The passenger presence sensor was fixed by the GM dealer after the safety recall was issued, but has failed again and now doesn't work. because the failure occurred more than 1 year after the dealer fixed it the first time, it is not covered for repair. Worse, if i was to order a new part and have it installed it still needs to go back to the dealer to have it programmed so there is no way to have this issue addressed without involving and paying a dealer who failed to fix the issue correctly the first time. reading in forums, many solstice owners report sensors failing a few years after recall repair.
2008 Pontiac Solstice airbags problems
99 complaints (62% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 39,500. 3 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 99
- of this car's complaints
- 62%
- typical mileage
- 39,500
- crashes
- 3
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Frontal2
- Sensor: occupant classification: front passenger1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Pontiac Solstice airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Pontiac Solstice airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737 or Saturn customer service at 1‑800‑553‑6000. GM's number for this recall is 17036.
Recall number 17V061000 · Recall details
Air bags
- What is wrong
- 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. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
- Risk
- If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- 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. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Pontiac at 1‑800‑762‑2737 or Saturn at 1‑800‑553‑6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GMs recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.
Recall number 14V047000 · Recall details
Related 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 subject vehicles to address the issue raised by the petition.In view of the recall, ODI considers the petition moot and is closing the action.The closing of the petition does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist, and the agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
DP16001
What 2008 Pontiac Solstice owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The passenger seat air bag sensor is inoperative after having the recall completed April of 2022. When the vehicle was in for the recall, the sensor was fine, so the reinforcement strip was added. According to the recall reference N162080281, there is a 12 month warranty on the repair. Below is the wording from the recall. “Dealers are to inspect the PPS sensor mat for damage. If the mat is undamaged and functioning correctly, dealers will add a reinforcement strip to the sensor mat. If the mat is damaged, dealers will install a new PPS mat with the reinforcement strip. Please note that GM’s standard 1 year/12,000 mile service part warranty applies to both the sensor mat and the reinforcement strip, regardless of which repair procedure is used. If only the reinforcement strip is installed, and the sensor mat fails during the 1 year/12,000 mile warranty period, the sensor mat and the reinforcement strip should be replaced free of charge” I’ve contacted the dealer and GM, but neither will assist with the warranty, and my vehicle is without airbags. I was told that it may not apply to me, that the recall for my vehicle expired in 2017. I explained that it was replaced with an updated February 2018 to include the warranty. I believe the original recall was 17036, and the updated is 17036-02. If the recall expired 2017, why was I contacted in 2022 stating there was an open recall? If they added the warranty in 2018, why would it apply to some vehicles and not others?
The passenger presence pad was not repaired.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac solstice. The contact stated that she had received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v061000 (air bags). The contact mentioned that she called the number provided in the recall notice and a representative informed her that her air bags were fine due to the fact that her air bag warning light had not illuminated. The contact was then informed that there was no need to have the vehicle serviced. Shortly after receiving the letter, the contact then stated that her passenger air bag off and service air bag warning messages had illuminated on her instrument panel. The contact called the same number back for a second time and was then informed that there were no recalls on her vehicle despite receiving the recall notice for her vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Due to recall had pps mat work performed (without air bag light ever coming on), only to have passenger side airbag warning light come on two years after recall work. Airbag light now comes on upon startup. Dealer says total sensor replacement required. Pps mat failed - recall did not work. Use vehicle only in summers putting limited mileage on
The service airbag light remains on all the time now. It was intermittent for a couple weeks now it is on all the time.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac solstice. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit. The vehicle was previously taken to roger dabb chevrolet (located at 1501 w government st, brandon, ms) where it was repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v061000 (air bags). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired again due to the diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000. *tt consumer stated light came on few months later after it was repaired. Updated 11/27/18
My complaint is that the part is not available to fix the recall. I was informed it maybe 6 months or more until it is available. This being an airbag I feel that is unacceptable and a safety issue.
I received the original recall notice in march 2017. In january 2018 I received a notice that the part was finally available. I still am continually being told by the dealer, devan chevrolet/buick wilton ct, that the part is not available, and that there in no eta for when it will be. The passenger side airbag does not function as a result of this issue.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac solstice. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator intermittently illuminated, which was a safety concern. The vehicle was serviced per the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v061000 (air bags) at robert woodall chevrolet buick gmc (1063 riverside dr., danville, va 24543, (434) 797-1411), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the air bag warning light remained illuminated after the recall repairthe manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 18,000.
Questions about the 2008 Pontiac Solstice airbags
Does the 2008 Pontiac Solstice have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 99 complaints about the airbags of the 2008 Pontiac Solstice, 62% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2008 Pontiac Solstice airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 39,500 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Pontiac Solstice airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 17V061000, 14V047000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Pontiac Solstice have bad airbags?
The Pontiac Solstice model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (227 complaints), 2006 (178 complaints) and 2008 (99 complaints).
Other 2008 Pontiac Solstice problems
Brakes 37Electrical 15Seats 10Engine 7Body 6Transmission 3Acceleration 2Locks 2Lights 1Seat belts 1Suspension 1
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