NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,274 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2009 Pontiac G5 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2009 Pontiac G5 Owner Comments

problem #18

Mar 152016

G5

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Dyer, AR, USA

problem #17

Apr 052017

G5

  • miles
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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.

- Saco, ME, USA

problem #16

Jun 052015

G5

  • 105,000 miles
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.

- Plum, PA, USA

problem #15

Nov 182013

G5 4-cyl

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Essex Ontario Canada N8m 2r3, MI, USA

problem #14

Dec 212010

G5

  • 10,000 miles
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.

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #13

Jun 052012

G5 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,569 miles
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. However, there was still excessive water in the headlights, which was a safety concern for the contact. The vehicle stalled and the key was hard to remove several times. After the recall repair was performed, the dealer replaced the ignition switch twice, but the failures recurred. The manufacturer was notified and the contact was waiting for a response from the manufacturer to determine if they would repair the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 64,569. Updated 01/16/15 updated 9/8/2017

- East Saint Louis, IL, USA

problem #12

Apr 072014

G5 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2009 Pontiac G5. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall. The dealer informed the consumer, the parts were not available.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #11

Jun 022014

G5

  • miles
2009 Pontiac G5. Consumer writes in regards to parts not available at dealership.

- Birdsboro, PA, USA

problem #10

May 032011

G5

  • 4,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that the steering wheel would seize. Additionally, the contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 14V171000 (electrical system) and NHTSA campaign number: 14V047000 (air bags, electrical system) had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repairs. The contact had reached out to the dealer on multiple occasions but the dealer failed to return any calls. The manufacturer was made aware of the delay. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 4,000.

- Poland , NY, USA

problem #9

Apr 282014

G5

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that the key became lodged in the ignition and stalled intermittently multiple times. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14V171000 (electrical system) and stated that the parts were not available. The dealer did not provide a specific date when the parts would become available. The manufacturer was also contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the contacts vehicle would receive the recall repairs. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #8

Mar 192014

G5

  • 137,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Niota, TN, USA

problem #7

Feb 082012

G5 4-cyl

  • 41,237 miles
Car started smelling of gas. Then garage smelled of gas. Then the fuel economy became inaccurate. Then gas started dripping from under car. Then gas started streaming under car. Then told GM dealer and was told there would be no remedy until GM recalls take effect. Now, 8 months later no repair offered. Car is unsafe and leaves me stranded regularly as it pours gas out of car. I will take car back to dealer and expect immediate repair.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #6

Sep 062012

G5 4-cyl

  • 76,000 miles
On today's date my ignition was stuck preventing me from starting my vehicle I check to make sure it was in park and giggled the steering wheel as advised but my ignition would not turn.

- Carlsbad, NM, USA

problem #5

Jan 032012

G5

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G5. The contact stated that the ignition switch became stuck and the engine could not be turned off. The contact mentioned that the only way she was able to turn the vehicle off was by disconnecting the battery. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 75,000. The VIN was not available.

- Edgar , NE, USA

problem #4

Aug 252011

G5 4-cyl

  • 51,971 miles
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 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. Paid $580 to get car fixed only to have it fail 3 more time over the weekend, the last time having to have it towed again. Next morning key turned in ignition, went straight to dealer. Service rep unable to replicate problem. This time was given a loaner car. Many hours later I receive call from general manager, she was finally able to replicate it and would have mech fix in morning. Next morning receive call again now being charged $120 for a bad housing.

- Hayward, CA, USA

problem #3

Jun 052011

G5 4-cyl

  • 49,960 miles
Key will not turn vehicle off in 2009 Pontiac G-5 battery must be disconnected to shut down vehicle. Key solenoid replaced. Dealership service writer informed me very common problem and that I was third such person in two days with the exact same problem in Chevy cobalt/Pontiac G-5.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #2

Oct 022010

G5

  • 15,000 miles
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. The issue raises a safety concern in the car becomes out of control there is no way to kill the engine other than disconnecting from the cars battery. Please investigate this issue due to the fact it may cause panic and unhealthy conditions being that the car may be left on in enclosed places where the driver does not know how to kill the engine in this situation. Also, upon calling the dealership to report the problem, they claimed to have knowledge of the issue and went on to say that they have had many problems with this component of the ignition switch on the same car (Pontiac G5 and Chevy cobalt).

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #1

Aug 062010

G5

  • 10,200 miles
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.

- O'fallon, MO, USA

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