2008 Pontiac G6 Reliability
The 2008 Pontiac G6 has 1,080 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and exterior lighting. Compared with nearby G6 model years (2006–2010), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the G6's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,080
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
37
Complaints citing a crash
19
Complaints citing a fire
2008 Pontiac G6 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 model year, filed between 2008 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 420 | 39% |
| Exterior lighting | 243 | 23% |
| Electrical system | 225 | 21% |
| Service brakes | 154 | 14% |
| Air bags | 101 | 9% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 83 | 8% |
| Speed control / throttle | 67 | 6% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 52 | 5% |
2008 Pontiac G6 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2008 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12V460000 | Sep 18, 2012 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl) | General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may… |
| 14V153000 | Mar 31, 2014 | Steering — electric power assist system | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there… |
| 14V224000 | Apr 30, 2014 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu… |
| 14V252000 | May 14, 2014 | Electrical system — wiring | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles… |
| 14E044000 | Jul 21, 2014 | Steering | Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010… |
How the 2008 compares with nearby G6 years
Verdicts compare these G6 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1,910 | 7 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2007 | 1,232 | 5 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2008 (this page) | 1,080 | 5 | Steering | Caution |
| 2009 | 713 | 5 | Steering | Solid |
| 2010 | 272 | 3 | Steering | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2008 Pontiac G6
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2008 Pontiac G6 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2008 Pontiac G6 reliability FAQ
Is the 2008 Pontiac G6 reliable?
The 2008 Pontiac G6 has 1,080 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and exterior lighting. Compared with nearby G6 model years (2006–2010), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the G6's typical year, while the 2010 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2008 Pontiac G6 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Pontiac G6 are steering (420), exterior lighting (243), electrical system (225), service brakes (154). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2008 Pontiac G6 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2008 Pontiac G6, including 12V460000 (powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / gear position indication (prndl)) and 14V153000 (steering — electric power assist system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2008 Pontiac G6 compare with the 2007 and 2009 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2007 has 1,232 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2009 has 713 complaints and 5 recalls (solid). The 2008 has 1,080 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2008 Pontiac G6?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Pontiac G6 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2008 G6, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.