The 2008 Pontiac G8 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 167,567 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 91 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEAT BELTS15V3990002015-06-2347,042 affected
Defect
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 seat belts to the…
Consequence
If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
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 of entry into the vehicle and uses a more flexible cable, set at a more upright angle. The recall began on July 5,…
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 key with their…
Consequence
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 cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
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 been indexed by 90 degrees, to the original RKE transmitter assembly. GM issued an interim notification to owners on…
AIR BAGS11V5340002011-11-0438,444 affected
Defect
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 STANDARD. WITH THE…
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Remedy
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.
TIRES09V1720002009-05-2135,038 affected
Defect
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 BRAKE PEDAL POSITION…
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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 MAY CONTACT GM PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
25
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
1crashes
STEERING
8
2crashes1injuries
SUSPENSION
7
ENGINE
5
1fires1injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
5
SUSPENSION:FRONT
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
POWER TRAIN
3
SEAT BELTS
2
Total complaints91
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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 warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the failure was related to nhtsa…”
“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 was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The…”
“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 would disappear. However once completing the full left u-turn, and driving…”
“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 would disappear. However once completing the full left u-turn, and driving…”
“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 would disappear. However once completing the full left u-turn, and driving…”
“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 working and replaced them 2 times with new sensors”
“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 working and replaced them 2 times with new sensors”
“Passenger seat does not register a person sitting in it to activate air bag system. Codes retrieved: u0170 and b0081. Odometer: 86,000”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 Pontiac G8 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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