Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac G8 vs FORD F 150
How the Pontiac G8 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Pontiac G8 vs FORD F 150: The G8 averages 72 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,131. G8 owners report airbag faults and suspension wear; F-150 owners report transmission hard shifts and electrical glitches. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac G8 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac G8
The Pontiac G8, sold from 2008 to 2009, is a sporty rear-wheel-drive sedan that owners enjoy for its performance but report a high rate of airbag system faults. Complaints center on the airbag warning light illuminating intermittently, often triggered by turning, and electrical issues that can be costly to diagnose. Suspension wear, particularly ball joints, leads to abnormal noises and uneven tire wear. While the G8 has fewer total complaints than the F-150, its per-year average is relatively high for a niche vehicle, and the airbag issues are a serious safety concern.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup sold in large numbers over many years, shows a high volume of complaints, but its per-year average is also high. The most frequent issues involve the 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power. Electrical problems, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions, are also common. While the F-150 has many recalls, the transmission issues are a major reliability concern that can affect drivability and safety.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac G8 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 216 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 8 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 72.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Pontiac G8
- 01AIR BAGS94
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM34
- 03SUSPENSION30
- 04POWER TRAIN17
- 05STEERING15
Owners report the airbag fault light and warning tone coming on, often during turns, with error codes like U0170 and B0081. This indicates a sensor or control module issue that can disable the airbag system, a serious safety risk.
The airbag fault is frequently tied to electrical problems, with owners facing repair costs around $1000 for a faulty sensor. This suggests wiring or sensor failures that can be intermittent and hard to diagnose.
Ball joints and suspension components wear prematurely, causing abnormal noises over bumps and excessive tire wear. This affects handling and can lead to unsafe driving conditions if not addressed.
Some owners report issues like the vehicle rolling backward while parked and failing to restart, indicating potential transmission or starting system problems. Also, windshield defects and rear defroster failure were noted, though these are less critical.
“WAS DRIVING ON BOTH HIGHWAY & NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS AND THE AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT & WARNING TONE CAME ON. AFTER MANY DIAGNOSIS DRIVE TESTS, I LEARNED THAT EVERY TIME MAKING A COMPLETE LEFT U-TURN THE AIRBAG FAULT INDICATOR WOULD DISAPPEAR. HOWEVER ONCE COMPLETIN…”
“WITH APPROXIMATELY 72,000 MILES AND LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD WHILE DRIVING MY 2008 PONTIAC G8 GT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER CHECKING WITH ONSTAR THE ERROR CODES WERE U0170 AND B0081. THERE HAVE BEEN PRIOR RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAMMING ON THE AIR…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts between gears, jerking, and occasional loss of power. This can be dangerous in traffic and may require costly repairs.
Owners report warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing every time the truck starts. These electrical glitches affect driver-assist features and can be frustrating.
Headlight issues are common, with many complaints about poor visibility or failures, which can compromise nighttime driving safety.
Engine problems are also reported, though less frequently than transmission issues. These may include stalling or performance issues, but specific details are limited in the sample.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Pontiac G8 — 8 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to December 6, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the driver may accidentally hit the ignition…
The 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position could cause loss of engine power, power steering,…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the key blade from the original flip key/RKE transmitter assemblies, and cut and fit a revised key blade and housing assembly, in which the blade has been indexed by 90 degrees, to the origina…
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to October 22, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the s…
The risk: If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly which includes the steel cable, free of charge. These replacement parts reposition the tensioner cable out of the path of entry into the vehicle and uses a mo…
The defect: GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 22, 2009. A 5TH PERCENTILE FEMALE ANTHROPOMORPHIC TEST DEVICE (ATD) IN A 30 MPH FRONTAL BARRIER TEST EXCEEDED THE HEAD INJURY CRITERIA (HIC) REQUIREMENTS OF THE STAND…
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS DELAY MAY RESULT IN INCREASED HEAD INJURY TO CERTAIN FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
The fix: GM DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
The defect: GM IS RECALLING 35,038 MY 2008-2009 PONTIAC G8 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT" AND FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD NO. 138, "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS". THE BRA…
The risk: INAPPROPRIATE, NON-STANDARD LIGHTS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH OR DRIVING ON A SIGNIFICANTLY UNDER-INFLATED TIRE CAUSES THE TIRE TO OVERHEAT AND CAN LEAD TO TIRE FAILURE.
The fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE BRAKE POSITION SENSOR AND THE REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCK RECEIVER WITH THE CORRECT VALUES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JUNE 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GM PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Pontiac G8 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Pontiac G8 has fewer complaints per year (72) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131), but the G8's issues are concentrated in airbag safety, which is critical. The F-150's transmission problems are widespread but may be more manageable due to its popularity and dealer support. In practice, the G8 may be riskier due to potential airbag failure, while the F-150's transmission issues can lead to expensive repairs.
Key differences
- The G8 has a much lower complaint volume per year (72) than the F-150 (1,131), but its airbag issues are a direct safety hazard.
- The F-150's transmission problems are the most frequent, with hard shifts and loss of power, while the G8's suspension wear is a secondary issue.
- Electrical problems in the G8 often relate to airbag sensors, whereas in the F-150 they affect driver-assist features like cameras.
- The G8 is a discontinued model, so parts may be harder to find, while the F-150 has extensive dealer support.
- Check the airbag warning light and have the system diagnosed for error codes like U0170 and B0081, as this is a common failure.
- Inspect the front suspension for ball joint wear, which can cause noises and uneven tire wear.
- Test drive the F-150 and pay attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, for hard jerks or clunks.
- Look for warning messages about front camera or pre-collision assist on the dashboard, indicating electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the G8, have a mechanic check the airbag system and suspension components before purchase.
- For the F-150, perform a thorough test drive including highway speeds to assess transmission behavior.
- Check the vehicle's recall history and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150.
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a specialist familiar with these models.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Pontiac G8 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac G8 vs FORD F 150
- Pontiac G8 total complaints
- 216
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Pontiac G8 total recalls
- 8
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Pontiac G8 avg complaints/year
- 72.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac G8
- Pontiac G8 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN