Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Pontiac G5 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owned a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 14V047000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) and 14V171000 (Electrical System). The contact requested to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance.
All gauges on dash starting going up and down, Anti theft light, power steering light, low fuel light. Car slipping or having hard time going and possibly the key transponder ignition / chip key anti theft shut down.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. While driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning and crashed into a guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 10,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that while driving downhill approximately 45 MPH on a gravel road, the vehicle spun out of control and landed upside down. The contact sustained bumps, bruises and lacerations to different parts of the body. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a salvage facility. A police report was filed of the incident. The air bags did not deploy during the impact. There were two recalls under NHTSA campaign id numbers: 14V047000 (air bags , electrical system) and 14V171000 (electrical system). The contact experienced the failure consequence prior to receiving the recall notification. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 137,000.
I will be driving and all of a sudden a lost power steering. This happened on a left turn where I was not ready to perceive no power steering and came very close to an accident. This should not happen and there should be a recall on these cars. Also I have a parasitic battery drain which started after the ignition key was changed for the third time. This time they had to reprogram car and key. This happen in oct 2014. Please reply to my email. Respectfully, [redacted]
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the front head lamps independently turned off without warning. The contact touched the control button for the light switch and the lights turned back on. The failure recurred on several occasions while driving at various speeds, as well as when signaling to make turns. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
My daughter was driving north on tulls creek road in moyock, mc just north of poyner road when she lost the ability to steer the car and went off into a ditch causing minor injuries and extensive damage to the car. I didn't much about her reasoning until reading about the recent recalll on the ignition switch issue.
The access water from the A/C unit that is supposed to be on the outside of the car is leaking into the electrical unit system and into the A/C compartment. Now we have no radio no A/C or heater in the car the window will not defrost.
Electrical system:ignition switch ignition locked and key would not turn in ignition. Had to pay to have car towed 100 miles. Second time this happened. 1st time in 3/10 at 15,923 miles when car was under warranty. Dealer stated they repaired problem. Diagnosis was dry lock cylinder lubed with wd40 (stated in invoice) 36,048 miles later the same thing happens. Did research and found a recall 2009 Pontiac G5 (built prior to April 14,2009) mine mfg date-sept, 2008, TSB #sb-10256, NHTSA ref.# 10037828 =ignition lock cylinder binding. Towed car to dealer (different from 1st time) hours later received call "VIN specific recall my car doesn't qualify will cost $580.00 to repair but I was lucky it was just my cylinder not my housing" exact wording-internal lock cyl tumblers failed drill and extract old lock cyl (housing OK) recode replace lock cyl. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. Prior to the vehicle being repaired according to NHTSA campaign number: 14e021000 (electrical system), the contact was concerned with turning the key into the on position to start the vehicle. After the recall repair was performed, there were significant damages that the contact did not have before the repairs. The contact indicated that the electric power controls did not function and the turn signals would not turn off. The contact had to manually open the doors with a key due to the electrical short. The contact was stuck inside the vehicle and was not able to get out more than once. The contact had to disconnect the wiring to turn off the turn signals and there was water in the headlights of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop and the mechanic replaced the passenger side headlight. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
Remedy: General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the…
Electrical complaints in other G5 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2009 Pontiac G5?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2009 Pontiac G5, 29% of the model year's 76 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Pontiac G5 electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-171 (ignition, Apr 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Pontiac G5 electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 38% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.