Pontiac›G5›2009›Overview/pontiac/g5/2009/base/

2009 Pontiac G5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 G5.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2009 Pontiac G5 is a passenger car fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission and an EPA-rated 24/33/27 mpg, with engine oil specified as 5W-30 API at a 4.5-quart capacity. Reliability records show 76 owner complaints and six recalls for this model year, a figure that sits between the line’s 2007 high of 187 complaints and the final 2010 model’s low of two. That placement frames the 2009 G5 as a clear midpoint in the model’s 2007–2010 timeline, indicating a vehicle that generated fewer owner reports than its launch-year predecessor but still saw more activity than the line’s concluding edition.

Model year2010 2009 2008 2007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy24/33/27 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 90 · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12580255. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 90 · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire size225-40R18OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12580255 alt 12605566
Engine air filter	21999324
Fuel filter	19169217 alt 22734980
Spark plug	12681663
Front wiper blades	20918023 alt 20918022
Serpentine belt	12634322 alt 12634319
Thermostat	12622410 alt 03522676
Cabin air filter	52493319

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	180.3 in
Overall width	68.1 in
Overall height	57.1 in
Wheelbase	103.1 in
Curb weight	2855 lb
Track (front / rear)	58.7 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	24 / 33 / 27 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	86 cu ft
Cargo volume	14 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	ATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity	7
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	DEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid	GM part number 88861800
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity	3.3

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	10 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	.90 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	90
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	590 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	185-205 °F
Injector Primary Resistance	11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	100
Engine Oil Pressure	50-80 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM	1000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash	Hydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	85 ft-lbs / 96 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.020 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.93 in / 1.023 in / 0.783 in / 0.551 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.93 in / 1.023 in / 0.783 in / 0.551 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

74 ft. lbs., step 2: 125

74 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Bolts 1-10:

1	22 ft. lbs.	22 ft. lbs
2	155 degrees.; Front cylinder head bolts; 26	155 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 mi	Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record indicates a consistent downward trend in consumer complaints from 187 in 2007 to 76 in 2009, dropping further to just 2 by 2010. However, the 2009 model year simultaneously presents the highest number of safety investigations at two and ties the 2007 model for the highest recall count at six within this four-year window. Specific complaint data for 2009 highlights the Fuel/Propulsion System as the primary concern with 24 reports, followed by the Electrical System and Steering, though no fire complaints were recorded. Technical Service Bulletins accumulate steadily across the generation, rising from 848 in 2007 to 947 in 2009 and reaching 1036 in 2010. While the sharp decline in complaints is favorable, the peak in safety investigations implies this specific year requires careful verification of recall completion, making the 2009 G5 a viable purchase only if all six recalls and specific fuel system concerns are documented as resolved.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

947

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

9 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’07 ’08’09’10

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 76 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel/Propulsion System24

Electrical System9

Steering7

Electrical System,Air Bags5

Fuel System, Gasoline4

Air Bags4

Power Train3

Steering,Electrical System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V171000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 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… Remedy: 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…

14V047000Air BagsReported 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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 947 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
13598	2025-09-09	Unknown Or Other	New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
PIC5650M	2025-08-06	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5601C	2025-07-18	Unknown Or Other	This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R	2025-05-30	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific G5. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 90 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12580255 Engine air filter 21999324 Fuel filter 19169217 Spark plug 12681663

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 G5 take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 G5 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the G5 get?

EPA figures are 24 city / 33 highway / 27 combined mpg.