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Research · Large Cars

2008 Pontiac G8Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 71 owner complaints for the 2008 Pontiac G8. Most complaints involve air bags (25) and electrical system (14). The EPA rates it 18–20 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
18–20mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Jun 2015
Owner complaints
71
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$3,000est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seat belts

Free remedy

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 vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.

Seat beltsReported Jun 23, 2015NHTSA 15V399000

Electrical system: ignition

Remedy pending

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 knee, unintentionally knocking the key out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Sep 9, 2014NHTSA 14V540000

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

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 FRONT PASSENGER SEAT POSITIONED FULL FORWARD, THE SEAT POSITION SENSOR WILL CAUSE A 30 MILLISECONDS DEPLOYMENT DELAY BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND STAGES OF THE DUAL-STAGE FRONTAL PASSENGER AIR BAG.

Air bagsReported Nov 4, 2011NHTSA 11V534000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

71 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2008 – Oct 2025
  1. Air bags25
  2. Electrical system14
  3. Suspension10
  4. Steering8
  5. Power train8
  6. Engine5
  7. Service brakes2
  8. Seats2
  9. Seat belts2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each G8 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
200871
2009144
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

25 reports
“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 STRAIGHT CENTER WHEEL POSITION, THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR LIGHT AND WARNING TONES WOULD REOCCUR. WHEN CONTACTING MY ONSTAR MONITORING SERVICE, THEY WERE ABLE TO DO AN OVER THE AIR DIAGNOSTIC FAULT CODE TEST. IT CAME BACK AS FAULT CODE B0012 FOR CLOCKSPRING, DRIVER STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LOOP FAILURE. WHENEVER THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR IS ACTIVATED ON THIS MODEL, THE ENTIRE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY DISABLED AND NONFUNCTIONAL IN PREVENTING MAJOR INJURIES WHICH CAN LEAD TO FATALITIES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE OF THE REPLACEMENT CLOCKSPRING PART COST, AND WAS QUOTED IN THE $450.00 RANGE PLUS LABOR TECH INSTALL. IN ADDITION, WAS TOLD THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A KNOWN DEFECT ON THIS MODEL AND SINCE IS AIRBAG RELATED, SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH IS GENERAL MOTORS. I COULD BE LIKE THOUSANDS OF…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2020Steering, Electrical system, Air bagsODI 11328416

Electrical system

14 reports1 crash
“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 Campaign Number: 14V540000 (Electrical System). The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the recall was marked closed by the dealer without performing the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2025Electrical systemODI 11692271

Suspension

10 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 8 MPH OVER A ROAD BUMP, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH FRONT STRUTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 9/17/13*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2013SuspensionODI 10538140
All 2008 G8 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Large Cars
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl · 6.0L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S5) · Automatic (S6)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
G8
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
172520$3,000444
G8
Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 6.0 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152418$4,200494
  • G8
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    17 city · 25 hwy · $3,000/yr
    20
    mpg comb.
  • G8
    Auto (S6), 8 cyl, 6.0 L
    15 city · 24 hwy · $4,200/yr
    18
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Pontiac G8 as of Nov 12, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 2709
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2008 G8 questions

How many recalls does the 2008 Pontiac G8 have?

4 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2008 Pontiac G8 problems?

Owners filed 71 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (25), electrical system (14), suspension (10). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2008 Pontiac G8 get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Pontiac G8 at 18–20 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026