2008 Pontiac G5 Airbags Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that the message "Service Air Bag" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to two different dealers, including Burton Buick GMC of Elkton (1 Automotive Blvd, Elkton, MD 21921), where it was diagnosed with Passenger Presence System (PPS) module failure; however, the contact was informed that the part was discontinued. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

NHTSA ID

11750034

Incident

Aug 13, 2025

Mileage

53,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and it was determined that the occupant detection module was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, IG Burton (1 Automotive Blvd, Elkton, MD 21921), and IG Burton (6913 Ritchie Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061). The dealers informed the contact that the part to repair the vehicle was no longer in production. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 53,150.

NHTSA ID

11733509

Incident

Apr 10, 2026

Mileage

53,150 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that while making a right turn in an intersection the vehicle failed to accelerate causing a crash with a second vehicle. During the crash, the air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a shoulder and back injury and the passenger sustained a left torso injury which required medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failures. The failure mileage was undetermined.

NHTSA ID

11520187

Incident

Apr 27, 2023

The airbag warning light came on having no prior issues with the car. The car was taken to the local GM dealer, [XXX]. Diagnostics have revealed the Passenger Presence Module may be defective and was not communicating with the SDM. The passenger airbag goes into default mode and turns the airbag off, posing a safety threat to a front passenger. This symptom first appeared August 2022. The vehicle had approximately 120,000 miles on it. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11505273

Incident

Aug 30, 2022

SERVICE AIR BAGS SHOWS ON DASH ON STARTUP, BOUGHT THIS WAY FROM HOLZ CHEVY IN HALES CORNERS, WI. WAS TOLD IT WAS A NON ISSUE. ELECTRICAL- CHANGES FROM RADIO TO AUX RANDOMLY, THE BACK SPEAKERS WORK CONSTANTLY, THE DRIVER SIDE NEVER WORKS AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WORKS ON OCCASION (IF YOU HIT A POT HOLE HARD ENOUGH IT'LL GO ON/OFF). FUEL- FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING FROM DRIVER SIDE, IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL. RIGHT BY THE HEAT SHIELD.

NHTSA ID

11257928

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

179,000 mi

BROKEN PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR. BROKEN SEATBELT RETRACTOR= AIRBAG NOT WORKING=DEATHTRAP.

NHTSA ID

11190392

Incident

Mar 19, 2019

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY IN THE DIC WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11081945

Incident

Mar 26, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DAUGHTER STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE FORWARD, THE VEHICLE THEN VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE RPMS TO INCREASE EXCESSIVELY. THE DRIVER STEERED THE VEHICLE INTO A MEDIUM AND CRASHED HEAD ON IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER DID NOT RECEIVE ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS CLEARED SAFE TO DRIVE BY THE DEALER HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AGAIN HOWEVER FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ID

10971799

Incident

Mar 23, 2017

Mileage

143,000 mi

I GOT THIS USED CAR LAST YEAR AND I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL SYSTEM. RECENTLY I CHECKED THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND I SAW THE RECALL NUMBER 14E021000 FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. I GOT THAT ONE FIXED BUT MY AIRBAG SYSTEM IS ALSO HAVE PROBLEM. AS IT IS MENTIONED IN THE SUMMARY OF RECALL NUMBER 14E021000, THE ISSUE WITH SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH CAN CAUSE AIR BAG ISSUES. I WAS WONDERING HOW CAN I TELL THE DEALER TO TAKE CARE OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM FOR FREE BECAUSE THE SOURCE OF AIR BAG ISSUE SEEMS TO BE INITIATED FROM THE IGNITION PROBLEM. (FOR WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN, I INSERTED 08/02/2015, THE APPROX TIME THAT I BOUGHT THE CAR. BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THIS WHEN I GOT THE CAR.)

NHTSA ID

10894457

Incident

Aug 2, 2015

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD & DOESN'T GO OFF. SENSOR WILLNOT DETECT SOMEONE SEATED, CAUSING THE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN & THEY WANT ABOUT $400 TO FIX IT. WE WERE SITTING STILL & A PASSENGER SAT ON THE SEAT. PUT SEATBELT ON & CK AIRBAG CAME ON & ON EVER SINCE.

NHTSA ID

10871318

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

73,000 mi

PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR IS FAULTY, CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SENSOR WILL NOT DETECT SOMEONE SEATED, CAUSING THE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IF IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10807320

Incident

Nov 1, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A DITCH. DURING THE CRASH, THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND UPPER TORSO TRAUMA AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED A FRACTURED NECK, VERTEBRAE, AND A CONCUSSION. BOTH OCCUPANTS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10774790

Incident

Aug 5, 2015

Mileage

70,000 mi

I WAS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT THEN SLAMMED THEIR BRAKES, I HIT THE REAR OF THAT VEHICLE IT WAS A 2011 FORD FOCUS THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED AND THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT. MY VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS AND I SUFFERED A NECK/BACK/SHOULDER INJURY.

NHTSA ID

10678238

Incident

Jan 6, 2015

Mileage

74,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 PONTIAC G5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A NECK AND HEAD INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

10663368

Incident

Nov 6, 2012

Mileage

35,000 mi

PURCHASED ABOVE VEHICLE USED 2 WEEKS AGO HAS THE FOLLOWING RECALLS CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V459000 CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 CAR HAS ISSUES DYING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN BUMPS ARE HIT AND REEKS OF GASOLINE WHEN DECELERATING OR OPERATED FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME GM WAS CONTACTED ON THEIR 1-800 LINE TODAY 11/17/14 THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL ON THIS AUTO MOBILE STATING ITS A "BRANDED TITLE" FROM OKLAHOMA IF I WANTED IT ADDRESSED TO CALL THE STATE OF OK???? ALLOWING CORPORATES TO DEFY REGULATIONS IS NOT THE WAY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC!!!!!!! VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS REQUIRED EMISSIONS TESTING WITH THE FUEL PUMP PUKING GASOLINE IT IS UNUSABLE UNTIL REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10658733

Incident

Nov 15, 2014

Mileage

105,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WENT HAY WIRE TO WHERE WE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CRASHED. WE WERE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND IT VEERED OFF INTO SOMEBODY ELSE'S LANE AND HIT THEIR VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE. WE ARE UNSURE OF WHAT HAPPENED AND ARE STRUGGLING TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10598705

Incident

May 30, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

I STARTED NOTICING THAT MY AIR BAG LIGHTS WOULD SAY THEY WERE OFF SOMETIMES, BUT NOW THEY ARE ALWAYS OFF. THESE CARS ARE NOT SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577284

Incident

Feb 4, 2013

I'M EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY AIRBAG LIGHT. IT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THE PONTIAC G5'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING AND THIS IS DUE TO IMPROPER WIRING UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT OF THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP AND THE GM DEALERSHIP AND THEY BOTH CLAIM THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD BE CAUSING MY AIRBAG LIGHT TO BE GOING ON AND OFF AND THE ONLY WAY TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE IS TO PAY $100.00 JUST TO TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT FAULTY WIRING IS THE ISSUE. I'M PARANOID TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY AIRBAG OR MAYBE IT IS JUST FAULTY WIRING. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE. AS A MATTER OF FACT THERE IS AN ENTIRE WEBSITE DEVOTED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE THIS ISSUE. I CAN'T GET MY INSPECTION DONE BECAUSE THE LIGHT JUST POPS ON RANDOMLY. IF THIS IS A WIRING ISSUE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING, WHY ISN'T GM BEING HELD LIABLE FOR THE ISSUE? WHY IS THE AIRBAG ONLY COVERED IF IT IS DEPLOYED? THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE WEEKS ON AND OFF AND I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE SOME KIND OF RESPONSE OR JUST A WAY TO HANDLE THIS. I AM A FULL TIME STUDENT AND I DO NOT HAVE $100 LYING AROUND TO HAVE SOMEONE RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THEN PAY EVEN MORE JUST TO FIX A WIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573559

Incident

Mar 17, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

THERE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE OF THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT GOING OFF FOR G5S AND COBALTS. IT IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE PART ISSUE, AS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE, AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE, AND ONLY GM KNOWS HOW TO FIX THIS ISSUE FOR A LARGE SUM OF CASH. FAILED OBSOLESCENCE AT ITS FINEST. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470130

Incident

Jul 2, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE FAULTY GROUND WIRES IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE WIRING WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ID

10461776

Incident

Apr 10, 2012

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE PASSENGER WAS STRUCK BY THE AIR BAG AND SUSTAINED A BRUISED EYE. THE VEHICLE HEADLINER WAS DAMAGED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING THE REPAIRS, AS THE PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,175.

NHTSA ID

10369939

Incident

Nov 26, 2010

Mileage

25,175 mi

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) FALL OF 2009 IN A 2008 PONTIAC G5 [XXX]TRAVELING NORTH ON RT 119 TOWARD INDIANA PA, SLOWING DOWN TO EXIT CAR STEERING FAILED CAR WENT DIRECTLY INTO THE GUARD CAUSING MY MOTHER , SISTER AND HER FRIEND TO BE BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316055

Incident

Sep 28, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

I HIT AN OIL SPOT ON I-24 WHICH RESULTED IN A TOTAL LOST OF A 2008 G5 IN 9/09 ; THE CARS FRONT HIT HEAD ON @ 55 MILES AN HR.THE OUTSIDE GUARD RAIL , THEN THE CAR TURN SERVERAL TIMES HITTING THE INSIDE CONCRETE WALL ON BOTH SIDES AND REAR , THE CAR HAD SIDE AND FRONT AIR BAGS WHICH DID NOT DEPLOY, THE STATE TROOPER SAID THAT I WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. MY WIFE CALLED THE PONTIAC DEALER WERE THE CAR WAS TOWED TO. MY WIFE WAS ASKED HOW BAD WAS I HURT SINCE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY,WE WERE TOLD WE NEEDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT SOMEONE ELSE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. *CN

NHTSA ID

10306978

Incident

Sep 17, 2009

Mileage

46,000 mi

PAUL MUTERSBAUGH'S 2008 PONTIAC G-5 WAS T-BONED. HE REMEMBERS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKE, TO NO AVAIL. THE AIR BAGS IN THE BACK SEAT DID NOT DEPLOY. AFTER IMPACT, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE SPREAD SO QUICKLY THAT THERE WAS ONLY ENOUGH TIME TO GET THE OCCUPANTS FROM THE BACK SEAT OUT. NOT EVEN ENOUGH TIME TO SAVE ANYTHING IN THE CAR. THE CAR BURNT TO THE GROUND. NOTHING BUT A SHELL IS LEFT. I MET A GENTLEMAN AT THE LAS VEGAS TRUCK SHOW ON JUNE 25TH. HE SAID YOU COULD SEND SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. THE INSURANCE CARRIER IS KEEPING THE CAR AT: COPART SALVAGE YARD, LOT 13749849, 1475 BLUFF CITY BLVD., ELGIN, IL. 60120. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE SOMEONE VERIFYING THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, THE CAR SHOULD NEVER HAVE BURNT TO THE GROUND WITH OUT SOMETHING BEING DEFECTIVE WITH THE CAR AND TO SEE IF THE BRAKES FAILED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275325

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 PONTIAC G5, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A 3 VEHICLE ACCIDENT. A CAR IMPACTED A MINI VAN ON THE SIDE CAUSING THE CAR TO BOUNCE OFF THE MINIVAN AND TRAVELING SIDEWAY INTO OUR PONTIAC G5. THE G5 WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER DOOR SENDING THE G5 SIDEWAYS AND ALMOST TURNING OVER. A TREE STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM TURNING OVER. WE PURCHASED THE CAR BECAUSE THE DEALER AND GM STATED THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT, SIDE AND CURTAIN AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE SIDE AIRBAGS AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. GM STATED THAT THEY ONLY DEPLOY IN ROLLOVERS, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THERE BROCHURES, WEBSITE AND OTHER ITEMS I HAVE SAID. ALSO THEY STATE THAT ALL 2008 PONTIAC'S HAVE ONSTAR AND THIS CAR DOES NOT. GM SENT A INDEPENDENT ENGINEER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE'S RECORDER AND NOW THEY STATE THAT EVERYTHING IS OK. THEIR ENGINEER CANNOT BE IMPARTIAL DUE TO THE FACT THAT HE WORK FOR GM AND IS RETIRED AND RECEIVING A PENSION!! MY WIFE AND MOTHER IN LAW WAS INJURED AS WELL AS CAUSING OVER $6100.00 WITH THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE BEING $17,400 OR 35% OF THE VALUE. CAN YOU HELP THANK YOU HOWARD BERKOWITZ. *TR

NHTSA ID

10239696

Incident

Jul 22, 2008

Mileage

513 mi