Most common 2008 Pontiac G6 problems
Share of the 1,080 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac G6 complaints by model year
Best G6 years: 2010, 2005, 2009. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007, 2008. Compare all years →
2008 Pontiac G6 recalls (4)
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
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 manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake…
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
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 vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014.
Power train › 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 fracture and separate.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2008 Pontiac G6:
Brake Light Malfunction
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-001 on February 4, 2013 in response to complaints alleging that the brake lights do not operate properly on model year (MY) 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles. Complainants allege that the brake lights illuminate when the brake pedal is not depressed, and turn off once the brake pedal is applied.
Brake Light Switch/Sensor Malfunction
On May 14, 2014 General Motors (GM) announced a recall action (14V-252) involving model year (MY) 2004-12 Chevrolet Malibu, MY 2004-07 Malibu Maxx, MY 2005-10 Pontiac G6 and MY 2007-10 Saturn Aura vehicles.An increased resistance can develop in the Body Control Module connection systems and result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS, or brake light switch) circuit that can cause the brake lamps to…
What 2008 Pontiac G6 owners say
Steering all 420 →
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver, and the vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted several times for the power steering function to reset. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The failure had occurred several times. The failure was associated with the steering wheel torque angle sensor. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering wheel torque angle sensor needed to be replaced. The independent mechanic informed the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 54,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost steering functionality. The contact stated that as his daughter turned off and restarted the vehicle several times and the steering wheel functionality returned; however, the steering was shaking. The TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving and turning. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering) was previously repaired. The contact was informed that the recall repair was a one-time free repair and that she would be responsible to pay out of pocket for any repairs. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.
Lights all 243 →
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while her fianc ' was driving behind her, he notified her that her rear driver's and passenger's side brake lights remained illuminated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the rear passenger's and driver's side brake light bulbs were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact then received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number 14V252000 (Electrical system, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electrical Stability Control). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 80 mph the cruise disconnected had erroneously deactivated and the brake lights had remained illuminated . The contact replaced brake sensors, emergency brake sensors and ABS Module but the failure continued to occur. The local dealer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact was informed of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 94,000.
Electrical system all 225 →
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while her fianc ' was driving behind her, he notified her that her rear driver's and passenger's side brake lights remained illuminated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the rear passenger's and driver's side brake light bulbs were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact then received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number 14V252000 (Electrical system, Exterior Lighting, Vehicle Speed Control, Electrical Stability Control). Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G8. The contact stated that while driving approximately 80 mph the cruise disconnected had erroneously deactivated and the brake lights had remained illuminated . The contact replaced brake sensors, emergency brake sensors and ABS Module but the failure continued to occur. The local dealer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact was informed of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V252000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 94,000.
2008 Pontiac G6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 30 / 25 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 29 / 22 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 26 / 20 |
| 3.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Pontiac G6 a good car?
Based on 1,080 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 G6 rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the G6 at the same age. It is one of the G6 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Pontiac G6?
The steering — 420 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about column. Next are the lights (243) and electrical system (225).
How many recalls does the 2008 Pontiac G6 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2008 Pontiac G6, the most recent from May 14, 2014 (cruise control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac G6?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2005 and 2009. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2007 and 2008. See the full Pontiac G6 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Pontiac G6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 79,000 miles; 21% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.