Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Pontiac Solstice problems

Owners filed 159 complaints about the 2008 Pontiac Solstice with NHTSA between Nov 2007 and May 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (99).

Complaints
159
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags99
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic29
  3. Electrical system15
  4. Seats10
  5. Service brakes7
  6. Structure6
  7. Engine5
  8. Power train3
  9. Equipment3
  10. Vehicle speed control2
  11. Engine and engine cooling2
  12. Latches/locks/linkages2
  13. Exterior lighting1
  14. Suspension1

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20077
200817
20096
20102
20114
201210
201314
201431
201510
201614
201728
20188
20191
20202
20210
20222
20232
20240
20251

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

99 reports3 crashes2 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2025Air bagsODI 11663152

Service brakes, hydraulic

29 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT TO REGAIN BRAKE CONTROL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,800.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10457144

Electrical system

15 reports2 related recalls
“There is an issue with all Saturn Sky’s and Pontiac Solstice’s 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. I’ve seen several reports of other owners dealing with this melted harness, and even a recently reported fire.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2022Electrical systemODI 11461630

Seats

10 reports
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2018Air bags, SeatsODI 11063794

Service brakes

7 reports2 crashes
“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 at some point will cause an accident, either at an intersection or on the highway. Especially in this age of "Distracted driving". Several similar instances have been reported by…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 29, 2023Service brakesODI 11562518

Structure

6 reports
“THE INTERIOR TRUNK RELEASE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH 49 CFR 571.401 IN THAT IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO RELEASE ALL LATCHES FROM INSIDE THE TRUNK. THE BUTTRESS RELEASE CABLES(2) ARE CONNECTED TO A SOLENOID THAT MUST BE OPERATED ELECTRICALLY AND ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE CABLE. IT IS ALSO A KNOWN COMMON FAILURE FOR THESE CABLES TO FAIL AND NOT RELEASE THE BUTTRESS FLAPS FROM THE EXTERIOR. MY CABLES HAVE FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE EMERGENCY RELEASE CABLE AND TRUNK RELEASE DESIGN DO NOT MEET THE SAFETY STANDARDS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2016StructureODI 10820644
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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