There is an issue with all Saturn Sky’s and Pontiac Solstice’s that cause the wiring harness for the A/C FAN to melt, or even ignite. This is the same harness that was used on 2006-2010 Hummer H3 vehicles manufactured February 5, 2005, to May 24, 2010, and 2009-2010 Hummer H3T vehicles manufactured May 21, 2008, to May 24, 2010. This recall was never extended to Pontiac or Saturn. - If the blower motor connector module overheats, it can increase the risk of a fire. I’ve seen several reports of other owners dealing with this melted harness, and even a recently reported fire.
2008 Pontiac Solstice electrical problems
15 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 35,527.
- owner complaints
- 15
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 35,527
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
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 electrical problems in other years
Related recalls
Electrical system: ignition
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "Off" position.
- Risk
- If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if the transmission is not in the "Park" position; or (b) for a manual transmission, if the parking brake is not engaged and the transmission is not in the "Reverse" position. This potential for rollaway increases the risk for a crash and occupant or pedestrian injuries.
- Remedy
- General Motors will notify owners, and for vehicles that were built with the defective ignition cylinder and have not previously had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will replace the ignition cylinder and cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. For vehicles that were built with the redesigned ignition cylinder or had the ignition cylinder replaced with the redesigned part, dealers will cut and, if necessary, re-learn two ignition/door keys for each vehicle. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Chevrolet owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑222‑1020, Pontiac owners at 1‑800‑762‑2737, and Saturn owners at 1‑800‑553‑6000. General Motors' number for this recall is 14113 for the ignition lock cylinder and key replacement, and 14133 for only key replacements. Note: Until a vehicle has been remedied, owners and operators are advised that when exiting, to be sure that the vehicle is in "Park," or in the case of a manual transmission, that the vehicle is in the "Reverse" position and the parking brake is engaged.
Recall number 14V171000 · Recall details
Related investigations
HVAC Blower Motor Connector
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has completed its review of a Defect Petition received December 12, 2019 requesting an investigation into the possibility of passenger compartment fires attributed to overheating HVAC blower motor connectors in Model Years (MY) 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky vehicles.An analysis of General Motors (GM) complaint data and information in the federal safety agency?s databases identified thirteen unique vehicle identification numbers (VINs) with reported incidents that could pertain to blower motor overheating, smoking, or melting in the 90,938 MY2006-2010 Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice vehicles produced. Two of the thirteen cited incidents reported smoke and thermal damage that may be attributed to the HVAC blower motor although neither incident was confirmed through vehicle inspection. One incident, a MY2008 Saturn Sky with substantial field exposure from a frontal collision, could not have the root cause identified. The other, a MY2007 Pontiac Solstice, did not inform the manufacturer nor take the vehicle to a dealer for evaluation.Most of the 13 incidents reported an overheated or discolored connector with attendant loss of HVAC blower fan function. GM reported 354 warranty claims with the subject components for the Sky and Solstice, none of which included a report of fire and only one report of smoke. Over a period of ten to fourteen years in service, there are two reports of smoke or thermal damage.While the subject Sky and Solstice vehicles and the recalled Hummer H3 and H3T vehicles do share common components, the Sky and Solstice vehicles have demonstrated very different behavior and their HVAC system has a lower power draw than the recalled Hummer H3 and H3T vehicles. The recalled H3 and H3T vehicles generate over triple the failure rate of the Sky and Solstice vehicles. GM suggested in its response to the ODI?s information request that this difference was due to the larger interior volume of a recalled Hummer vehicle imposing a heavier electrical load and duty cycle on its HVAC blower. The duty cycle is defined as how long it takes for the vehicle to cool down enough before the HVAC blower motor fan speed is lowered or turned off completely.Additionally, due to the size differential between the Sky and Solstice vehicles and the recalled Hummer H3 and H3T vehicles, the parts have a different power draw. The Sky and Solstice vehicles, due to their smaller size, draw less wattage, which reduces the likelihood of a thermal event. This condition in the Sky and Solstice vehicles typically leads to an inoperable HVAC blower motor as opposed to a thermal event.Despite the commonality of parts in the Sky and Solstice vehicles with those that were the basis of a safety recall, the subject vehicles have not demonstrated a safety defect trend that would likely lead to a safety recall or merit further investigation by the ODI. The subject vehicles have a low rate of reported thermal events over the ten to fourteen years they have been in service with the most recent occurring in 2017 with no confirmed fires. The HVAC blower motor was not confirmed to be the root cause for either thermal event cited above.After thoroughly assessing the material submitted by the petitioner, information already in the federal safety agency?s possession, information submitted by GM in response to an information request, and the potential risks to safety implicated by the petitioner?s allegation, the federal safety agency does not believe that the petition warrants a formal investigation at this time. Consequently, the petition is denied.The entire petition denial can be viewed in the October 14, 2022 Federal Register under DP20-002.(https://www.f
DP20002
What 2008 Pontiac Solstice owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tire pressure monitoring. This spring I took my car out of storage and reconnected the battery. I first noticed the remote entry fobs no longer would lock or unlock the doors. I started the vehicle and found the tire pressure information was not available on the dash on 8/10/17, I took my solstice to the chevrolet dealer in omak wa to have them troubleshoot the tire pressure monitoring system. A quick review by a technician told me that the remote entry needed to be reprogrammed. After personal research I found that this is a common issue to this year and several other models. Gm wrote a technical service bulletin, 08-03-16-001b on july 31, 2008, acknowledging the issue of bad firmware but hid the information from their customers regarding this key safety system. It is my contention that gm did knowingly and willingly sell me a vehicle with known a faulty safety system and now refuses to correct the issue. I am asking the gm be held reasonable for their deceptive practice and provide all repairs required to correct the faulty safety system. I am also asking that I be reimbursed for all time and expenses incurred due to gms negligence. I also believe that due to gms deceptive practice of hiding known faulty safety systems fault should include punitive damages.
Girlfriend sat in passenger seat and a "service airbag" light cam on my info screen. Turned off after a few seconds then turned back on and has been on since.
On a trip 6/14/14 half way to my destination, there was a light on the instrument panel showing a car/lock symbol. I checked all doors, trunk and hood, all were closed. Appx. 10 miles later I felt the power suddenly stall. The speedometer, tachometer and gas gage were all going up and down. The fuel light came on and started a warning signal. All system lights were flashing on and off. I pulled over and waited for a few minutes. In about one minute the lock symbol came on again. As I proceeded the same gauges started to go crazy. On approaching my turnoff, I eased off of the gas pedal and started to apply brakes. About mid-brake, the brakes suddenly locked and I was jolted. The following 2 stops were a repeat. I drove home next day at about 35 MPH. A normal trip of 2 1/2 hours took over 4 but I was afraid of having the brakes lock on me. The local gm dealer was contacted for recall. It took from mid-june to sept. 12 for the parts to come in and be installed. The trip home was uneventful except for the key being very hard to turn. On 9/22 I had to make an approx. 400 mile trip. Feeling assured that all problems had been fixed, I drove the normal speed limit. Upon reaching my first destination the brake seemed to stop sharply. Believing that I was just overly concerned I continued to my 2nd destination. About 20 miles later lock light turned on followed quickly by the other monitored system lights flashing. The brakes locked as soon as I applied pressure. I was unable to use my cell or on-star. I went to the nearest gm dealer in pueblo. I had no money to pay for a diagnostic check. I was told by the same service agent that had changed dealerships that I would be safe as long as I didn't do anything "wild". I made the same 4 + hour trip. As I reached my home the car was breaking by itself. Replacing the recalled part didn't fix the problem. A recall on the recall?
Airbag service required dtc. Problem is with the pps system in the passenger seat. Problem has been widely reported for these cars, as well as, other gm products. This condition effectively renders the airbag protection of the passenger sear inoperative even if the seat is occupied. Gm is aware the problem and their dealers want approximately between $800 and $1,000 to replace the failed seat components. They fail because the design is faulty in that the sensor pad sensor conductive pathways suffer breakage. The forum blog for owners with this problem is an excellent source, including pictures of the component failure and poor design, that can be found at http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/passenger-airbag-sensor-75353/ .
2008 pontiac solstice. Consumer requests reimbursement for ignition switch repairs. *smd the consumer stated he was unable to remove the key from the ignition. The key was stuck in the on position.
Ignition repair is still pending parts 6 months after recall is unacceptable for safety issue. Day for day penalty should be imposed on gm for unacceptable delay is completing recall repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac solstice. The contact received the federal safety agency campaign id number: 14v171000 (electrical system), however the part was unavailable to do the repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac solstice. The contact was concerned for her safety since the parts were not available in order to do repairs for the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v171000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 pontiac solstice. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was included in recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v047000 (air bags, electrical system) and recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v171000 (electrical system) however the manufacturer had surpassed the reasonable amount of time for repair. The both manufacturer and dealer stated that the parts were not available and declined to provide estimated time frame for when the parts would become available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,000 and the current mileage was 18,000.
Questions about the 2008 Pontiac Solstice electrical
Does the 2008 Pontiac Solstice have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the electrical of the 2008 Pontiac Solstice, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2008 Pontiac Solstice electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 35,527 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2008 Pontiac Solstice electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 14V171000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Pontiac Solstice have the most electrical problems?
The Pontiac Solstice model years with the most electrical complaints are 2006 (28 complaints), 2007 (27 complaints) and 2008 (15 complaints).
Other 2008 Pontiac Solstice problems
Airbags 99Brakes 37Seats 10Engine 7Body 6Transmission 3Acceleration 2Locks 2Lights 1Seat belts 1Suspension 1
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