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TO FREEZE AND THE HOSE TO MALFUNCTION. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAVE RECORDS OF CONSISTENTLY TAKING IT TO A GM DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, AND ANYTHING THUS WHY WOULD I NOW TRY T
Mileage: 73,621
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING A LOT. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS SLUSHY FLUID FLOWING FROM THE CAR AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY AUTO REPAIR SERVICE PROFESSIONAL FOR TESTING, AND THE TEST SHOWED THAT THE COOLANT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD COOLANT FLUID IN IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE COOLANT HOSE THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND AS A RESULT THE CAR DOES NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. THIS IS A VERY RARE SITUATION TO SEE IN A CAR WITH THIS FEW MILES, FIVE YEARS OLD AND MAINTAINED WELL. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP BEGAN TO BLAME ME FOR IT BY SAYING THAT I PUT WATER IN THE COOLANT WHICH CAUSED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR TO FREEZE AND THE HOSE TO MALFUNCTION. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAVE RECORDS OF CONSISTENTLY TAKING IT TO A GM DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, AND ANYTHING THUS WHY WOULD I NOW TRY T
Mileage: 73,621
LEAKING WATER PUMP - APPEARS TO BE A SEAL. VEHICLE HAS NOT REACHED MAX MILES/KM'S BUT HAS PASSED THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY BUT SHOULD NOT BE FAILING FOR SUCH A LOW AMOUNT OF MILES/KM'S. *TR CAUSES HEATING DELAY. *TR
Mileage: 104,607
2009 PONTIAC G3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR OVER A YEAR, HE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, FOR THE ISSUE. EACH TIME, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS THIRTY, CLEANED IT, AND STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE FINE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED, THE COMPUTER WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE IDLE SPEED AND THE IDLE LINE HAD TO BE RE-CALIBRATED. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN. *JB
2009 PONTIAC G3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED FOR OVER A YEAR, HE HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, FOR THE ISSUE. EACH TIME, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS THIRTY, CLEANED IT, AND STATED THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE FINE. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. A DIAGNOSIS REVEALED, THE COMPUTER WAS NOT RECOGNIZING THE IDLE SPEED AND THE IDLE LINE HAD TO BE RE-CALIBRATED. THE NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN. *JB
TRAVELING NORTH ON I-81 NEAR BRISTOL, VA. HAD CRUISE CONTROL ON, DRIVING IN LEFT LANE WHEN SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE COUGHED AND SPUTTERED AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO COAST ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DRIFT OFF THE NEXT EXIT, THANK GOD! THE DEALER IN BRISTOL SAID IT WAS A THROTTLE PROBLEM AND WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THEY CALLED LATER TO SAY THEY HAD TO REPLACE A POWER HARNESS ALSO, AND IT WOULD BE $990.00. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE CAR BACK THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING. *TR
Mileage: 90,000
HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONICS IN STEERING WHEEL. HORN,CRUISE,STEREO CONTROLS ALL WENT OUT AT ONE TIME . AIR BAGS TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN WITH PASSENGERS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. *TR
Mileage: 69,325
HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRONICS IN STEERING WHEEL. HORN,CRUISE,STEREO CONTROLS ALL WENT OUT AT ONE TIME . AIR BAGS TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN WITH PASSENGERS IN BOTH FRONT SEATS. I FEEL THIS MAY BE IGNITION SWITCH RELATED. *TR
Mileage: 69,325
FRONTAL COLLISION ,CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS, AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. I'M CONVINCED THIS HAD TO DO WITH GM IGNITION PROBLEM! *TR
Mileage: 30,000
I HAD A COUPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. FIST HAD TO REPAIR THE AC 3 TIMES, RADIO TWICE (REPLACED IT ON THE SECOND TIME). TWO MONTHS AGO BREAKING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND GOT IT FIXED (TOOK IT TO MIDAS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS). THEN I NOTICE THAT IT WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL STRONGLY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. NOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. ALL THE 3 BRAKING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IT IS NOT THE FUSE THAT YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS. INTERESTING WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I DESCRIBED IT. *TR
Mileage: 15,239
I HAD A COUPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. FIST HAD TO REPAIR THE AC 3 TIMES, RADIO TWICE (REPLACED IT ON THE SECOND TIME). TWO MONTHS AGO BREAKING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND GOT IT FIXED (TOOK IT TO MIDAS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS). THEN I NOTICE THAT IT WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL STRONGLY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. NOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. ALL THE 3 BRAKING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IT IS NOT THE FUSE THAT YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS. INTERESTING WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I DESCRIBED IT. *TR
Mileage: 15,239
I HAD A COUPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. FIST HAD TO REPAIR THE AC 3 TIMES, RADIO TWICE (REPLACED IT ON THE SECOND TIME). TWO MONTHS AGO BREAKING LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. WENT TO THE DEALER AND GOT IT FIXED (TOOK IT TO MIDAS BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS). THEN I NOTICE THAT IT WOULD WORK ONLY WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL STRONGLY AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL. NOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING AGAIN AND I WILL TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. ALL THE 3 BRAKING LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. IT IS NOT THE FUSE THAT YOU CAN EASILY ACCESS. INTERESTING WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THE KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I DESCRIBED IT. *TR
Mileage: 15,239
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN COLD WEATHER 20 DEGREES OR BELOW, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED HER THE USE OF A RENTAL VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS WHILE THEY FURTHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 1,600
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.