NHTSA — Air Bags Problems

2009 Pontiac Solstice (Page 1 of 2)

5.3

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,967 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 Solstice seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2009 Pontiac Solstice Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Sep 072022

Solstice 4-cyl

  • miles

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

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? [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Massillon, OH, USA

problem #29

Oct 252021

Solstice

  • miles
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.

- Pass Christian, MS, USA

problem #28

Aug 022021

Solstice

  • miles
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?

- Conover, NC, USA

problem #27

Sep 012020

Solstice

  • 64,500 miles

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

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.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #26

Aug 122020

Solstice

  • 64,000 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. One cannot expect reinforced tape to prevent an unknown fatigue condition on an 8-10 year old sensor. Replacement with a different design as in the cts is the only certain solution and nhsta should not have allowed GM to use reinforced tape.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #25

Sep 142018

Solstice

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the recall repair were not available. The dealer (don mealey Chevrolet, 17185 fl-50, clermont, fl 34711, 352-394-6176) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that they would give the contact a call back. The contact had not heard back from the manufacturer. The contact had not experienced a failure.

- Clermont, FL, USA

problem #24

Jan 032018

Solstice

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact called Chevrolet Buick marble falls at (830) 693-2777 (located at 2301 us-281, marble falls, tx 78654) and was informed that the part was not available. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Spicewood, TX, USA

problem #23

Aug 062016

Solstice

  • 33,200 miles
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. It told me to take the car to a GM dealer for repairs at no cost to me. I took the car to rice motors, 1306 West main, carmi, il 62821. Since that time I have taken the car to rice motors 6 times, the last time on April 12, 2018. Each time the car was returned to me and the warning light and message would re-appear withing a few miles of driving. On April 21, 2018 the car was returned to me with the assurance from rice motors that it had been repaired. The third time that I drove it (on May 5, 2018) the warning light came on with the same service air bag message on the dash. On April 9, 2018 I called the GM hotline and was referred to michael (phone no. 866.790.5600 ext 5924164). Case #8-4070737444 since that time I have talked to michael 7 times asking for help in resolving this problem. He has been unable to assist in any way. At this point I have a car that I cannot drive to drive because of safety concerns. Multiple trips to the GM dealers have shown their inability to make the car usable.

- Springerton, IL, USA

problem #22

Mar 012017

Solstice

  • miles
Recall issued March 2017, 17036 still no fix

- Reno, NV, USA

problem #21

Jan 262017

Solstice 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 8/3/18

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #20

Mar 132017

Solstice 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer (lancaster motor company, 1616 charlotte hwy, lancaster, SC 29720, (803) 283-4118) did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and could not provide an estimated date for when the vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 11/06/17 updated 11/07/2017

- Lancaster, SC, USA

problem #19

Mar 132017

Solstice

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags); however, the remedy was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Grover Beach, CA, USA

problem #18

Dec 012015

Solstice

  • miles
Air bag sensor for passenger seat went out with just over 30,000 miles on car. Everyone whom I know with a Pontiac Solstice or Saturn sky has had the same problem. This issue disables the passenger air bag and makes it unsafe for passenger to ride in car. Sensor in seat went out while driving with my wife in the seat. She weighs 125 pounds so it was not a loading issue.

- Ridgefield, WA, USA

problem #17

Mar 132016

Solstice

  • 35,000 miles
Passenger seat airbag sensor has failed. Out of warranty repair is very expensive and puts my passengers at extreme risk in the event of an accident.

- Whitestown, IN, USA

problem #16

Nov 222015

Solstice

  • miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, the passenger's side air bag warning light failed to illuminate on but remained off, when a passenger was in the front seat. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the passenger presence module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Palm City, FL, USA

problem #15

Sep 082015

Solstice

  • 50,041 miles
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.)

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #14

Aug 012015

Solstice

  • 21,602 miles
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.

- Roxboro, NC, USA

problem #13

Apr 212015

Solstice

  • 60,046 miles
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. That would mean there are potentially 100,000 vehicles driving around without functional passenger airbag sensors. Please do something about this and hole these criminals accountable.

- Norman, OK, USA

problem #12

Oct 132014

Solstice

  • miles
My Solstice is part of the ignition recall id # 102546 - electrical system:ignition:switch. During the repair of the ignition switch replaced Oct 13 2014.and after the car was brought out to me I noticed the passenger air bag sensor light had came on. I notified the dealer that the light was on they ran a diagnoses and determined that the airbag sensor GM module kit had failed in the passenger seat and that neither side airbag will deploy should I have an accident. I'm told by the dealer that it will cost me $900 to replace part number 19124219. My response was that I would be contact GM about this as it was not an issue before the repair of the ignition recall. After contacting GM they contacted the dealer and said that they would be willing to pay a part of the cost, how much I was never told. As with others that have report the same problem, my complaint is that the faulty ignition has a direct affect on the proper operation and safety of the airbags. Not to mention that it will not pass a state inspection until this is repaired. Had I not brought the car in for the faulty ignition I would have been able to get it inspected and been able to continue to drive it. As of now if I don't pay the fee for this repair the vehicle is rendered useless and unsafe. And my investment is worthless except for parts I feel GM should be responsible for the replacement of the faulty sensor at their cost. I have read in several forums that this is a known problem and that something as easy as placing a knee on the seat can cause the sensor to fail this is a design flaw and GM needs to take responsibility before someone is killed in an accident because the air bags did not deploy!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #11

Aug 012014

Solstice

  • miles
My Solstice is part of the ignition recall. Passenger air bag sensor light has been on since Aug. 2014. Ignition replaced today 10/8/14. Dealership says that I have a faulty airbag sensor in the passenger seat and that neither side airbag will deploy should I have an accident. First I'm told it will cost me $800 to replace. My response was that I would be contacting GMC about this. Then I'm told to hold off that they would put their "GMC calculator" on it and let me know what GMC says. A few minutes later I get a call saying that GMC would cover $500 of the $800 charge. My complaint is that the faulty ignition has a direct affect on the proper operation of the airbags. This car is only 5 years old. In 2010 I had to have the ignition replaced "while it was still under warranty" because the car wouldn't turn off after turning the ignition to off. The second faulty ignition has now affected the safe operation of my airbags which, should I have an accident, the driver airbag will not even open. I feel GMC should be responsible for the replacement of the faulty sensor. Should something happen to me before this is accomplished, I have escalated this information to my family and legal counsel.

- Jasper, TX, USA

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