ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
2009 Pontiac G5
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 76 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Pontiac G5, most frequently naming the fuel system, electrical and steering categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 947 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 1 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2010 | 1 | 3 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 6 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 7 |
| May 2011 | 2 | 9 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 2011 | 2 | 12 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 14 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 15 |
| Aug 2012 | 2 | 17 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 18 |
| Oct 2012 | 1 | 19 |
| Feb 2014 | 2 | 21 |
| Mar 2014 | 1 | 22 |
| Apr 2014 | 2 | 24 |
| May 2014 | 3 | 27 |
| Jun 2014 | 5 | 32 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 33 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 34 |
| Dec 2014 | 2 | 36 |
| Feb 2015 | 2 | 38 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 39 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 40 |
| Oct 2015 | 2 | 42 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 43 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 44 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 45 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 46 |
| Nov 2016 | 2 | 48 |
| Mar 2017 | 2 | 50 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 51 |
| Jun 2017 | 2 | 53 |
| Jul 2017 | 1 | 54 |
| Oct 2017 | 1 | 55 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 56 |
| Jan 2018 | 1 | 57 |
| Mar 2018 | 1 | 58 |
| Jul 2018 | 2 | 60 |
| Sep 2018 | 1 | 61 |
| Oct 2018 | 1 | 62 |
| Jun 2019 | 1 | 63 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 64 |
| Feb 2020 | 1 | 65 |
| May 2020 | 1 | 66 |
| Jul 2020 | 1 | 67 |
| Aug 2020 | 3 | 70 |
| Sep 2020 | 1 | 71 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 72 |
| Jun 2021 | 2 | 74 |
| Feb 2025 | 1 | 75 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 76 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system3233.0%
- Electrical2222.7%
- Steering1212.4%
- Airbags1010.3%
- Engine55.2%
- Powertrain (other)44.1%
- Driver assistance33.1%
- Transmission22.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
6 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AIR BAGS; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.
Electric Power Steering Failure
In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).The letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.The letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that production of a new motor started in December 2009.GM's recall repair procedure instructs dealers to replace the EPS motor in all recalled vehicles. ODI's analysis of all information available related to sudden loss of EPS assist while driving in the MY 2005 through 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles shows current complaint and warranty rates of 323/100,000 vehicles and 0.4% respectively.In response to ODI's request for information, GM identified 81 complaints where a crash was claimed that may be related to loss of EPS assist.ODI's analysis of all crash claims was based on verifiable factors such as; whether a loss of EPS was indicated at the time of the crash by a chime or malfunction indicator lamp or if a EPS related component malfunction was identified after the crash occurred.With this method ODI identified 36 possible crashes related to EPS failure.GM assessed crash claims based on the available facts and excluded crash claims that indicated that the vehicle was travelling at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater.GM said that it believes if power assist is lost while a vehicle is moving at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater there is a small difference in steering efforts perceived in subjective evaluations at those speeds and it is unlikely to lead to loss of vehicle control. Based on GM's safety recall, this investigation is closed.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
All gauges on dash starting going up and down, Anti theft light, power steering light, low fuel light. Car slipping or having hard time going and possibly the key transponder ignition / chip key anti theft shut down.
- NHTSA ID
- 11729573
- Incident
- Mar 31, 2026
The contact owned a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) and 14V171000 (Electrical System). The contact requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance.
- NHTSA ID
- 11642009
- Incident
- Feb 11, 2025
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present. Upon inspection, it was discovered that fuel had leaked from above the fuel tank. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local unknown dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 12V459000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 129,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11420893
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2021
- Mileage
- 129,000 mi
My 2009 Pontiac G5 was driven to work this morning 6-10-21and parked in a Michigan State vehicle garage. Security notified me at work that my vehicle had a puddle of gas under and near a rear tire. I removed vehicle frome parking garage and parked it in a remote open parking lot. A gas leak in a car is dangerous, and a safety issue for me and others , especially in a parking garage!!! The vehicle has always been maintained as I am the original owner of the car. The car will be delivered to the dealer for inspection on 6/14/21. There are no recalls on this car . Opon my own investigation after the incident, there are numerous complaints logged into NHTSA of a rust issue of the fuel line where it is clamped near the fuel tank. There is also reports of crack developing at the intank fuel pump connection. ALL Cobalts,G5 's and other variations of this vehicle should be recalled immediately and inspections of the fuel system be reported back to NHTSA. Was there a fire? My answer is "NOT YET".
- NHTSA ID
- 11420402
- Incident
- Jun 10, 2021
FUEL LINE LEAKAGE - GAS LEAKS OUT QUICKLY UNTIL THE TANK IS EMPTY. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A HUGELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 PONTIAC G5. A MASSIVE GAS LEAK IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
- NHTSA ID
- 11390665
- Incident
- Jun 17, 2020
- Mileage
- 160,000 mi
FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL LINES ON DRIVER SIDE JUST IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL WELL.
- NHTSA ID
- 11360279
- Incident
- Sep 21, 2020
- Mileage
- 79,000 mi
FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE ON THE DRIVER SIDE.
- NHTSA ID
- 11350722
- Incident
- Aug 21, 2020
FUEL LINES CORRODED AT LEFT REAR WHEEL CAUSING A MAJOR FUEL LEAK.
- NHTSA ID
- 11344292
- Incident
- Jul 31, 2020
- Mileage
- 89,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.
This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.