2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT 5 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT TO REGAIN BRAKE CONTROL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,800.

Mileage: 39,800

EVERYTIME I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING OR WHEN IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 4-5 HOURS BRAKES FAIL TO WORK, I HAVE TO LEAVE THE TRANSMISSION ON "PARKED" FOR ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR FROM MOVING, THIS ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH THE FIRST DAYS I HAD THE CAR, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009. I DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM UNTIL I STARTED IT UP AND BEGAN TO PULL OUT OF THE NEARBY MALL PARKING LOT AND AS I WENT TO PRESS THE BRAKE, IT MADE A LOW GRINDING NOISE, ALMOST LIKE THE ABS WAS LOCKING UP EXCEPT THE LIGHT WASN'T ON, AND I WAS MERELY CRUISING, NOT EVEN ON THE GAS PEDAL. I REAR ENDED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME - NOT BAD, JUST KNOCKING OFF MY PONTIAC EMBLEM ON THE HOOD, AND DENTING IT IN SLIGHTLY. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED. FROM THESE TWO WRECKS ALONE, I RECEIVED FOUR TICKETS, RESULTING IN MY LICENSE BEING SUSPENDED, MY INSURANCE CANCELING ON ME, AND SETTING ME BACK A GOOD COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS IN COURT FEES. I FILED A CLAIM WITH GENERAL MOTORS IN JANUARY ONCE I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND A BULLETIN ON HERE ABOUT THE BRAKES. THEY STILL HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING, EVEN AFTER I HAVE FAXED THEM NUMEROUS DOCUMENTS INCLUDING MY TICKETS, THE BULLETIN, BILL OF SALE, PAPER STATING MY LICENSE BEING SUSPENDED, AND SO ON. ALSO, I EVEN BROKE MY TOE FROM ONE OF THE COLLISIONS FROM WHERE I HAD ACTUALLY PUSHED DOWN HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO MAKE IT STOP. ROBERT BRONSON, MY CLAIM ADJUSTER FOR GENERAL MOTORS HAS SPOKEN WITH ME SINCE JANUARY, (WHEN I AM ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM) AND HAS DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE REAR BRAKES HAD POOR FUNCTIONALITY DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17046. UPDATED 3/4/2010 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10.*JB

Mileage: 17,046

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE HAS NO BRAKES WHEN YOU FIRST START UP EARLY MORNING PONTIAC SAY`S THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. WHEN IS NO BRAKES NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR. *TR

Mileage: 550

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE HAS NO BRAKES WHEN YOU FIRST START UP EARLY MORNING PONTIAC SAY`S THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE VEHICLE. WHEN IS NO BRAKES NORMAL FOR A NEW CAR TO HAVE NO BRAKES WHEN YOU FIRST APPLY. *TR

Mileage: 550

BRAKE ISSUE - I HAD NO BREAKS WHEN THE CARE WAS COLD. THE DEALER "REPROGRAMMED" THE BRAKES LAST WEEK (7-19-08) HOWEVER THE REPROGRAMMING HAS MADE THE BRAKES UNUSABLE WHEN THE CARE IS COLD. DEALER SAID I JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT, THE CAR IS A TURBO AND THAT IS HOW A TURBO WORKS! PLEASE DO SOMETHING. *TR

I OWN A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP. WHEN THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE AND IT IS STARTED.. THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK! I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED OTHER MOTORISTS BEFORE AND I HAVE ALMOST BACKED MY CAR OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO STOP! MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM! *TR

Mileage: 6,000

THE BRAKES ON OUR CAR HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE DAY 1. THEY PULSATE, DON'T FULLY STOP AT TIMES AND IN A PANIC STOP PULL THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERELY TO THE LEFT, ALMOST OUT OF YOUR HANDS. THE DEALER HAS TRIED, UNSUCCESSFULLY, A COMPUTER DOWNLOAD AND TELLING US TO WARM THE CAR UP FOR 45 SECONDS BEFORE DRIVING. *TR

Mileage: 22

BRAKES, SYSTEM ON PONTIAC SOLSTICE . *TR

Mileage: 1,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. WHEN THE CONTACT FIRST STARTS THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT MAKE A REPAIR UNTIL GM FORMULATES A REMEDY. THE VACUUM BOOST SWITCHES TO TURBO ON THE ENGINE AND NEEDS TO BUILD UP. ONCE IT FINALLY BUILDS UP, THE BRAKES WORK NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 07/07/08.*LJ UPDATED

Mileage: 500

BRAKES REQUIRE EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON COLD START. BRAKE IS SPONGY AT FIRST THEN BECOMES HARD CAUSING THE CAR TO CREEP. UPON HARDER APPLICATION THEY THEN SNATCH. FEELS LIKE THAT YOU DON'T' HAVE FULL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND FEAR THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HIT SOMETHING. AFTER DRIVING 100 YDS THE BREAKS FUNCTION AS NORMAL. *TR

2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES DO NOT WORK FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. DEALER TOLD HIM IT IS DUE TO RUST ON THE ROTOR THAT NEEDS TO BURN OFF. THEY ALSO STATED IT WAS FROM BEING PARKED OUTSIDE. *KB

POOR COLD START BRAKING ON OUR 2008 SOLSTICE. IF YOU FORGET TO LET THE CAR WARM UP THERE IS HARDLY ANY BRAKES AT ALL. *TR

Mileage: 10

MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES ON OUR 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP TURBO SINCE PURCHASING IT. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT PROBLEM. IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY COMES ON AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR

Mileage: 7

PONTIAC SOLSTICE - 2008 GXP AFTER MY CAR HAS SAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN IT IS STARTED UP AGAIN THE CAR OVER REVS AND THE BRAKES TO NOT WORK. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IT I WAS PUTTING DOWN THE TOP AND BY THE TIME I WAS DONE IT HAS STOPPED REVVING. THE SECOND TIME A DAY LATER I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND HEADED TOWARD A GATE. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THE FENCE. AFTER I LET IT SIT FOR A WHILE IT STARTED WORKING OK. THIRD TIME MY WIFE WAS PULLING OUT OF OUR GARAGE WHILE BACKING DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK CAUSING HER TO ROLL INTO THE STREET. GOOD NEWS IS SHE DID NOT GET HIT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOOK 4 DAYS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM THE CAR BUT IT SHOULD BE FINE NOW. AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND DROVE HOME. THE ENGINE FAN RAN FOR 5 MINUTES AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF. *TR

Mileage: 270

LACK OF BRAKING AFTER A COLD START - VEHICLE INACTIVE FOR A FEW HOURS. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 3,200

I JUST PURCHASES A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP LAST WEEK. SINCE THE FIRST DAY, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE BRAKES. THIS MORNING, I WAS BACKING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. I JUST MISSED HITTING ANOTHER CAR BY AN INCH OR SO. I CALLED PONTIAC CONCERNING THE PROBLEM THIS MORNING AND THEY RELATED TO ME THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY BRAKE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER IN THE MORNING. I'M VERY CONCERNED AND AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 450

I PURCHASED A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. IF I TAKE OFF RIGHT AFTER I START THE CAR, THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR. I MUST WAIT A WHILE BEFORE DRIVING OR PUMP THE BRAKE 3 OR SO TIMES TO GET THEM TO WORK. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

I HAVE A BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEM ON MY 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP WITH 2.0 TURBO ENGINE. AFTER STARTING CAR I PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE, AFTER BACKING UP 5 TO 10 FEET I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP CAR AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HAD TO PUSH ON BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES VERY HARD AND TO PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO FINALLY GET IT TO STOP. IF THERE HAD BEEN ANYONE ON SIDEWALK BEHIND MY AT THE TIME IT COULD HAD RESULTED IN A BAD ACCIDENT. THEN I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. AFTER LEAVING CAR AT DEALERSHIP A DAY OR 2 I WENT BACK AND THEY HAD FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN ( DOCUMENT ID# 1982132 ) DATED 6/04/2007 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHICH STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL ON THE PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP AND THE SATURN SKY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AFTER THAT I SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MOTORS REP. AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING BUT HE WOULD CHECK IN TO THE PROBLEM AND GET BACK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER WITH THE FINDINGS. AFTER A WEEK I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT GENERAL MOTORS WAS WRITING A NEW SOFTWARE PROGRAM AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE READY FOR 2 OR 3 MONTHS. THAT WAS ON NOVEMBER 3, 2007. AFTER WAITING FOR 3 AND DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING FROM DEALERSHIP I CALLED THEY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SOFTWARE WAS READY AND I COULD BRING MY CAR BACK AND THEY WOULD INSTALL THE NEW SOFTWARE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE NEW SOFTWARE WAS INSTALL ON 3/3/2008. I RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP TO PICK-UP MY CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT THE "NEW" SOFTWARE DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING AND THAT THEY WERE AT THE MERCY OF GENERAL MOTORS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THIS BRAKING PROBLEM WAS NOT A ONE TIME OCCURRENCE AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR WHEN IT IS COLD, EVEN AFTER DRIVING CAR AND THE LETTING IT SET 4 OR 5 HOURS IT DOES THE SAME THING. SO I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED. *TR

ON COLD STARTS, WHEN IT IS ON HIGH IDLE. THE BRAKES ARE HARD TO APPLY, AND HARD TO STOP CAR. AFTER ABOUT 20 TO30 SECONDS THEY WORK AS INTENDED. *TR

Mileage: 4,998

LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY WITH MY 2008 PONTIAC GXP UPON STARTUP, OCCASIONALLY. NO SENSATION OF HAVING BRAKES FOR FIRST 3-5 SECONDS, THEN BRAKES KICK IN. DOES NO MATTER IF BACKING UP OR PULLING FORWARD. *TR

Mileage: 4,000

WE PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 67 MILES ON IT, WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS OF DRIVING THE CAR WE NOTICED IF IT SAT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT INITIAL START UP. *TR WE WOULD PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE AND OR DRIVE PRESS ON THE BRAKE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD,YOU COULD NOT PUSH IT DOWN TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES AT ALL. WE HAVE HAD TO USE OUR EMERGENCY BRAKE NUMEROUS TIMES AFTER START UP TO ENSURE WHILE BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY THAT OUR CAR WOULD STOP. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES LETTING THEM KNOW THAT SOMETHING MAJOR IS WRONG WITH OUR BRAKING SYSTEM, THEY FINALLY ON DECEMBER 19TH REPLACED THE EBCM, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE, WE STILL HAVE NO BRAKES AT START UP. SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR AN ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED. BRAKES IN MY EYES ARE AN IMPORTANT FEATURE ON A CAR. GM NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS. I AM ON A FORUM THAT HAS NUMEROUS 08'S WITH THIS SAME ISSUE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. *TR

Mileage: 500

THIS COMPLAINT IS IDENTICAL TO ONE ALREADY FILED WITH THE NHTSA, REPRESENTING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE FROM A COLD START IN MY NEW PONTIAC SOLSTICE GXP DELIVERED ONLY ONE WEEK EARLIER (MILEAGE AT ONE WEEK=200), THE BRAKES FAILED WITH THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARD (FORTUNATELY WITHOUT POWER APPLIED DOWN A SLIGHTLY INCLINED DRIVEWAY. WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE, THE BRAKES RESPONDED. LATER IN THE DAY, FROM A COLD START, THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN MOMENTARILY WHILE PULLING OUT IN DRIVE. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY RESPONSIVE AND DIAGNOSED A FAILURE OF THE VALVE IN THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER THAT ALLOWS PRESSURE TO BUILD UP IN THE HYDRAULIC LINES. THE PART IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AS A STAC ORDER. I WAS TOLD THAT NO SPARE PARTS HAVE YET BEEN STOCKED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. THE DEALERSHIP PUT ME IMMEDIATELY IN A RENTAL VEHICLE AT GM'S EXPENSE UNTIL THE PART COMES IN, WHICH COULD BE "2 DAYS, 2 WEEKS, OR 2 MONTHS" AS THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID. COULD THIS BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT PRESENT IN ALL BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS, PERHAPS OUTSOURCED, DELIVERED TO THE SOLSTICE GXP ASSEMBLY LINE IN DELAWARE? *TR

Mileage: 200

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. WHILE DRIVING 3-5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. HE HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE, IN WHICH THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS NOT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AS OF NOVEMBER 20, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 550.

Mileage: 20

STATED MY 2008 SOLSTICE AND PROCEEDED TO PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME THE CAR SITS OVERNIGHT. I MUST PRESS DOWN "HARD" ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AGAIN ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY. THIS CONDITION WILL INJURE A PEDESTRIAN OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY GM TO CORRECT THE BRAKES. DEALER DID NOT EXPLAIN HOW BRAKES WORK. NO WARNING STICKER. *TR

Mileage: 88

AFTER SITTING FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (3/4 HOURS) OR WHEN COLD THE BRAKES DO NOT WANT TO ENGAGE. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND YOU ARE TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES. HAD OUR CAR TO DEALER A FEW WEEKS AGO. WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THEY PRINTED OUT A BULLETIN THAT STATED THAT ALL 2008 SOLSTICE, SKYS, AND OPEL GTS ARE SUBJECT TO INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT DUE TO LOW BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM CONDITIONS. THE CONDITIONS MAY EXIST WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD FOR THE FIRST FEW BRAKE APPLICATIONS OR WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME OR AT HIGHER ALTITUDES AND RESTARTED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ADVISED BY GM TO NOT TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PARTS FOR WHAT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL OPERATION. SOME OF THIS SAME INFORMATION IS BURIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OWNERS MANUAL. SUBSCRIBE TO A SOLSTICE FORUM SITE AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET HURT OR WORSE BEFORE GM IS FORCED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? UNLESS YOU SIT IN CAR WITH ENGINE RUNNING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS TURNED ON. WITH COLD WEATHER BEGINNING ITS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. *TR

Mileage: 100

BRAKES WOULD LOCK WHEN I STARTED MOVING VEHICLE EVEN AFTER 5 MINUTE WARMUP. *TR

Mileage: 10

1) STARTED CAR AND PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF GARAGE. APPLIED BRAKES TO STOP CAR. 2) CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND CONTINUED TO ROLL DOWN DRIVEWAY. NEARLY HIT FAMILY CAR PARKED BEHIND. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE CAR UNTIL THERE WAS CONSTANT "PUMPING" OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. 3) CAR BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND DESCRIBED PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX. SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THERE IS NO "FIX" FOR THIS PROBLEM. SERVICE ADVISOR ADMITS THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SOMEONE CAN GET SERIOUSLY INJURED DURING THIS BRAKE FAILURE. 4) VEHICLE IS A 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. *TR

Mileage: 50