55 of the
874 complaints filed about the Pontiac Solstice
are about the braking system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2008.
Random failure of brake lights to either illuminate when the pedal is pressed or turn off when the pedal is released. On two separate occasions, a couple of months apart. I was notified by other drivers my brake lights appear to be working in reverse. When I come to a stop, they turn off when I pull away they turn on and stay on. After the first incident I had the vehicle serviced. They could not duplicate the problem. Apparently they were now working correctly. To be proactive. I asked them to replace the brake light switch with a genuine GM part. They did and they calibrated the switch to the car. This service was performed on 11/14/2023 - 144,621 miles. It appeared to have solved the problem initially. But re-surfaced this morning 12/29/2023. I was notified by another driver of the opposite on -off function again. I continued to work. Visual inspection indicated normal function again. Brake pedal released, lights off. Brake pedal depressed, lights on. Random malfunctions like this at some point will cause an accident, either at an intersection or on the highway. Especially in this age of "Distracted driving". Several similar instances have been reported by owners on the public forums. The consumer stated that they took the vehicle to their local GMC repair facility and the brake light switch was supposedly replaced. The issue still exists.
NHTSA complaint #11562518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While applying the brakes the car down shifts hard, locking up and jerking. Many others had reported this problem in online forums. Stating a power train or module issue. Very dangerous not knowing if your car my jerk into someone or something out of your control.
NHTSA complaint #11556888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP AND THE CAR GETS TO ABOUT 20MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKES HARD AND JOLTS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SEAT BELT ONE COULD GO INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH EACH BRAKING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I SEE THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR FOR YEARS...WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THIS IS A SMALL CAR IF A SEMI OR JUST ANY MOVING VEHICLE WAS CLOSE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AND MY PASSENGER WOULD PROBABLY BE CRUSHED. THE TWO ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND THE LOW ENGINE POWER LIGHT ALSO GOES ON AND STAYS ON. THE REPAIR FACILITY SEEMS TO BE STUMPED. SOMEONE MUST KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING.
NHTSA complaint #11124351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE STOPPED HARD AND JERKED. WHEN THE FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAVENDER BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 17811 SAN PEDRO AVE, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED, BUT THE BRAKING FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #10993832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT BRAKE SPECIALIST WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, CAUSING THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP TO MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000...UPDATED 11/05/15 *BF
NHTSA complaint #10763176 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SOLSTICE MAINTENANCE LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY READING "ESC SERVICE". WITH THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED. AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF IT WOULD RESET ITSELF. NOW, AS SOON AS WE START THE CAR, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON AND ARE STAYING ON WITHOUGHT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PUSHED AND THERE IS NO ESC SERVICE LIGHT INDICATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HIGH AND HARD TO PRESS. IN ADDITION WE'VE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHUTTING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. ALL OF THESE SYMPTOMS ARE CALLED OUT ON A GM RECALL #13036 FOR OVER 2 MILLION VEHICLES BUT THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL. IT APPEARS IT SHOULD BE. ALL OF THE PROBLEMS NOTED ON THIS RECALL ARE SYMPTOMATIC TO WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH OUR CAR. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AT THIS POINT. IT'S NOTED ON THE RECALL THAT ANY OF THE ABOVE CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. WE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND OPENED A CLAIM. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT ANY REPAIRS / ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE DONE WILL NEED TO COME OUT OF OUR POCKETS AS THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE IS NOT LISTED ON THIS RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSES EXPEDITIOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10736143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKE FAILURE CAR IS GARAGED AND NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR 4 WEEKS AT THE TIME AND WHEN FIRST DRIVEN THE BRAKES WERE MUCH WEAKER THAN NORMAL AND PULLED THE CAR SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR ONE MILE WITH NO CHANGE. I INSPECTED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND FOUND LEFT FRONT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING(COLD ROTORS), RIGHT FRONT AND LEFT REAR ROTORS WERE HOT. TWO DAYS LATER WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE TO CHECK AGAIN, THERE WERE NO BRAKES. PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND CAR WAS STOPPED USING EMERGENCY BRAKE. BRAKE FLUID WAS CHECKED AND THE LEVEL WAS NORMAL AND THE FLUID WAS CLEAN. I PULLED INTO STREET TO TEST FURTHER AND AFTER TRAVELING 30-50 FEET THE BRAKES BEGAN TO WORK, THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS HARD AND BRAKES WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. SAME DAY I VISITED THE DEALER, POAGE CHEVROLET IN WENTZVILLE, MO. SERVICE MANAGER AND HIS ASSOCIATE HAD NO IDEAS ON THE CAUSE OTHER THAN TO SAY "SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING WAS STUCK AND NOW IT'S NOT STUCK ANYMORE". ONLY SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKE FLUID. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANY DIAGNOSTICS IF THE PROBLEM WASN'T PRESENT. I ASKED AND THE DEALER CHECKED AND SAID NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS EXISTED ON THIS KIND OF ISSUE. I DID SEE A TSB ON SATURN SKY(SISTER CAR TO THE SOLSTICE) FOR BRAKE ISSUE FOR MODEL YEAR 2008. NOW I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TRUST THE BRAKES TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN TWICE SINCE WITH NO BRAKE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10713431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2007 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. ON 12/12/14, WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE I OBSERVED ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR JERKED AS IF THE BRAKES WENT OUT. I HAD ISSUES WITH THIS LAST MONTH AND A MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ALL THESE PARTS. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE MULTIPLE RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE READ OTHER INDIVIDUALS DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO OWNERS ATTENTION THIS CAN RESULT ON MANY MORE DEATHS. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES JERKING SO HARD. I AM GOING TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF OWNERS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS ON THE ROAD !!!!
NHTSA complaint #10664092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER A HARD BRAKE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR STOPPED FINE WITH THE ABS BRAKES KICKING IN AS NEEDED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THE BRAKES WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION PROPERLY. AS IT CAME TIME TO STOP AGAIN, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR, AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I THEN PROCEEDED TO ATTEMPT TO PUMP THE BRAKES, BUT BY THAT TIME, I WAS RIGHT UP ON THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, AND I REAR ENDED THAT VEHICLE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO BOTH THAT CAR AND MINE. GIVEN THAT I ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES NOT SEEMING TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AFTER THE CAR SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, I AM UNFORTUNATELY NOT SURPRISED THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR SAT ALL DAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK ON A RELATIVELY COLD DAY FOR ME TO HAVE IT ON THE ROAD, AND I HADN'T USED THE BRAKES SINCE THE MORNING. JUST RECENTLY, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON IN THE CAR, BUT AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WAS SOMEHOW RELATED TO THE BATTERY (WHICH I SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED) AND THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ACTUALLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES, BUT NOW I AM THINKING THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I OWN A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP AND HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10652277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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?
NHTSA complaint #10638702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CAR JERKED VERY HARD AND I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE BACK WHEELS ALMOST LOCK UP. IT ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS SUDDENLY THROWN INTO REVERSE & THE CAR WAS TRYING TO ADJUST. IT OCCURRED EVERY TIME I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN OR STOP WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. LUCKILY THE 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME COMING OFF THE INTERSTATE WAS FAR ENOUGH BEHIND ME BUT HAD HE BEEN MUCH CLOSER, HE WOULD HAVE CRUSHED ME! WE JUST BOUGHT AN AUDI AND WERE GOING TO GIVE THE SOLSTICE TO OUR 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AS A GRADUATION PRESENT BUT NOW I AM TERRIFIED FOR HER TO DRIVE IT!! THIS COULD CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT AT ALL. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL SO I NEED TO CALL OUR LOCAL DEALER ASAP!!
NHTSA complaint #10610027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THE PROBLEM RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NHTSA complaint #10605734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR SUDDENLY BRAKES HARD ON IT'S OWN AS I AM SLOWING AND GENTLY APPLYING BRAKES. IT STARTS AROUND 20 MPH. IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. TO HAVE YOUR CAR SLAM ON IT'S BRAKES ON IT'S OWN. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE POWERTRAIN/TRANSMISSION CAN THROW ERROR CODES P0700 AND P2637 AND THAT CAN CAUSE THE SAME SUDDEN BRAKING OF THE CAR ON IT'S OWN. ALSO MY COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE(DIGITAL) INTERMITTENTLY GOES BLANK SHOWING ONLY THREE DASHES INSTEAD OF THE TEMP. WHEN IT DOES THIS MY AIR/HEAT WILL NOT WORK. MY PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. ALSO MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. I ALSO HAVE A MYSTERIOUS COOLANT LEAK BUT IT'S INTERMITTENT AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10533966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL AFTER REPEATED FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
NHTSA complaint #10508234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (THE SECOND DATE WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO), I HAVE HAD TO MAKE VERY HARD STOPS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. BOTH TIMES, THE CAR CAME TO A STOP WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY (BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATIONS INDICATING CORRECT MODULATION). ONCE THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP HOWEVER, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED COMPLETELY. THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITH ABSOLUTELY NO BACK PRESSURE. THE CAR BEGINS TO ROLL AGAIN, INDICATING THE BRAKE CALIPER/PADS HAVE RELEASED THE DISK. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO STOP AGAIN WAS TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL, ACTIVATING THE STABILITY CONTROL MODULE TO BOOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS SEEMS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUS ISSUE OF BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING ON START-UP DUE TO LOW VACUUM. FOLLOWING A HARD STOP, THE VACUUM BOOST TO THE BRAKES APPARENTLY BECOMES DEPLETED, CAUSING BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY DEALER AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. DUE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS THIS PRESENTS, I FELT IT IMPORTANT TO REPORT THIS SINCE THE DEALERSHIP SEEMED UNWILLING TO PURSUE THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10495022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN APPROXIMATE 30 DEGREE INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED DOWN THE PAVED SURFACE AND STRUCK A CONRETE CURB. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS AND EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND ADJUSTED SUBSEQUENT TO AN EARLIER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY PARKED WITHOUT ROLLING ON ANY INCLINED SURFACE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN AT ALL WHEN ENGAGED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING AT LESS THEN 1 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10470544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN APPROXIMATE 30 DEGREE INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED DOWN THE PAVED SURFACE AND STRUCK A CONRETE CURB. THIS OCCURRED AFTER THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS AND EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE CABLE HAD BEEN REPLACED AND ADJUSTED SUBSEQUENT TO AN EARLIER INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY PARKED WITHOUT ROLLING ON ANY INCLINED SURFACE AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN AT ALL WHEN ENGAGED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ROLLING AT LESS THEN 1 MPH.
NHTSA complaint #10470544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I MADE A TURN AND AS I WAS PROCEEDING I HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL . WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR CAME TO AN APRUPT , JOLTING STOP AND A BIG TRUCK BEHIND SLAMMED ON HIS BRAKES AND NARROWLY STOPPED BEFORE HITTING ME IN THE REAR. I WILL NEVER DRIVE THIS DANGEROUS CAR UNTIL IT IS FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #10465644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.