PONTIAC SOLSTICE · model year

2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE

45 NHTSA complaints, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009PONTIACSOLSTICE carries 45 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 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 SOLSTICE is air bags with 31 filings, followed by electrical system (5) and seats (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 4 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 2009 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.

45
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

45 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
SEATS3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE1
SEAT BELTS1
POWER TRAIN1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH1
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER1
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION1

Recalls (4)

14E02100030/04/2014

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

17V06100026/01/2017

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.

14V17100010/04/2014

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

14V04700010/02/2014

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

Recent Complaints

20230814AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact called the dealer, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that an electrical sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

20220907AIR BAGS

My issue is with the initial recall of the air bag system. Why is the air bag replaced only one time when this is an ongoing problem. My air bag system needs replaced for the second time but it is not covered. I don't understand the logic behind not continually correcting an ongoing problem. Can you please help me? [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20211031AIR BAGS

My Solstice had recall # 14092 & 14133 for service airbag to passenger seat completed on 4/27/2018. As of 10/25/2019 the service airbag light is once again on and indicates that the passenger airbag is off. The recall part has malfunctioned. Please contact with another recall to fix this problem. My Solstice has 25,600 miles.

20210802AIR BAGS

Over the years I've received multiple info cards from dealerships concerning this recall. I return their request for having recall work scheduled. The dealerships then return my call usually in a few days saying they are unable to aquire parts for recall work. So far no dealership has been able to do the install due to parts shortage. Where do I go from here?

20210408AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND IS ALWAYS ON. DRIVER INFO DISPLAY INDICATES "SERVICE AIRBAG" EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. PPS MAT RECALL HAS ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE REINFORCEMENT REPAIR HAS FAILED. THE EXACT SAME PPS MAT IS USED ON THE CADILLAC CTS, AND THE RECALL FOR THAT WAS TO REPLACE THE SENSOR BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED THE MATERIAL MAY FATIGUE AND CRACK. THUS IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE PPS MAT AND THEREFORE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED, NOT REPAIRED IN THE SOLSTICE/SKY. A TAPE-ON REINFORCEMENT STRIP IS NOT SUFFICIENT.

Mileage: 64,500

20201218AIR BAGS

PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT ALWAYS ON. DRIVER INFO DISPLAY ALWAYS INDICATES "SERVICE AIRBAG" (WITH ALERT TONE) EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED RECALL 17V061000 FOR FAILURES IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR PPS MAT. SOLSTICE REPAIR WAS ADDED REINFORCED TAPE. CTS REPAIR FOR SAME ISSUE WAS TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. MANY SOLSTICE/SKY OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING THE RECALL REPAIR JOB FAILED A YEAR AFTER THE FIX, RESULTING IN NEED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR MAT. AS THE PPS MAT IS AN FMVSS MANDATED SAFETY FEATURE, IT SHOULD BE [AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN] REPLACED ENTIRELY, NOT JUST REPAIRED WITH REINFORCED TAPE. GM INDICATES THE RECALL REPAIR WAS ALREADY PERFORMED, SO I WILL HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $800 TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE FAILURE INDICATORS. THIS IS UNREASONABLE. ONE CANNOT EXPECT REINFORCED TAPE TO PREVENT AN UNKNOWN FATIGUE CONDITION ON AN 8-10 YEAR OLD SENSOR. REPLACEMENT WITH A DIFFERENT DESIGN AS IN THE CTS IS THE ONLY CERTAIN SOL

Mileage: 64,000

20200703SEATS

ALMOST 36K MILES AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASH WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A PARTNER (ADULT OVER 150 LBS) AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG TURNED OFF, I WENT OUT OF THE HIGHWAY FOR HIS SAFETY AND DRIVE SLOWER OUR WAY BACK TO WORK, BUT SUDDENDLY HE KIND OF ACCOMODATE HIMSELF ON THE SEAT AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT DISAPPERED, SO I ASKED HIM TO MOVE/CHANGE HIS SITTING POSITION ON THE SEAT AND THIS WAY THE LIGHT RETURNED AND THEN DISAPPEARD WHEN HE CHANGED RANDOMLY HIS WEIGHT OVER THE SEAT. RIGHT NOW THE LIGHT IS PERMANENT ON MY DASHBOARD NO MARE THER IS NO WEIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIT OR SOMEONE OVER 150 POUNDS SITS AND CHANGES SITTING POSITION. MY CAR ATTENDED THE RECALL 17036 AUG 2018 AT THAT TIME THE PROBLEM WAS NOT PRESENT ON MY PPS SO THEY PROCEED TO MAKE THE REINFORCEMENT, BUT NOW IT APPEARED THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME THE DIAGNOSTIC AND IF THE PPS IS THE FAILURE (AS IT SEEMS TO BE); THE PPS COST, AS IS OVER A YEAR SINCE THE RECALL WAS ATTENDED AND THE PART IS OU

Mileage: 35,500

20180914AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER (DON MEALEY CHEVROLET, 17185 FL-50, CLERMONT, FL 34711, 352-394-6176) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD GIVE THE CONTACT A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20180910AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (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 CONTACT CALLED CHEVROLET BUICK MARBLE FALLS AT (830) 693-2777 (LOCATED AT 2301 US-281, MARBLE FALLS, TX 78654) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20180808AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. 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. MCSWEENEY CADILLAC GMC (35500 ALABAMA HIGHWAY 21 B, TALLADEGA, ALABAMA 35160, (256)474-4473) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20180808AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. 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. MCSWEENEY CADILLAC GMC (35500 ALABAMA HIGHWAY 21 B, TALLADEGA, ALABAMA 35160, (256)474-4473) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20180506AIR BAGS

I PUTCHASED THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 25, 2015 FROM CYNTHIA WALKER. THE VEHICLE HAD 30,000 MI, EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (I RECEIVED ALL PREVIOUS SERVICE RECORDS. IN AUGUST, 2016 I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH AND A "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED. I TOOK THE CAR TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET DEALER IN PEORIA, AZ FOR REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THE AIR BAG WAS NOT COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND CHARGED $89.95 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I CALLED THE GM HOTLINE ON AUGUST 27, 2016 TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK 4 CALLS FOR ME TO FINALLY GET A RESPONSE FROM BRENDALIN (NO LAST NAME GIVEN). SHE TOLD BE THEY COULD DO NOTHING. CASE #8-233933284 IN MARCH, 2017 AND IN MAY, 2017 I RECEIVED LETTERS FROM GM SAYING THE CAR HAD AN AIR BAG PROBLEM AND WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL. IT TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO A GM DEALER FOR REPAIRS AT NO COST TO ME. I TOOK THE CAR TO RICE MOTORS, 1306 WEST MAIN, CA

Mileage: 33,200

20180206AIR BAGS

RECALL ISSUED MARCH 2017, 17036 STILL NO FIX

20171027AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 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 NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF UPDATED 8/3/18*JB

20170919AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 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. THE DEALER (LANCASTER MOTOR COMPANY, 1616 CHARLOTTE HWY, LANCASTER, SC 29720, (803) 283-4118) DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/06/17*LJ UPDATED 11/07/2017*JS

20170327AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20160722AIR BAGS

AIR BAG SENSOR FOR PASSENGER SEAT WENT OUT WITH JUST OVER 30,000 MILES ON CAR. EVERYONE WHOM I KNOW WITH A PONTIAC SOLSTICE OR SATURN SKY HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE DISABLES THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND MAKES IT UNSAFE FOR PASSENGER TO RIDE IN CAR. SENSOR IN SEAT WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING WITH MY WIFE IN THE SEAT. SHE WEIGHS 125 POUNDS SO IT WAS NOT A LOADING ISSUE.

20160701AIR BAGS

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED. OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND PUTS MY PASSENGERS AT EXTREME RISK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 35,000

20151222AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE ON BUT REMAINED OFF, WHEN A PASSENGER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

20150909AIR BAGS

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WHILE PARKED AT A LIGHT, THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" WARNING LIGHT APPEARED ON MY DASH, AND HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVER SINCE. IT IS NOT THE FUSE, AND IT DOES NOT MATTER IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OR NOT. (SOLSTICES HAVE A LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES WHEN SOMEONE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT SAYING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS ON, BECAUSE THE SENSOR DETECTS A PASSENGER.)

Mileage: 50,041

Compare 2009PONTIACSOLSTICE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE have?
The 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE has 45 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE?
Yes, the 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE?
The most-complained component for the 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE is AIR BAGS with 31 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SEATS.
Is the 2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.