Model year record

2009 Pontiac G3 recalls & problems

The 2009 Pontiac G3 has 1 safety recall and 18 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (4 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints18filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Service brakes, hydraulicJul 29, 2014

Fluid

Recall 14V4600001,968 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Chevrolet Aveo and 2009 Pontiac G3 vehicles. The vehicles may contain brake fluid which does not protect against corrosion of the valves inside the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module, affecting the closing motion of the valves.
Risk: If the ABS valve corrodes it may result in longer brake pedal travel or reduced performance, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module, free of charge, in any vehicle that did not have its module replaced under a previous customer satisfaction campaign. The recall began in late September 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac). GM's number for this recall is 14505.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2009 Pontiac G3 5-DR. Hatchback w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

G3 Wave 5

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

G3 Wave

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

G3 Wave 5

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

G3 Wave

28mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 34 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission	4	0	15,000 mi
Electrical system	4	0	68,000 mi
Engine	4	0	97,303 mi
Service brakes	3	0	57,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	2	0	—
Air bags	2	1	—
Unknown or other	2	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	—
Interior lighting	1	0	—
Exterior lighting	1	0	—
Electronic stability control (esc)	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE AND CONSTANTLY EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS SEALED SHUT, THE HEATER HOSE WAS HOT, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED, OIL WAS MIXED IN WITH THE COOLANT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ARC AUTO STORE (95 DESIGN DR, NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO 64116, (816) 474-2277) WHERE A NEW TIE ROD, HEATER HOSE, THERMOSTAT, AND WATER PUMP WERE INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 182,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Oct 11, 2017 · 182,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
AIR PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT REMAINS CONSTANTLY ON (BLINKING) AFTER 8-9 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. MULTIPLE MECHANICS POINT TO COMPUTER ISSUE. ALL SENSORS CONFIRMED AS WORKING, AIR PRESSURE IS CORRECT IN TIRES.
Jan 1, 2018 · 50,000 miles
Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CHECKED THE BRAKE OIL AS WELL AS UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT WAITED A WHILE AND THEN RESUMED DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER (ANTHONY BUICK GMC IN GURNEE, IL) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC LOCATED IN WAUKEGAN, IL, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE…
Jul 16, 2017 · 57,000 miles
Unknown or other
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH GENERAL MOTORS TO SEEK A RESOLUTION TO NO AVAIL. I HAD TO REPLACE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IN OCTOBER 2016 IN ORDER TO PASS MY NEW YORK STATE EMISSION FOR ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION. HOWEVER, SINCE I DID NOT DO IT AT THE DEALERSHIP, GM WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME EVEN THOUGH I AM STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. FURTHERMORE, I AM CURRENTLY HAVING ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND HAVE TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, JUNE 9. I AM ATTACHING THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM ONSTAR AND MY EMISSIONS INVOICE FROM OCTOBER 2016. I AM ALSO INCLUDING ALL THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT I HAD WITH GENERAL MOTORS. I DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE CAR FAX…
May 21, 2017 · 40,448 miles
Service brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V460000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.
Sep 25, 2015 · 68,000 miles
Unknown or other
CAR ALARM GOES OFF BY IT'S SELF EVERY SO OFTEN FOR NO REASON..
Feb 25, 2015
Engine
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING A LOT. I PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS SLUSHY FLUID FLOWING FROM THE CAR AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. I TOWED IT TO A NEARBY AUTO REPAIR SERVICE PROFESSIONAL FOR TESTING, AND THE TEST SHOWED THAT THE COOLANT WAS CONTAMINATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD COOLANT FLUID IN IT. ACCORDING TO THEM, THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION OF THE COOLANT HOSE THAT ALLOWED THE COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND AS A RESULT THE CAR DOES NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. THIS IS A VERY RARE SITUATION TO SEE IN A CAR WITH THIS FEW MILES, FIVE YEARS OLD AND MAINTAINED WELL. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH CONFIRMED THAT THE ISSUE.…
Jan 5, 2015 · 73,621 miles
Engine
LEAKING WATER PUMP - APPEARS TO BE A SEAL. VEHICLE HAS NOT REACHED MAX MILES/KM'S BUT HAS PASSED THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY BUT SHOULD NOT BE FAILING FOR SUCH A LOW AMOUNT OF MILES/KM'S. *TR CAUSES HEATING DELAY. *TR
Oct 14, 2014 · 104,607 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.