Problems · by component

2008 Pontiac Solstice air bags problems

99 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Pontiac Solstice cite air bags, 62% of all 159 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
99
62% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“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. “Dealers 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 GM’s 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 charge” I’ve contacted the dealer and GM, but neither will assist with the warranty, and my vehicle is without airbags. I was told that it may not apply to me, that the recall for my vehicle expired in 2017. I explained that it was…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2023Air bagsODI 11514946
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2020Air bagsODI 11351162
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2020Air bagsODI 11338905
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2018Air bagsODI 11128631
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2018Air bagsODI 11128393

Showing 6 of 99 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: occupant classification

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported Jan 26, 2017NHTSA 17V061000

Air bags

Remedy pending

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 on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Air bagsReported Feb 10, 2014NHTSA 14V047000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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

Other 2008 Solstice problem areas