AI Damage2008 Pontiac G6: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Pontiac G6 filed 1,080 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and exterior lighting. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 1,080
- involving a crash
- 37
What fails most often
- 1 Steering 39% of all complaints
- 2 Exterior lighting 23% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 21% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 5% of all complaints
- Steering: 420 complaints (39% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 243 complaints (23% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 225 complaints (21% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 154 complaints (14% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 101 complaints (9% of all), 19 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3.9 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,080 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 420 | 12 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 243 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 225 | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 154 | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 101 | 19 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 83 | 3 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 67 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 44 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 36 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 23 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 22 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 18 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Shudder shifts intermittently between all gears both in automatic and manual driving mode. No shops have been able to diagnose what the actual problem is. Huge safety risk as there is no telling when it will actually happen and âstallâ the car out in traffic when shifting.
In september of 2014 my vehicle (2008 pontiac g6) was involved in a server accident when I was on the I-75 interstate merging onto the I-20 ramp when I lost control of my vehicle upon braking and jerking of the steering wheel resulting in loss of all control of my vehicle at this point.
I've had to replace the headlight bulbs almost every six months since I purchased the vehicle in 2010. They are constantly going out. I took it to an electrician. He replaced a piece in the wiring, then the other headlight, as soon as I fix one side the other headlight goes out.
While the vehicle was parked with the emergency brake applied, the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a tree stump. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
The driver was restrained via the seat belt. Four seconds later, this 2008 pontiac g6 was struck in the rear by a 2005 pontiac vehicle traveling at moderate speed and possible driver inattention. Significant rear, frontal, underside and side areas of both vehicles were damaged.
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the lower back, hip, and chest that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Since the accident, when I turn my steering wheel to the right, there is a screeching or squealing sound. The sound is present when turning the wheel to the left but no where near as bad. I told the insurance adjuster when he came out and he told me to tell my mechanic.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 197 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 1% most complained about).
On average one model year of the G6 has 654 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 1,080, above average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Pontiac G6?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, exterior lighting, electrical system. Total complaints: 1,080. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (24%), headlights and tail lights (13%), warning lights, check engine (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Pontiac G6?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Pontiac G6 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.