AI DamagePontiac Solstice: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Pontiac Solstice across 4 model years: 728 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 73% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 5 Seats 5% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 3% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 2% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 1% of all complaints
- Air bags: 535 complaints (73% of all), 12 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 76 complaints (10% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 56 complaints (8% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 52 complaints (7% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 39 complaints (5% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl 2007–2010
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl 2006–2010named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 5-speed 2006–2010
- manual, 5-speed 2006–2010named in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 728 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 535 | 12 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 76 | 4 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 56 | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 52 | 7 | 0 |
| Seats | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The ignition switch turned off while I was driving around a curve which caused engine to stall, and my steering wheel to locked up preventing me from turning. I crashed into a guardrail at 60 mph and my car spun, hitting the back as well. The car is totaled.
The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the shoulder and legs that required medical attention. The front passenger sustained broken ribs that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and then to a junkyard.
Rear ended a vehicle, totaled car, airbags failed to deploy, broke ankle and heel.
While driving at approximately 20 mph and attempting to stop, the brakes failed and caused the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to an independent brake specialist who was unable to locate the failure.
Airbags did not deploy. Required prolonged extrication; serious injury with bayflight to hospital. 2006 solstice is a gm recall vehicle for defective ignition switch.
The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, another vehicle crashed head-on into the contact's vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact mentioned that after the crash the air bag warning light illuminated. The driver from the other vehicle was taken to a hospital where there was one injury reported.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other models of this make
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.