Model year guide

2009 Pontiac Solstice

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2009 Pontiac Solstice is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

2009 Pontiac Solstice — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2009 Pontiac Solstice at a glance

Safety recalls4
Owner complaints36
Combined21–22 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2009 Pontiac Solstice recalls 4

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification NHTSA Campaign #17V061000 · 26/01/2017

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.

Fix: 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.

Electrical System:ignition NHTSA Campaign #14V171000 · 10/04/2014

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.

Fix: 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 ea…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #14V047000 · 10/02/2014

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 vehicl…

Fix: 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…

Electrical System:ignition:switch NHTSA Campaign #14E021000 · 30/04/2014

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditi…

Fix: UCI-FRAM Group has notified its purchasers to quarantine and return all inventory. Any switches already installed in vehicles will be replaced by GM dealers as part of NHTSA recall 14V-047, free of charge. UCI-Fram's purchasers should contact UCI-FRAM Group at 1-800-890-2075. GM vehicle owners r…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2009 Pontiac Solstice common problems

Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Seats
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2009 Pontiac Solstice MPG & running costs

Combined21–22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,338
EPA size classTwo Seaters
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd or Manual 5-spd
Forced inductionTurbocharged
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$4,688 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2009 Pontiac Solstice costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$16,690
Fuel only$16,690
Per mile$0.22

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2009 Pontiac Solstice trims & engines on record

Trims
GXP · Base
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 260 hp · 2.4L 4-cyl

2009 Pontiac Solstice vehicles on record

Other Pontiac Solstice model years

2009 Pontiac Solstice — frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Pontiac Solstice have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2009 Pontiac Solstice. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Pontiac Solstice?

Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, seats.

What gas mileage does the 2009 Pontiac Solstice get?

The 2009 Pontiac Solstice has U.S. EPA estimates of 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.