CarBrief

Owners have filed 1,080 complaints with NHTSA about this car[1]. Steering is the biggest group, with 420 of them[2].

1,080owner complaints[1]
4recalls[3]
18–25MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

Owners report trouble in several areas, and these are the groups with the most complaints. - Steering. 420 complaints[2]. Owners describe power steering that quits or locks up, a car that wanders on the road, and a clunk in the front end when turning. - Exterior Lighting. 243 complaints[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe brake lights that stay on or act up, headlights that are dim, and headlight mounts and bulbs that give out early. - Electrical System. 225 complaints[6]. Owners describe door lock and door ajar trouble, damaged wiring, and brake light faults that also upset the cruise control. - Brakes. 149 complaints[7]. Owners describe rotors that warp early, a pedal that sinks before the brakes respond, and noise when stopping. - Air Bags. 101 complaints[8]. - Power Train. 83 complaints[9]. - Speed Control. 67 complaints[10]. - Fuel/Propulsion System. 52 complaints[11].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2008 G6 is necessarily included.

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
G6, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] 22 / 30 / 25 $2,700
G6, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[16] 18 / 29 / 22 $3,050
G6, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S4), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[17] 17 / 26 / 20 $3,350
G6, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[18] 17 / 26 / 20 $3,350
G6, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic (S4), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[19] 15 / 22 / 18 $3,700

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: C FWD[20], 2 DR FWD[21], 4 DR FWD[22].

How 2008 compares with other years

2005: 679 complaints, 5 recalls20052006: 1,910 complaints, 6 recalls20062007: 1,232 complaints, 4 recalls20072008: 1,080 complaints, 4 recalls1,08020082009: 713 complaints, 4 recalls20092010: 272 complaints, 2 recalls2010
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each G6 model year. The 2008 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20056795
20061,9106
20071,2324
20081,0804
20097134
20102722

NHTSA's counts for the G6 show 1,080 complaints and 4 recalls for 2008[3]. Among the 6 model years listed, 3 have fewer complaints than 2008 and 2 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2010 (272) and the most are for 2006 (1,910)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2008 G6?

The 2008 G6 has a long complaint list, with 1,080 reports on file[1]. Steering, lighting and electrical issues lead the groups[2][5][6]. Some reports involve crashes, fires or injuries, so a close look at the steering and brakes before buying is wise[1]. The page also lists 4 recalls for this year[3]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a guide to what to check.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Pontiac G6?
Steering leads with 420 complaints, followed by exterior lighting and the electrical system[2][5][6].
Does the 2008 Pontiac G6 have recalls?
Yes. The by-year facts show 4 recalls for this model year[3]. See the Recalls section for the list.
How many complaints does the 2008 Pontiac G6 have?
NHTSA has 1,080 owner complaints on file[1].
Is the 2008 Pontiac G6 reliable?
The complaint record is long at 1,080 reports, and brakes draw 149 of them[1][7]. Check the steering and brakes closely on any car you consider[2].
What is the gas mileage and crash rating?
See the fuel economy and safety sections on this page for the figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Pontiac G6

Compare all model years of the Pontiac G6

Other Pontiac models from 2008

All Pontiac models

Similar cars from 2008: compact cars

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 1,080 owner complaints on file for the 2008 Pontiac G6 (37 mention a crash, 19 a fire, 22 injuries, 3 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 420 complaints name the steering component group (12 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Pontiac G6 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for G6, 2.4L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 243 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (2 crashes, 12 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 73,746). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 225 complaints name the electrical system component group (6 crashes, 6 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 80,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 149 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 71,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 101 complaints name the air bags component group (19 crashes, 1 fires, 14 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 83 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 91,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 67 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 71,789). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 52 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 100,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. Recall 14V252, filed May 14, 2014: Electronic Stability Control (Esc). NHTSA recall database
  13. Recall 14V224, filed April 30, 2014: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever And Linkage › Floor Shift. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 14V153, filed March 31, 2014: Steering › Electric Power Assist System. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 12V460, filed September 18, 2012: Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (Prndl). NHTSA recall database
  16. EPA rating for G6, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 18 city / 29 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  17. EPA rating for G6, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S4), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  18. EPA rating for G6, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 26 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  19. EPA rating for G6, 3.9L 6-cyl, Automatic (S4), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, C FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 2 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  22. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.