The most-reported G5 run is 1G2AL18F187 (2008 builds) with 19 complaints, 4.6× the typical run. Fuel/propulsion system problems make up 22% of reports; 2008 is the worst model year at 5.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for G5 model years 2007–2010.
Which build runs owners report most
A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Pontiac G5 has 81 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 23% of every G5 complaint on file.
| Production run (VIN 1–11) | Year | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G2AL18F187•••••• | 2008 | 2 | — | |
| 1G2AL15F277•••••• | 2007 | — | — | |
| 1G2AL15F977•••••• | 2007 | 2 | — | |
| 1G2AL15F877•••••• | 2007 | — | — | |
| 1G2AL15F777•••••• | 2007 | 3 | — | |
| 1G2AL15F477•••••• | 2007 | — | — | |
| 1G2AL18F687•••••• | 2008 | 1 | — | |
| 1G2AL15F577•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1G2AL15F177•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1G2AL15FX77•••••• | 2007 | 1 | — | |
| 1G2AL15F677•••••• | 2007 | 2 | 1 | |
| 1G2AL15F077•••••• | 2007 | — | 1 |
Each of the other 69 G5 runs has 9 complaints or fewer.
Which model years to check twice
Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Pontiac G5 the gap between build years is 1.8×: a 2008 car draws 5.1 complaints per run, a 2009 one 2.8.
| Year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 68 | 24 | 9 | |
| 2008 | 97 | 19 | 13 | |
| 2007 | 163 | 38 | 14 |
Heaviest year here is 2008 at 5.1 complaints per run; lightest is 2009 at 2.8.
What to inspect on this car
One system accounts for 22% of everything Pontiac G5 owners report: Fuel/propulsion System, 89 of 330 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.
| System | Complaints | Involved a crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | — | — | |
| Steering | 12 | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 7 | — | |
| Air Bags | 21 | 1 | |
| Fuel System | 1 | 1 | |
| Gasoline | 1 | 1 | |
| Power Train | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2 |
Recalls to check against your VIN
NHTSA has 7 recall campaigns on the Pontiac G5; the 6 below cover build years 2007 to 2010. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.
| Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| 14V171000 | Electrical System:ignition | 2007–2010 |
| 14V047000 | Air Bags | 2007–2010 |
| 14E021000 | Electrical System:ignition:switch | 2007–2010 |
| 10V073000 | Steering:electric Power Assist System | 2007–2010 |
| 12V459000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump | 2007–2009 |
| 09V073000 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift | 2009 |
14V171000 was opened in 2014 on cars built from 2007: 7 years on the road before the recall.
How serious were they
Of the 330 reports on the Pontiac G5, 10.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.
| Outcome | Pontiac G5 | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints filed | 330 | 1,115,966 |
| Involved a crash | 36 (10.9%) | 64,194 (5.8%) |
| Involved a fire | 3 (0.9%) | 26,974 (2.4%) |
| Injuries reported | 31 | 58,013 |
| Deaths reported | 6 | 2,728 |
Crash-related reports run 88% above the all-vehicle rate.
You know what it is. Find out what it's worth.
- Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
- The original window sticker and factory options
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How this check works
The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Pontiac G5 share of that is 330 complaints over 81 runs, 0.03% of everything on record.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a Pontiac G5 VIN for free?
Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 330 NHTSA complaints from 81 G5 runs and 7 recall campaigns. No account, no card.
Which G5 production run has the most complaints?
1G2AL18F187, a 2008 build, with 19 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical G5 run has 4.1.
Which G5 years have the most complaints?
Per production run, 2008 is heaviest at 5.1 complaints per run and 2009 lightest at 2.8.
How many G5 complaints involve a crash?
10.9% of 330 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 3 involved a fire.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.