Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Pontiac Solstice owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. 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. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
My issue is with the initial recall of the air bag system. Why is the air bag replaced only one time when this is an ongoing problem. My air bag system needs replaced for the second time but it is not covered. I don't understand the logic behind not continually correcting an ongoing problem. Can you please help me? [redacted]
Over the years I've received multiple info cards from dealerships concerning this recall. I return their request for having recall work scheduled. The dealerships then return my call usually in a few days saying they are unable to aquire parts for recall work. So far no dealership has been able to do the install due to parts shortage. Where do I go from here?
My Solstice had recall # 14092 & 14133 for service airbag to passenger seat completed on 4/27/2018. 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 indicator light always on. Driver info display always indicates "service airbag" (with alert tone) every time I start the car. I believe this is related recall 17V061000 for failures in the passenger side airbag sensor pps mat. Solstice repair was added reinforced tape. Cts repair for same issue was to replace the sensor. Many Solstice/sky owners are complaining the recall repair job failed a year after the fix, resulting in need to replace the sensor mat. As the pps mat is an FMVSS mandated safety feature, it should be [and should have been] replaced entirely, not just repaired with reinforced tape. GM indicates the recall repair was already performed, so I will have to pay nearly $800 to have the sensor replaced in order to clear the failure indicators. This is unreasonable. …
The passenger seat airbag weight sensor has failed on my Solstice. The passenger airbag is not currently functional due to this issue. This issue is effecting every single Solstice and sky built by GM from 2006-2010. The dealerships are charging nearly $1,000 to replace the sensors on these cars and most customers are choosing not to replace them due to high cost. The same issue was recalled on Cadillac cts models built in the same time period. The part was manufactured by the same company involved in the Cadillac recall. This is a serious safety issue that needs to be addressed. If it has not already been the cause of serious injury or death; it is only a matter of time. The negligence of these auto companies needs to stop. This is a 100% effected issue, where every one of these cars will experience this failure. …
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. The exact same pps mat is used on the Cadillac cts, and the recall for that was to replace the sensor because it was determined the material May fatigue and crack. Thus it is a known problem with the pps mat and therefore should have been replaced, not repaired in the Solstice/sky. A tape-on reinforcement strip is not sufficient.
Service air bag notice displayed, red air bad warning idiot light on and the passenger air bag indicator light shows off even though a passenger was in the seat. Tried powering the car off and on with same result. This is a major safety issue is the passenger is not protected while riding in the vehicle. I have since read that many reports of the same issue have been reported and no safety recalls have been issued.
I was driving my car throughout the day and while parked at a light, the "service airbag" warning light appeared on my dash, and has remained illuminated ever since. It is not the fuse, and it does not matter if someone is in the passenger seat or not. (solstices have a light that illuminates when someone is in passenger seat saying that the passenger airbag is on, because the sensor detects a passenger.)
I putchased the car on November 25, 2015 from cynthia walker. The vehicle had 30,000 mi, extended warranty and was in excellent condition (I received all previous service records. In August, 2016 I was driving the car and a warning light came on the dash and a "service air bag" message was displayed. I took the car to autonation Chevrolet dealer in peoria, az for repair. I was told the air bag was not covered by the extended warranty and charged $89.95 for a diagnostic test. They said they did not know what was causing the problem. I called the GM hotline on August 27, 2016 to report the problem. It took 4 calls for me to finally get a response from brendalin (no last name given). She told be they could do nothing. Case #8-233933284 in March, 2017 and in May, 2017 I received letters from GM saying the car had an air bag problem and was subject to a recall. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018.
Air bags
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect.
NHTSA investigations
Passenger Sensing System Sensor Mat
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting the opening of an investigation into the air bag system on model year 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky, the subject vehicles.The petitioner raised the issue of failure of the Passenger Sensing System for the front passenger seating position.On January 26, 2017, General Motors filed a defect information report recalling the…
Airbag complaints in other Solstice years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Pontiac Solstice?
NHTSA has 32 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Pontiac Solstice, 89% of the model year's 36 complaints. The component named most often is frontal › sensor/control module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Pontiac Solstice airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-061 (occupant classification, Jan 26, 2017); NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Pontiac Solstice airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 33,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 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.