General Motors is recalling certain units of the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice over an issue that may cause the front passenger airbag to not deploy.
The defect: 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.
The hazards: in the even of a crash, if the front passenger airbag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Pontiac Solstice Coupe
Affected vehicles:
- 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice
- 2007-2010 Saturn Sky
Number of vehicles affected: 91,007 vehicles (United States figure).
The fix: the remedy for this recall is still under development.
Owners should: customers looking to find out if their vehicle is included in this Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice recall should visit recalls.gm.com. There, owners will be able to enter their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to see any open recalls as well as customer satisfaction programs. If the vehicle is part of the recall, then owners should take it to a GM dealer.
Owners can also contact GM customer service with questions by using the following information.
Contacts:
- Saturn Customer Service: 1-800-553-6000
- Pontiac Customer Service: 1-800-762-2737
- GM Recall Number: 17036
- NHTSA Toll Free: 1-888-327-4236
- NHTSA (TTY): 1-800-424-9153
- NHTSA Website: www.safecar.gov
- NHTSA Recall Number: 17V061000
Comments
My daughters’ Solstice has the ‘service passenger airbag’ message, so I’m guessing it may be covered under this. I’m glad to hear that there is a recall about it.
It’s not only the passenger, the driver airbag also will not deploy during and accident.
I personally looked into this, and it does not appear that this issue would impact the driver-side airbag deployment. I did share this concern initially, but evidence does not support this.
Still it is a good thing that the community stepped up and forced GM to recall this. Not since the Prius accidental acceleration recall, has a tight-knit community produced more evidence, and pushed more for a recall. Troy Lyman led the push, and I’m amazed that nobody (and I mean, nobody) in the press has yet to cover that side of all this. GMA and others covered his initial call for the recall, but nobody has connected the dots to its conclusion in the press.
Full Disclosure: I was involved in a small part of the recall’s initiation. I had meetings with NHTSA and filed complaints that led to the defect petition.
Thanks for your efforts! I also filed complaints last year.
Finally!!! I had mine done almost three years ago at a cost of $900!! Sold the car since then but hoping GM will stand behind me.
It’s June and there isnt a fix in place by GM? I’m confused by this since people have said that there were able to pay to have it fixed.
I agree with Colleen. This message came on my Sol today at 42k miles. Seems like there should be a “remedy” considering the dealer already told me they could fix it if I wanted to pay. More GM BS if you ask me…
It is October 25th. and there is still no fix for this issue. I am afraid to let anyone ride in the passenger side of my sky and so I literally have a 1 seat car at the moment. I have always bought GM vehicles , this is a shame.
I brought my Solstice back for the recall, They looked at it and said no issues . so i asked the question, if someone sits in the passenger seat why does the sensor light on the dash go off and on when someone sits on the seat. The answer was quite disturbing. The person sitting in the seat must weigh at least 125 lbs. My wife weighs 110 lbs. Whats the name of the dumb ass engineer that designed that bright idea. So now I have to feed her more pasta or get rid of the car. Thanks GM for another bright idea.
The reason is that someone who weighs under 125 lbs may be injured by the force of the airbag deployment. There are very few people tall enough that weigh <125 lbs – the vast majority of people that weigh <125 lbs would be injured by an airbag deployment.
So it's actually smart engineering, and why the sensor exists in the first place.
Bullsh$t. Pardon me, but my husband weighs almost 200 and the sensor stays “off” and my “service passenger airbag” message lit up soon after he rode with me. Two dealers have told me the parts are not available to get this fixed. I’m so ticked off… is this a way to force people to just buy a new car? Nope ? – I love my Sky!
First, there’s no reason for you to be angry at this point. The dealership, even by your own words, has explained the situation to you. GM is constructing a new part, and when it’s available, it will be installed free of charge. How is that in any way an action that would pressure you to buy a new car?
I can understand people being angry before the recall, because GM did at one point argue the recall was not warranted, but they have since agreed to recall (and fix) each and every Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice (and Daewoo G2x and Opel GT for that matter) that is still on the road. How is that warranting animus? Simple answer, it isn’t.
Christopher,
I have a 06 Sky and am having this PPS problem. In 2018 a dealer, while I was having a annual auto inspection for my state, NC, was told about a “outstanding recall”, # 17V061000. This was this exact issue but at the time there were not any issues so the dealer installed some type of “support” and this was suppose to fix this problem, that was not apparent at the time. It has not fixed the problem and now Saturn/GM does not want to stand behind this. I was told that ALL parts related to this recall should have been REPLACED when this was done… and it seems that only a support was added. Any ideas on what I can do? Thank you
The previous owner had this recall fixed, It’s giving the same warning on the passenger side, G.M says it’s going to cost me this time, It should have been fixed right the first time, This isn’t right G.M should cover getting it fixed right!!!!
Constructing a new part? Is this a joke,a big company like GM takes 2 years or more and still nothing! Give me a brake! I’ve been a GM customer for over 60 years I am thinking about a new Acadia or should I buy foreign! It’s up to you.
Had my recall pps fixed and Airbag warning comes on where it hadn’t before. Now dealer says a wiring issue I have to pay for. Contacted GM and they told me I had to pay for a diagnoses to have them look at my AC. LOL!!!.. Completely wrong information. GM and dealer investigating and waiting for a response. Just turned in lease to 2015 Chevy Traverse because GM wouldn’t honor warranty on that. Filed complaint with EPA and CT attorney General. This company is complete garbage. Wont buy another GM product. Their worse now than prior to the financial crisis.
It’s been a month since I made a comment about my solstice air bag recall, well they got the parts in and got it repaired. Thank you!
They had the part to repair the Pside airbag switch !? Tell me it ain’t so!. I’ve been waiting for this mythical part for a long time and not a peep from GM [ I’m on the notify list BTW ]. I bought the 06 in Florida, brought it into Canada and because of this stupid delayed recall I can’t get it cleared by RIV to get it mechanically Certified and then registered in Ontario to drive it. Spring is almost here and I’d like to get this resolved so my weekend ‘roller skate’ can take to the road. I can’t even sell it in this non-registered condition. So if GM has issued the part for the repair why don’t the SPEAK UP for Pete’s sake. Thinking next car might not be GM with this kind of consumer care. C’mon down Hyundai..
I had to bring it back twice but the fix is definitely now available. I’ve had numerous issues with GM on my other vehicles and I too have surrendered ever buying another.
I had to call GM Canada to make the arrangements, but their attitude was ‘”Gee what took you so long”. After waiting forever for even a solution to be developed. Anyway, recall work all done by John Bear in Hamilton. Got my CDN certifications done [ car was from Florida] . Ontario plates are on it [ 2 plates unfortunately ] and I’m cruisin . Its been a trial of patience, but worth it.
My 2006 Solstice got recall repair two yrs ago, but it started showing the same thing again yesterday.
I have a 200 Solstice with only 31K miles with this passenger airbag sensor problem, why is the dealership telling me it is not included in the recall??
Unsurprisingly, GM’s “fix” of covering the ribbon cable with a piece of hard tape isn’t much of a fix.
You basically have to argue with GM customer service and complain to NHTSA. If you don’t file a NHTSA complaint, you’re part of the problem.
Go to SaferCar.gov and report your car got the recall done previously, and that the problem is still happening.
Yep, already reported it to NHTSA. Thanks!
Thanks!
Christopher,
I have a 06 Sky and am having this PPS problem. In 2018 a dealer, while I was having a annual auto inspection for my state, NC, was told about a “outstanding recall”, # 17V061000. This was this exact issue but at the time there were not any issues so the dealer installed some type of “support” and this was suppose to fix this problem, that was not apparent at the time. It has not fixed the problem and now Saturn/GM does not want to stand behind this. I was told that ALL parts related to this recall should have been REPLACED when this was done… and it seems that only a support was added. Any ideas on what I can do? Thank you
Sorry to hear about that. In the worst case, you can buy a seat cushion with the sensor attached, which I did, cost three hundred plus. Replace it by yourself and the dealer can reset the program for you for free.
how did you get the cushion for $300 and how did you get the dealer to reprogram for free?
There are several online retailers selling OEM GM parts, such as GMgiant.com you can get the part from them. There are several youtube videoes will show you how to change the cushion. After the new cushion in, you can drive to the dealership and ask them to reprogram the system for the new cushion. My dealer is good, they told me if they change the cushion for me, the charge will be $1200, which seems too high for them. So I ask if I change the cushion by myself, can they set the system for free and they just agreed.