AI Damage2009 Pontiac Solstice: common problems
Owners of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 36
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 89% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Seats 8% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 3% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 32 complaints (89% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (17% of all).
- Seats: 3 complaints (8% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (3% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (3% 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
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 36 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 | 32 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 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 contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact called the dealer, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that an electrical sensor was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
As of 10/25/2019 the service airbag light is once again on and indicates that the passenger airbag is off. The recall part has malfunctioned. Please contact with another recall to fix this problem. My Solstice has 25,600 miles.
Passenger airbag warning light came on and is always on. Driver info display indicates "service airbag" every time I start the car. Pps mat recall has already been performed. The reinforcement repair has failed.
Almost 36k miles and the service airbag light appeared on my dash while driving on a highway with a partner (adult over 150 lbs) and the passenger air bag turned off, I went out of the highway for his safety and drive slower our way back to work, but suddendly he kind of accomodate himself on the seat and the service…
2006,2008,2009 pontiac g6 and solstice has received recall notices on all three vehicles and cars has not been serviced yet. The dealer informed the consumer the parts were not available, and he would be placed on a list.
My father-in-law,[xxx] received a recall notice in march to have his ignition replaced by gm due to faulty switches. He has gone in monthly since then and the dealer says they don't have the parts. In the meantime he is scared to drive the car because of the possible problem.
They ignition switch would not turn off. The car kept running even when I took the key out of the ignition.
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 6,253 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Solstice has 182 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 36, below average.
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.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Pontiac Solstice?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, seats. Total complaints: 36. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (33%), warning lights, check engine (28%), seat belts (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 Pontiac Solstice?
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 2009 Pontiac Solstice 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 2009 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.