Total Complaints
189 filings
PONTIAC SOLSTICE · model year
189 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008PONTIACSOLSTICE carries 189 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 0 fires, 8 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 2008 SOLSTICE is air bags with 96 filings, followed by electrical system (15) and service brakes, hydraulic (13). 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 5 active recall campaigns, 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 3 investigation files overlapping the 2008 SOLSTICE. 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
189 filings
Crashes Reported
8 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 96 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 15 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 13 |
| SEATS | 10 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 8 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 7 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE | 4 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." AND STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES." THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE ONE TO FOUR INBOARD SEAT STUD FASTENERS THAT DO NOT MEET SPECIFICATION FOR STRENGTH.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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
AIR BAGS
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
The passenger presence sensor was fixed by the GM dealer after the safety recall was issued, but has failed again and now doesn't work. because the failure occurred more than 1 year after the dealer fixed it the first time, it is not covered for repair. Worse, if i was to order a new part and have it installed it still needs to go back to the dealer to have it programmed so there is no way to have this issue addressed without involving and paying a dealer who failed to fix the issue correctly the first time. reading in forums, many solstice owners report sensors failing a few years after recall repair.
Random failure of brake lights to either illuminate when the pedal is pressed or turn off when the pedal is released. On two separate occasions, a couple of months apart. I was notified by other drivers my brake lights appear to be working in reverse. When I come to a stop, they turn off when I pull away they turn on and stay on. After the first incident I had the vehicle serviced. They could not duplicate the problem. Apparently they were now working correctly. To be proactive. I asked them to replace the brake light switch with a genuine GM part. They did and they calibrated the switch to the car. This service was performed on 11/14/2023 - 144,621 miles. It appeared to have solved the problem initially. But re-surfaced this morning 12/29/2023. I was notified by another driver of the opposite on -off function again. I continued to work. Visual inspection indicated normal function again. Brake pedal released, lights off. Brake pedal depressed, lights on. Random malfunctions like this a
The passenger seat air bag sensor is inoperative after having the recall completed April of 2022. When the vehicle was in for the recall, the sensor was fine, so the reinforcement strip was added. According to the recall reference N162080281, there is a 12 month warranty on the repair. Below is the wording from the recall. âDealers are to inspect the PPS sensor mat for damage. If the mat is undamaged and functioning correctly, dealers will add a reinforcement strip to the sensor mat. If the mat is damaged, dealers will install a new PPS mat with the reinforcement strip. Please note that GMâs standard 1 year/12,000 mile service part warranty applies to both the sensor mat and the reinforcement strip, regardless of which repair procedure is used. If only the reinforcement strip is installed, and the sensor mat fails during the 1 year/12,000 mile warranty period, the sensor mat and the reinforcement strip should be replaced free of chargeâ Iâve contacted the dealer and GM, bu
The passenger presence pad was not repaired.
There is an issue with all Saturn Skyâs and Pontiac Solsticeâs that cause the wiring harness for the A/C FAN to melt, or even ignite. This is the same harness that was used on 2006-2010 Hummer H3 vehicles manufactured February 5, 2005, to May 24, 2010, and 2009-2010 Hummer H3T vehicles manufactured May 21, 2008, to May 24, 2010. This recall was never extended to Pontiac or Saturn. - If the blower motor connector module overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire. Iâve seen several reports of other owners dealing with this melted harness, and even a recently reported fire.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE CALLED THE NUMBER PROVIDED IN THE RECALL NOTICE AND A REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED HER THAT HER AIR BAGS WERE FINE DUE TO THE FACT THAT HER AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. SHORTLY AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER, THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT HER PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF AND SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING MESSAGES HAD ILLUMINATED ON HER INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME NUMBER BACK FOR A SECOND TIME AND WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE DESPITE RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE FOR HER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
DUE TO RECALL HAD PPS MAT WORK PERFORMED (WITHOUT AIR BAG LIGHT EVER COMING ON), ONLY TO HAVE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COME ON TWO YEARS AFTER RECALL WORK. AIRBAG LIGHT NOW COMES ON UPON STARTUP. DEALER SAYS TOTAL SENSOR REPLACEMENT REQUIRED. PPS MAT FAILED - RECALL DID NOT WORK. USE VEHICLE ONLY IN SUMMERS PUTTING LIMITED MILEAGE ON
THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON ALL THE TIME NOW. IT WAS INTERMITTENT FOR A COUPLE WEEKS NOW IT IS ON ALL THE TIME.
Mileage: 51,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO ROGER DABB CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1501 W GOVERNMENT ST, BRANDON, MS) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AGAIN DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED LIGHT CAME ON FEW MONTHS LATER AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 11/27/18*JB
Mileage: 62,000
MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE RECALL. I WAS INFORMED IT MAYBE 6 MONTHS OR MORE UNTIL IT IS AVAILABLE. THIS BEING AN AIRBAG I FEEL THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A SAFETY ISSUE.
I RECEIVED THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE IN MARCH 2017. IN JANUARY 2018 I RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THE PART WAS FINALLY AVAILABLE. I STILL AM CONTINUALLY BEING TOLD BY THE DEALER, DEVAN CHEVROLET/BUICK WILTON CT, THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE, AND THAT THERE IN NO ETA FOR WHEN IT WILL BE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DOES NOT FUNCTION AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS) AT ROBERT WOODALL CHEVROLET BUICK GMC (1063 RIVERSIDE DR., DANVILLE, VA 24543, (434) 797-1411), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRTHE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. *TT
Mileage: 18,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HUBERT CHEVROLET IN WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (ROYAL BUICK GMC, 3010 COLUMBIANA RD, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35216) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON FOR 5 YEARS NOW. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS WHEN IT HAPPENED BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, TAKE IT TO A DEALER. THIS JUST CAME ON WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT AT ALL. OTHERWISE EVERYTHING ELSE IS OKAY. GMC REFUSES TO HELP IN ANY WAY.
FROM THE BEGINNING UPON PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE FOUND THE PASSENGER SENSOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, DUPLESSIS GMC IN GONZALES, LA COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM SO AFTER MANY EFFORTS WITH THEM WE GOT A LOCAL SHOP TO INSTALL THE NEW SENSOR THAT WE PURCHASED FROM DUPLESSIS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR THAT DEVICE AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT NEVER WENT AWAY UNTIL WE HAD THIS WORK DONE. I HAVE RECORDS TO PROVE THIS WAS DONE
FROM THE BEGINNING UPON PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE WE FOUND THE PASSENGER SENSOR NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, DUPLESSIS GMC IN GONZALES, LA COULD NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM SO AFTER MANY EFFORTS WITH THEM WE GOT A LOCAL SHOP TO INSTALL THE NEW SENSOR THAT WE PURCHASED FROM DUPLESSIS. WE ARE LOOKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR THAT DEVICE AND THE LABOR TO INSTALL IT. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT NEVER WENT AWAY UNTIL WE HAD THIS WORK DONE. I HAVE RECORDS TO PROVE THIS WAS DONE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE/PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHARLES CLARK CHEVROLET (801 U.S. BUSINESS, MCALLEN, TX 78501, PHONE: (956) 307-6557) AND BERT OGDEN BUICK GMC (4216 US-281, TX 78539, PHONE: (956) 348-1113). THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE SO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,635. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 77,635
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE REMEDY FOR THE RECALL WAS STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (JEFF WYLER EASTGATE AUTO MALL, 1117 OH-32, BATAVIA, OH 45103, (513) 752-3447) AND (MARK SWEENEY BUICK GMC, 3365 HIGHLAND AVE, CINCINNATI, OH 45213, (513) 621-4888) DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. FOR WEEKS, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE AIR BAGS. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. AIR BAG MAY NOT WORK IN A CRASH. TWO RECA
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.