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2009 Pontiac G5 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2009 Pontiac G5 has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Exterior lighting failure.” Every Pontiac is now 15+ years old, which changes the maintenance question from 'what mileage?' to 'how old is it?' — hoses, belts, coolant, and brake fluid age out even on low-mile cars. The G6 uses GM's Oil Life System (change oil when the message appears, at most every 12 months) with Dex-Cool coolant and either the 2.4L Ecotec four or the 3.5/3.9L pushrod V6. Parts remain cheap and plentiful through GM's shared platforms — these cars are inexpensive to keep healthy if the age-based items aren't ignored.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2009 Pontiac G5.

Reported to NHTSA

Exterior lighting failure

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2011-05 → 2017-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G5. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AS WELL AS THE REAR TURN SIGNAL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10970869
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10759585
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE DEALER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10402470

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel line and tank leaks

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

30 NHTSA complaints · 2011-09 → 2021-06

“FUEL LINE LEAKAGE - GAS LEAKS OUT QUICKLY UNTIL THE TANK IS EMPTY. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A HUGELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2009 PONTIAC G5. A MASSIVE GAS LEAK IS A SAFETY CONCERN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11390665
“CRACKED FUEL RETURN LINE AT FUEL PUMP. THIS ISSUE WAS REPORTED AND RECALLED ON THE 2007, 2008, AND SOME 2009 G5 MODELS. SYMPTOMS: WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT OFF, FUEL STARTS DRIPPING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11003470
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM EITHER THE FUEL PUMP OR THE FUEL TANK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11080700

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Loss of power steering assist

STEERING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2008-11 → 2019-06

“THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. YOU WILL JUST BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, CITY STREET OR INTERSTATE AND THE CAR WILL DING," THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON" AND YOU ARE WITHOUT POWER STEERING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10836680
“I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND THE STEERING MECHANISM WENT OUT. IT AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO CONTROL TURNING MY VEHICLE. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10992798
“MY SON WAS DRIVING A 2009 PONTIAC G5 IN A HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH +/- AND WENT TO MAKE SUDDEN TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10341940

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Ignition switch will not turn off engine

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

8 NHTSA complaints · 2010-08 → 2014-05

“2009 PONTIAC G5, CAR IS RUNNING CAN NOT TURN ENGINE OFF WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CAN NOT REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION SWITCH. DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE TO SHUT ENGINE DOWN, CALLED PONTIAC DEALER TOLD TO BRING CAR IN THAT THEY WERE SEEING A LOT OF THIS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10347896
“THE KEY CANNOT DISENGAGE THE ENGINE. THE KEY WILL NOT TURN TO THE OFF POSITION. I TROUBLESHOOT THE ISSUE BY TRYING TO DISENGAGE BOTH IN PARK AND NEUTRAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10359006
“I WAS PRESENTED WITH THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF BEING UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN MY IGNITION TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. I ATTEMPTED TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10435391

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2014-03 → 2015-02

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10680947
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G5. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD ON BY A TRAILER THAT HAD DETACHED FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10587243
“I WAS T-BONED AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD NUMEROUS INDICATIONS FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO CHECK THE AIRBAGS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2009 AND AT LEAST THREE TIMES I TOOK THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY CHECKED AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10567591

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sudden engine power loss and stall

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-02 → 2026-04

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11729573
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G5. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY LOSE POWER BEFORE STALLING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10631423
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIACT G5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10564867

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (Oil Life System)

Every 5,000 mi

Change when the Oil Life System calls it, and at least every 12 months. On engines this age, many mechanics suggest a practical 5,000-mile ceiling — aging seals and PCV systems contaminate oil faster.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate every 7,500 miles. Check tire date codes too — sidewall age (6+ years) retires tires on old cars before tread wear does.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and especially brake hoses and hard lines at every service — line corrosion is a real failure mode on 15-year-old northern cars.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 24,000 mi

Replace every 2 years. Decade-old fluid is the hidden cause of soft pedals and seized calipers on aging GM sedans.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Automatic Transmission Fluid (4T45-E / 4T65-E)

Every 45,000 mi

Drain-and-fill every 45,000 miles with Dexron VI. On high-mile units that have never been serviced, prefer repeated drain-and-fills over a pressure flush.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

Iridium plugs at 100,000 miles on the G6's engines. Replace wires/boots on the pushrod V6 at the same time — they're brittle at this age.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Serpentine Belt & Tensioner

Every 60,000 mi

At this age, replace the belt AND tensioner as a pair on any evidence of cracking or noise — a weak tensioner eats new belts.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace every 30,000 miles — a cheap, 5-minute job on the G6.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Coolant Replacement (Dex-Cool)

Every 100,000 mi

Dex-Cool is rated 5 years / 150,000 miles — but on cars this old the interval is effectively 'every 5 years.' Check for intake and water-pump seepage while it's drained; use Dex-Cool only, never mixed with green coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Battery & Charging System Test

Every 25,000 mi

Test the battery and alternator annually. Parasitic drains from aging body modules are common on this era of GM — a healthy battery masks them until it doesn't.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

49 crashes 1990–2024

How the 49 occupant deaths break down

38

driver deaths

11

passenger deaths

49

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2008 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

9

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2009 Pontiac G5 reflects Pontiac's published service intervals and the GM Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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