Difficulties Starting

CarComplaints.com Seal Of Avoid Like The Plague

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2005 Pontiac G6 has major problems with two areas fairly critical to the act of driving... steering & safety.

The 2005 G6 has a major defect trend with electronic power-assisted steering failure. The power steering cuts out while driving, making it extremely difficult to steer. G6 owners typically report spending $600 - $1,200+ to fix the problem, replacing either the entire steering column or the power assist motor.

In March 2010, GM recalled 1.3 million vehicles for this exact problem "...after receiving 1,100 complaints of power steering failures." However the 2005 G6 wasn't included in that recall.

In July 2010, GM issued a "Special Coverage Adjustment" — TSB #10183 — covering "certain" (not all) 2005, 2006 & 2008 Pontiac G6's for power steering problems, up to 10 years/100k miles.

As of early 2013 the NHTSA had 300+ steering complaints on file for the 2005 G6, with 12 crashes & 4 injuries. The NHTSA closed their initial investigation in 2007, having determined that losing your power steering going over 15-20 mph isn't a big deal & that most crashes occurred at slow speeds, so not a safety risk. Ridiculous? Yep, we think so too.

The 2005 G6 also has an expensive problem with "popping" or "clunking" noises when turning, & that issue extends to newer model years as well.

Factor in the 2005 Pontiac G6's poor side impact protection & you end up with a vehicle you should steer clear of.

7.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
82,150 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (8 reports)
2005 Pontiac G6 engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments

problem #8

Sep 232011

G6 GT V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car will not turn over immediately when starting sometimes. It stalls, like the starter is stuck. This usually happens after I have driven it for at least 30 minutes, shut car off and then restart within 10 minutes of turning it off. I bought this car used with 85,000 miles on it. It has been doing this since I bought it.

- jennva, Chester, VA, US

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problem #7

Mar 112014

G6 Sd 4 Door V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 159,000 miles

SOMETIMES WHEN I START MY CAR, I PUT THE KEY IN AND TURN TO START THE CAR AND IT DOESN'T TURN OVER. SO I HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED OUT THINKING THAT WOULD WORK. NOPE STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I HAVE TO TRY TO START IT LIKE 3 TIMES THEN FINALLY IT WILL START UP!!!!

- Christina A., Utica, KY, US

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problem #6

Oct 222011

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 141,000 miles

Sometimes the car will start fine but,Most of the time when we try to start it, it sounds like the starter is stuck for a few seconds and we have to crank it again, sometimes 3 to 4 times and its really annoying.I just feel like GM is not doing their part in yrying to make things right with their products or safety of their vehicles

- possum, Royalton, KY, US

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problem #5

Jan 122005

G6 v6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Born a lemon! The day I drove her off the lot, she started the overstarting and stalling issue. This car spent so much time in the shop in the first months of it's life, it's not funny. All I kept getting back was they couldn't reproduce the issue.

I go to start it - it dies. I try again - it dies...it will let me keep doing this until the cars battery dies. Yes, I have gone to this point...

What makes it start? Pushing on the accelerator while it is trying to die.

I have changed the fuel filter, gotten better gas (that was pricey for no reason), checked all the lines, and I still have no idea. I think this is just a severe blip on the Pontiac side.

Freaking pisses me off is what it does! And from numerous scoldings, you aren't supposed to rev your engine while you start it...um, ok, genius, you tell me how to fix this!!!

- Kyri M., Austin, TX, US

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problem #4

Oct 092010

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 91,000 miles

It started a few months ago with just not starting when I tried to turn it on every now and then. I did the same as the others... Fuel injection and such... it never fixed it but it didn’t seem to be getting worse. Well I think it just finally decided to go full blown. It started rattling a little like 4 days ago... I was home sick the last two days so it sat in my driveway. This morning I started it up just fine and half way to work (an hour away) the check engine light came on, the rattle got MUCH worse... I took it to a shop and the guy gave it a quick once over and said he thought it was my catalytic converter.. (Which have a BAD habit of going bad on G6's, in fact I just got one of them replaced not two years ago...but my car had 2.) He said it shouldn’t really give me too much trouble though... well.. Tonight on my way home... OH YEAH the check engine light started blinking and it wouldn’t accelerate... at all... like really.. Not over 20MPH.. In a 60MPH zone... so Yeah Ummm I looked at the book and it said it has something to do with emissions... so not a clue what it wrong....

Those of you who have had the not starting problem... Watch out... I think it is the beginning warning signs of this problem....

- devius_angel25, Holly Spring, NC, US

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problem #3

Jun 162010

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,700 miles

I'm having problems with starting my car. I dont know what to do but it is really pissing me off. The dealership cant give me an answer or fix it but can run an expensive test to find out nothing is wrong. They told me the maybe my fuel injector system might need to be cleaned but I had just kicked out $312 for a test, oil change and spark changed and now you what me to pay $159 that might not work. BLEEP that. The dealership has not a clue what to do. They are waiting on me to call them when my car wont start at all so they can find the problem. The mechanic told me to try gumout, its some type of fuel injector cleaner. I tried and you guessed right, it didnt work.

What gets me is that my car starts fine when it has sat overnight and start right up in the morning. But let me drive somewhere, park, then get back in and it wont start. I have to try a least 3 times to get it to start. ITS GOT TO BE SOMETHING SIMPLE!!

- Phaedra W., Lexington, KY, US

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problem #2

Oct 012009

G6 GT

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

This is just to say that I have the same problem as the one above me... to a T!

- g6girl, Mishawaka, IN, US

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problem #1

Jan 122010

G6 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,200 miles

I bought my G6 back in July of '09. I am having sporadic problems starting the car. The engine cranks when I turn the key but does not actually fire. I have to turn off the key, turn it, give it a little gas and then she starts right up.

I took it to the dealer that I bought it from and they don't know what's wrong with it. They said that they need to experience the problem to properly diagnose it. No luck.

- Joshua F., Lancaster, PA, US

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