2008 Pontiac G8 Suspension Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10538140

Incident

Aug 23, 2013

Mileage

53,000 mi

THE CAR SHAKES WHEN TURNING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. I CAME TO FIND OUT FROM A GARAGE THAT THE LF CONTROL ARM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. YOU CAN ACTUALLY WIGGLE THE TIRE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN IT IS UP ON A JACK. TWO YEARS AGO, THE RIGHT SIDE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475404

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

38,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BALL JOINTS AND THE SUSPENSION WAS WEARING. THE BALL JOINTS WERE CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM STRUTS AND THE RODS. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,500.

NHTSA ID

10472072

Incident

Aug 23, 2011

Mileage

37,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G8. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,800.

NHTSA ID

10453927

Incident

Mar 24, 2012

Mileage

22,700 mi

I FIRST NOTICED THIS LAST YEAR WHEN I WENT TO NY FOR THANKSGIVING. EVERYTIME I TURNED TO THE LEFT MY CAR WOULD SHIMMY AND SHAKE, I WAS TOLD I WAS MISSING A WEIGHT ON MY RIM SO I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. AS THE YEAR WENT ON IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN EVERY SO OFTEN AND AT TIMES WOULD DO IT AT ALL. IT STARTED TO ACT UP AGAIN BUT WOULDN'T STOP AND EVEN STEPPING ON MY BRAKES WOULD CAUSE IT. I BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THEY ADVISED THAT MY BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND TO BRING IT TO A DEALER. SO I DID THIS AND THEN THE DEALERSHIP THEN TELLS ME THAT MY BALL JOINTS ARE SHOT, WHICH THEN RUINED MY ROTORS (BRAKES ARE FINE) AND THAT MY HUB BEARINGS COULD ALSO BE RUINED. WITH THAT BEING SAID THEY SAID I NEEDED 3 MORE TIRES...I'VE ALREADY WENT THROUGH 9 OF THEM. WHEN I TALKED TO THE GUY AT THE FIRST SHOP HE SAID THAT I ONLY NEED ONE TIRE AND THE REST ARE FINE SO NOT SURE WHY THE DEALERSHIP WOULD TELL ME THIS. IT WAS OVER $1,000 TO FIX EVERYTHING NOT INCLUDING MY TIRES SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE LOCAL SHOP WHOM SAID THEY COULD ORDER THE PARTS AND HAVE THE JOB DONE FOR LESS THAN $600 (NO INCLUDING THE ONE TIRE WHICH IS $170.00). I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THIS DUE TO SEEING BULLETIN'S POSTED ON HERE FOR THE SAME ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BUT THEY WOULDN'T HELP OR GIVE ME AN INCH AND BASICALLY LEFT IT IN MY LAP AND SAID YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF IT. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE PARTS FOR MY CAR ARE GETTING LOW AND THAT WHEN GM RUNS OUT OF THEM THEY WILL NOT BE MAKING ANYMORE. NOT ALL OF THIS CAR HAS AFTER MARKET PARTS. AS OF RIGHT NOW JUST THE ROTORS DO AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE TO BE ORDERED AS WELL. I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN GM SERVICE BECAUSE THE FIRST GUY I TALKED TO SAID IT WAS A FAULTY PART THEN THE NEXT GUY WHO TOOK OVER THE CASE SAID IT WASN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID

10428290

Incident

Nov 23, 2010

Mileage

86,000 mi

I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BECAUSE I FELT SOME SHAKING IN MY TIRES. I FIGURED IT WAS JUST IN NEED OF A TIRE ROTATION & ALIGNMENT.. TURNS OUT ITS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY SUSPENSION ARM BARS. CONVENIENTLY I AM 4000 OUT OF MY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY. I HAVE A 3RD PARTY WARRANTY THROUGH AMERICAN AUTO AND THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME THAT THIS IS A PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. SO NOW I AM LEFT TO PAY $1200 OR RUN THE RISK OF MORE DAMAGE BECAUSE I AM STILL DRIVING MY CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR & @ ONLY 40,000 I AM HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10408635

Incident

Jun 6, 2011

Mileage

39,123 mi

GM TECHNICAL BULLETIN: 09203D: FRONT SUSPENSION LCA BALL JOINT BULLETIN THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8. GM HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY RELEASED 4 REVISED CONTROL ARMS WITH BETTER BALL JOINTS THAT NEEDS REPLACING ON ALL THE G8. INSTEAD OF FIXING THE PROBLEM THEY RELEASED IT AS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR DEALERS TO TAKE NOTE OF THE ISSUE. IF THE BALL JOINTS FAIL THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR DEATH. CAUSE: THE RUBBER "BOOT" OVER THE FRONT END LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT MAY HAVE BECOME DISLODGED OR TORN COMPROMISING THE SEAL. MOISTURE INSIDE THE BALL JOINT SEAL MAY CAUSE CORROSION, SHORTENING THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE COMPONENT. #09-03-08-008: KNOCK CLUNK OR CLICK NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OVER SMALL BUMPS (REPLACE FRONT LOWER CONTROL AND CASTER ARMS) - (OCT 5, 2009) SUBJECT: KNOCK, CLUNK OR CLICK NOISE FROM FRONT SUSPENSION OVER SMALL BUMPS (REPLACE FRONT LOWER CONTROL AND CASTER ARMS) MODELS: 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 ATTENTION: THIS BULLETIN IS INTENDED TO CORRECT A CONDITION FOR FRONT END KNOCK, CLUNK OR CLICKING. VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AS PART OF CAMPAIGN #09203A ARE TO FOLLOW A DIFFERENT REPAIR PROCEDURE AS OUTLINED UNDER THE CORRECTION SECTION BELOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316241

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

56,000 mi

I BROUGHT MY 2008 PONTIAC GT TO THE DEALER LAST MONTH TO HAVE THE CONTROL ARMS INSPECTED. CAR HAS 18,100 MILES ON IT. THE TECH TOLD ME BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE SHOT AND THEY WOULD OVERNIGHT THE PARTS. I TOLD HIM THERE WAS A RECALL ON BALL JOINTS BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. I ALSO BROUGHT A COPY OF THE TSB FOR THE BALL JOINTS AND TOLD HIM I WANTED ALL 4 CONTROL ARMS, NOT JUST THE 2 LOWER ONES. THE EXACT WORDING OF THE TSB IS "... AND FOUND TO HAVE ONE OR MORE OF THE RUBBER BOOTS IMPROPERLY SEALING SHOULD HAVE ALL 4 FRONT CONTROL ARMS REPLACED." THE TECH TOLD ME ALL 4 OF MY BOOTS WERE FINE AND DID NOT CAUSE THE BALL JOINT FAILURE, THEREFORE SINCE MY BOOTS WERE FINE I AM NOT ENTITLED TO THE UPPER CONTROL ARMS. I ASKED HOW THE 2 LOWER BALL JOINTS COULD FAIL IN JUST 18,000 MILES AND WAS TOLD MAYBE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE OR MAYBE I ABUSED THE CAR, IT WASN'T THE BOOTS FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312367

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

18,000 mi

I HAVE A 2008 PONTIAC G8 GT. THE ISSUE IS THE FRONT SUSPENSION. AROUND 43,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED GETTING VERY BAD SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE UNDER CERTAIN SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS THE CAR WILL GO INTO A VIOLENT SHAKE. WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT I'M FINE BUT IF I HEAD INTO ANY KIND OF A CURVE IN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL IS SHAKING BADLY AND THE WHOLE CAR SHUTTERS. I'M OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY SO THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I DID HAVE THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT INDEED I DO HAVE BAD BALL JOINTS & CONTROL ARMS AND MOST LIKELY STRUT BUSHING ISSUES. THEY SAID I COULD PURCHASE THE PARTS MYSELF BUT THAT THE PARTS ARE ON A VERY LONG BACKORDER, 2-3 MONTHS ARE COMMON PLACE. THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE DEALERSHIP WAS TO WAIT FOR AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT PART TO COME OUT (SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER) AS EVEN THE BACKORDERED REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM GM ARE FAILING AFTER BEING PUT ON THE CAR. THE CAR IS GETTING WORSE AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE FRONT END IS GOING TO FAIL ON ME SOMETIME WHILE I'M DRIVING. I RELY ON THIS CAR FOR MY JOB AND THERE IS NO GOOD FIX FOR IT OUT THERE AND NO GM RECALLS THAT I CAN FIND! I'M IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10289992

Incident

May 29, 2009

Mileage

43,000 mi

BALL JOINT FAILURE, BOTH SIDES, FRONT SUSPENSION. LOUD CLUNKING OVER IRREGULAR SURFACES AND BUMPS, VIBRATION IN FRONT END, SHAKING/STRONG VIBRATION DURING BRAKING. INSPECTED BY DEALER, ALL BALL JOINTS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FAILING. GM WARRANTY PERSONNEL DIRECTED ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THEY REFUSE TO COVER A LOANER OR RENTAL AND DECLARED THAT IT IS "A NON-SAFETY ISSUE". SINCE WHEN ARE PRIMARY ATTACHMENT POINTS FOR THE STEERING APPARATUS, SPINDLE, BRAKES, AND WHEELS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN? THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY INDICTED FOR SPEWING SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE NONSENSE. SOMEONE WILL GET KILLED BY ONE OF THE CARS EVENTUALLY. I CAN NO LONGER SAFELY USE THIS VEHICLE AS TRANSPORTATION FOR MY FAMILY, THESE COMPONENTS ARE FAILING RAPIDLY, AND WILL LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY WHEN THEY FAIL COMPLETELY. THIS ISSUE DEMANDS A RECALL. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE WORSE THAN THE EXPLORER/FIRESTONE TIRE DEBACLE. GM KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND APPEARS TO BE EXPENDING MORE RESOURCES TOWARD AVOIDING DEALING WITH THE ISSUE, THAN TOWARD RESOLUTION. EXCUSES RANGING FROM "WE HAVE NO PARTS IN INVENTORY" TO "THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DRIVE IN A COLD PART OF THE COUNTRY", IT'S RIDICULOUS. THEY BUILT, MARKETED, AND SOLD A SUBSTANDARD PRODUCT, AND ARE UNWILLING TO STAND BEHIND THE WARRANTY, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OPERATOR AND PASSENGER'S SAFETY, AND AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHER VEHICLES SHARING THE ROAD. NO WONDER THEY HAVE FAILED SO MISERABLY TO REGAIN A SHARE IN THEIR HOME MARKET, IT'S APPARENT THAT THEY JUST DON'T CARE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10286788

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

23,000 mi