2008 Pontiac Solstice Brakes Problems

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 owners on the public forums. The consumer stated that they took the vehicle to their local GMC repair facility and the brake light switch was supposedly replaced. The issue still exists.

NHTSA ID

11562518

Incident

Dec 23, 2023

PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT PREVENT VEHICLE FROM ROLLING WHEN PARKED ON A INCLINED SURFACE. HANDLE IS EXTENDED TO IT'S MAXIMUM POSITION.

NHTSA ID

10950040

Incident

Nov 23, 2016

Mileage

28,346 mi

THE SOLSTICE MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY READING "ESC SERVICE". WITH THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF IT WOULD RESET ITSELF. NOW, AS SOON AS WE START THE CAR, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND ARE STAYING ON WITHOUGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED AND THERE IS NO ESC SERVICE LIGHT INDICATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HIGH AND HARD TO PRESS. IN ADDITION WE'VE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHUTTING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS ARE CALLED OUT ON A GM RECALL #13036 FOR OVER 2 MILLION VEHICLES BUT THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL. IT APPEARS IT SHOULD BE. ALL OF THE PROBLEMS NOTED ON THIS RECALL ARE SYMPTOMATIC TO WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH OUR CAR. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS POINT. IT'S NOTED ON THE RECALL THAT ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. WE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND OPENED A CLAIM. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT ANY REPAIRS / ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE DONE WILL NEED TO COME OUT OF OUR POCKETS AS THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE IS NOT LISTED ON THIS RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSES EXPEDITIOUSLY.

NHTSA ID

10736143

Incident

Apr 20, 2015

Mileage

23,400 mi

AFTER A HARD BRAKE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR STOPPED FINE WITH THE ABS BRAKES KICKING IN AS NEEDED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THE BRAKES WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS IT CAME TIME TO STOP AGAIN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT BY THAT TIME, I WAS RIGHT UP ON THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND I REAR ENDED THAT VEHICLE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO BOTH THAT CAR AND MINE. GIVEN THAT I ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES NOT SEEMING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, I AM UNFORTUNATELY NOT SURPRISED THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR SAT ALL DAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK ON A RELATIVELY COLD DAY FOR ME TO HAVE IT ON THE ROAD, AND I HADN'T USED THE BRAKES SINCE THE MORNING. JUST RECENTLY, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON IN THE CAR, BUT AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE BATTERY (WHICH I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED) AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, BUT NOW I AM THINKING THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I OWN A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP AND HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652277

Incident

Nov 3, 2014

Mileage

33,000 mi

ON A TRIP 6/14/14 HALF WAY TO MY DESTINATION, THERE WAS A LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHOWING A CAR/LOCK SYMBOL. I CHECKED ALL DOORS, TRUNK AND HOOD, ALL WERE CLOSED. APPX. 10 MILES LATER I FELT THE POWER SUDDENLY STALL. THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAGE WERE ALL GOING UP AND DOWN. THE FUEL LIGHT CAME ON AND STARTED A WARNING SIGNAL. ALL SYSTEM LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF. I PULLED OVER AND WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES. IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE THE LOCK SYMBOL CAME ON AGAIN. AS I PROCEEDED THE SAME GAUGES STARTED TO GO CRAZY. ON APPROACHING MY TURNOFF, I EASED OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL AND STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES. ABOUT MID-BRAKE, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED AND I WAS JOLTED. THE FOLLOWING 2 STOPS WERE A REPEAT. I DROVE HOME NEXT DAY AT ABOUT 35 MPH. A NORMAL TRIP OF 2 1/2 HOURS TOOK OVER 4 BUT I WAS AFRAID OF HAVING THE BRAKES LOCK ON ME. THE LOCAL GM DEALER WAS CONTACTED FOR RECALL. IT TOOK FROM MID-JUNE TO SEPT. 12 FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN AND BE INSTALLED. THE TRIP HOME WAS UNEVENTFUL EXCEPT FOR THE KEY BEING VERY HARD TO TURN. ON 9/22 I HAD TO MAKE AN APPROX. 400 MILE TRIP. FEELING ASSURED THAT ALL PROBLEMS HAD BEEN FIXED, I DROVE THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT. UPON REACHING MY FIRST DESTINATION THE BRAKE SEEMED TO STOP SHARPLY. BELIEVING THAT I WAS JUST OVERLY CONCERNED I CONTINUED TO MY 2ND DESTINATION. ABOUT 20 MILES LATER LOCK LIGHT TURNED ON FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY THE OTHER MONITORED SYSTEM LIGHTS FLASHING. THE BRAKES LOCKED AS SOON AS I APPLIED PRESSURE. I WAS UNABLE TO USE MY CELL OR ON-STAR. I WENT TO THE NEAREST GM DEALER IN PUEBLO. I HAD NO MONEY TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. I WAS TOLD BY THE SAME SERVICE AGENT THAT HAD CHANGED DEALERSHIPS THAT I WOULD BE SAFE AS LONG AS I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING "WILD". I MADE THE SAME 4 + HOUR TRIP. AS I REACHED MY HOME THE CAR WAS BREAKING BY ITSELF. REPLACING THE RECALLED PART DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. A RECALL ON THE RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10638702

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

Mileage

26,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL AFTER REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ID

10508234

Incident

Apr 13, 2013

Mileage

27,000 mi

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (THE SECOND DATE WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO), I HAVE HAD TO MAKE VERY HARD STOPS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. BOTH TIMES, THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY (BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATIONS INDICATING CORRECT MODULATION). ONCE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP HOWEVER, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED COMPLETELY. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH ABSOLUTELY NO BACK PRESSURE. THE CAR BEGINS TO ROLL AGAIN, INDICATING THE BRAKE CALIPER/PADS HAVE RELEASED THE DISK. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO STOP AGAIN WAS TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL, ACTIVATING THE STABILITY CONTROL MODULE TO BOOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING ON START-UP DUE TO LOW VACUUM. FOLLOWING A HARD STOP, THE VACUUM BOOST TO THE BRAKES APPARENTLY BECOMES DEPLETED, CAUSING BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS THIS PRESENTS, I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS SINCE THE DEALERSHIP SEEMED UNWILLING TO PURSUE THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10495022

Incident

Oct 16, 2008

Mileage

6,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10457144

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

39,800 mi

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD ON COLD STARTS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2007, HOWEVER, THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THEY HAVEN'T HEARD FOR THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING A BRAKE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10397402

Incident

Apr 25, 2011

Mileage

50 mi

EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 4-5 HOURS BRAKES FAIL TO WORK, I HAVE TO LEAVE THE TRANSMISSION ON "PARKED" FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING, THIS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH THE FIRST DAYS I HAD THE CAR, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343335

Incident

Mar 6, 2010

I PURCHASED MY 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009. I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL I STARTED IT UP AND BEGAN TO PULL OUT OF THE NEARBY MALL PARKING LOT AND AS I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKE, IT MADE A LOW GRINDING NOISE, ALMOST LIKE THE ABS WAS LOCKING UP EXCEPT THE LIGHT WASN'T ON, AND I WAS MERELY CRUISING, NOT EVEN ON THE GAS PEDAL. I REAR ENDED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME - NOT BAD, JUST KNOCKING OFF MY PONTIAC EMBLEM ON THE HOOD, AND DENTING IT IN SLIGHTLY. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED. FROM THESE TWO WRECKS ALONE, I RECEIVED FOUR TICKETS, RESULTING IN MY LICENSE BEING SUSPENDED, MY INSURANCE CANCELING ON ME, AND SETTING ME BACK A GOOD COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COURT FEES. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GENERAL MOTORS IN JANUARY ONCE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A BULLETIN ON HERE ABOUT THE BRAKES. THEY STILL HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING, EVEN AFTER I HAVE FAXED THEM NUMEROUS DOCUMENTS INCLUDING MY TICKETS, THE BULLETIN, BILL OF SALE, PAPER STATING MY LICENSE BEING SUSPENDED, AND SO ON. ALSO, I EVEN BROKE MY TOE FROM ONE OF THE COLLISIONS FROM WHERE I HAD ACTUALLY PUSHED DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO MAKE IT STOP. ROBERT BRONSON, MY CLAIM ADJUSTER FOR GENERAL MOTORS HAS SPOKEN WITH ME SINCE JANUARY, (WHEN I AM ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM) AND HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10328182

Incident

Oct 11, 2009

Mileage

3,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE REAR BRAKES HAD POOR FUNCTIONALITY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17046. UPDATED 3/4/2010 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10293060

Incident

Jun 19, 2009

Mileage

17,046 mi

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE HAS NO BRAKES WHEN YOU FIRST START UP EARLY MORNING PONTIAC SAY`S THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. WHEN IS NO BRAKES NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR TO HAVE NO BRAKES WHEN YOU FIRST APPLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10270008

Incident

Apr 16, 2008

Mileage

550 mi

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE HAS NO BRAKES WHEN YOU FIRST START UP EARLY MORNING PONTIAC SAY`S THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. WHEN IS NO BRAKES NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10270007

Incident

Apr 16, 2008

Mileage

550 mi

I OWN A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP. WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND IT IS STARTED.. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK! I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE AND I HAVE ALMOST BACKED MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STOP! MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM! *TR

NHTSA ID

10235229

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

6,000 mi

BRAKE ISSUE - I HAD NO BREAKS WHEN THE CARE WAS COLD. THE DEALER "REPROGRAMMED" THE BRAKES LAST WEEK (7-19-08) HOWEVER THE REPROGRAMMING HAS MADE THE BRAKES UNUSABLE WHEN THE CARE IS COLD. DEALER SAID I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT, THE CAR IS A TURBO AND THAT IS HOW A TURBO WORKS! PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235111

Incident

Jul 19, 2008

THE BRAKES ON OUR CAR HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE DAY 1. THEY PULSATE, DON'T FULLY STOP AT TIMES AND IN A PANIC STOP PULL THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERELY TO THE LEFT, ALMOST OUT OF YOUR HANDS. THE DEALER HAS TRIED, UNSUCCESSFULLY, A COMPUTER DOWNLOAD AND TELLING US TO WARM THE CAR UP FOR 45 SECONDS BEFORE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234434

Incident

Jun 28, 2008

Mileage

22 mi

BRAKES, SYSTEM ON PONTIAC SOLSTICE . *TR

NHTSA ID

10232613

Incident

May 10, 2008

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST STARTS THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT MAKE A REPAIR UNTIL GM FORMULATES A REMEDY. THE VACUUM BOOST SWITCHES TO TURBO ON THE ENGINE AND NEEDS TO BUILD UP. ONCE IT FINALLY BUILDS UP, THE BRAKES WORK NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 07/07/08.*LJ UPDATED

NHTSA ID

10230772

Incident

Jun 6, 2008

Mileage

500 mi

BRAKES REQUIRE EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON COLD START. BRAKE IS SPONGY AT FIRST THEN BECOMES HARD CAUSING THE CAR TO CREEP. UPON HARDER APPLICATION THEY THEN SNATCH. FEELS LIKE THAT YOU DON'T' HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FEAR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HIT SOMETHING. AFTER DRIVING 100 YDS THE BREAKS FUNCTION AS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229167

Incident

May 28, 2008

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. DEALER TOLD HIM IT IS DUE TO RUST ON THE ROTOR THAT NEEDS TO BURN OFF. THEY ALSO STATED IT WAS FROM BEING PARKED OUTSIDE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10228509

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

POOR COLD START BRAKING ON OUR 2008 SOLSTICE. IF YOU FORGET TO LET THE CAR WARM UP THERE IS HARDLY ANY BRAKES AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10224608

Incident

Jan 10, 2008

Mileage

10 mi

MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP TURBO SINCE PURCHASING IT. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10223267

Incident

Mar 26, 2008

Mileage

7 mi

PONTIAC SOLSTICE - 2008 GXP AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN IT IS STARTED UP AGAIN THE CAR OVER REVS AND THE BRAKES TO NOT WORK. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT I WAS PUTTING DOWN THE TOP AND BY THE TIME I WAS DONE IT HAS STOPPED REVVING. THE SECOND TIME A DAY LATER I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND HEADED TOWARD A GATE. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE FENCE. AFTER I LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE IT STARTED WORKING OK. THIRD TIME MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUT OF OUR GARAGE WHILE BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK CAUSING HER TO ROLL INTO THE STREET. GOOD NEWS IS SHE DID NOT GET HIT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOOK 4 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM THE CAR BUT IT SHOULD BE FINE NOW. AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DROVE HOME. THE ENGINE FAN RAN FOR 5 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222441

Incident

Mar 26, 2008

Mileage

270 mi

LACK OF BRAKING AFTER A COLD START - VEHICLE INACTIVE FOR A FEW HOURS. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222304

Incident

Mar 18, 2008

Mileage

3,200 mi