NHTSA — Structure: Body Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of Avoid Like The Plague

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2006 Pontiac G6 has major problems with two areas fairly critical to the act of driving... steering & safety.

The 2006 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 2006 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 this power steering issue, up to 10 years/100k miles. However a large number of 2006 G6 owners have reported they were not covered by this campaign, based on VIN#.

As of late 2013 the NHTSA had well over 700 steering complaints on file for the 2006 G6, with 21 crashes & 12 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 2006 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 2006 Pontiac G6's poor side impact protection & you end up with a vehicle you should steer clear of.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
91,814 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Pontiac G6 body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments

problem #16

Oct 222019

G6

  • 203,106 miles

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

My car was parked in the driveway, I went to open the driver's side door and the door handle broke off. This presents a safety hazard because if the fact this car only has one key entry. So if you lock your keys in the car and your driver's handle breaks off or doesn't work your not getting in your car even with your keys becuz there is only one key hole on the driver's side. 3 months after the driver's door handle broke off. I was shopping came out of store went to put my groceries in front passenger side and that door handle broke off. So that leaves me no there choice but to leave my windows down enough to be able reach in and open the door from inside or or leave my doors unlocked becuz I can not unlock my doors with the one key entry becuz of the door handle breaking off. What if some how the doors were to accidently lock with a small child inside ? you would not be able get into that car to get that child!

- Wilkesbarre, PA, USA

problem #15

Jul 122017

G6

  • 120,000 miles
Electric hartop roof will not latch completly and will not allow access to trunk either. Happen afetr having chevolet garage work on vehicle had other issues as well. Approx on date had multiple dates worked on. Key locked they rplcd key lock assy, then a cable which was problem did not allow start and shifting of vehicle. Charge multiple times and did not fix but charged alot for parts swapping to try and fix issue. Also caused oil leak and never repaired steering issue/popping in front end drivers side.

- Burleson, TX, USA

problem #14

Jun 222016

G6

  • 86,000 miles
This car was horrible brakes rotors steering was never correct the cruise control went up and down and after I fixed ton stuff the guy I buy it from cane and stole it my husband job in middle of niggt

- East Elmhurst, NY, USA

problem #13

Jul 222017

G6

  • 12,643 miles

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

My wheel an brakes locked while I was driving causing me to hit two cars parked my airbags never came out the driver side tire an front end busted fluids leak out an it happened on a city street vechile was towed

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #12

Dec 062016

G6

  • 154,000 miles
Coming off of the highway the cars steering wheel locked up and would not let me turn it nor would my brake work. The car did a complete 360 and smashed into the guard rail on the side of the highway. I was only going 40 miles per hour and all of the road conditions were clear. There were no cars around me and prior to the accident I had all control of the car. For additional detail, the mechanic and dealership stated that when they plugged the car into the electrical code finder that they could not generate a code that showed the wheel or car locked up.

- Brooklyn, OH, USA

problem #11

Aug 062016

G6

  • 94,000 miles
On August 6, 2016 I was merging onto the 33 East from the cayuga road entrance in cheektowaga, NY. As I tried to merge onto the thruway my steering completely went loose and lost control. I couldn't grab hold of the wheel, and my car went completely insane and crossed the 3 lanes of traffic on the thruway and hit the guardrail, then bounced off the guardrail, crossing back through those 3 lanes and I ended up in a ditch on the opposite side of the guardrail.my car is completely totaled, and I was taken to the hospital er by my mother & my car was towed by cheektowaga police to millers towing on genesee street. The only thing the hospital diagnosed me with was whiplash. I have no idea or explanation as to what could have caused my steering wheel and whole car to lose control like that. I contacted General Motors and filed a claim with them. General Motors sent out an investigator to come check out what happened to my car. The investigator only plugged my car into his computer, after unplugging the battery (which was not necessary to do at all). After he investigated it, General Motors called me and said my claim was denied. I feel that my car was improperly inspected, it should have at least been put up on a lift to have the steering rack looked at, seeing as that's where the problem occurred. I have 3 witnesses that stopped alongside of the road with me and said it was like my car was "possessed." The car had a steering recall that I got fixed at a General Motors facility in November of 2015, 4 months after I had bought the car. I feel that I should be compensated by GM for my losses. I did nothing wrong to make the car act like that or loose control, they had no explanation for me as to what happened to make the car do that.

- Depew, NY, USA

problem #10

Sep 082016

G6

  • 222,000 miles

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

On 95 highway South near carson va a white big bag fell off a tractor trailer in was on the highway road it damage my radiator and back end of my car. Repairs had to be done to mybcar

- Stony Creek, VA, USA

problem #9

Aug 272002

G6

  • 154,000 miles
I was driving home in the afternoon. I lost control of the power steering. I tried to merge out of my lane so I would not impact another car. I had no control of the steering at all. I was unable to merge, I hit the back end of a utility truck.

- Cathedral City, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 182012

G6 4-cyl

  • 63,800 miles
Knocking loud noise coming from the motor, mechanic found the front and back motor mount broken along with the bolts also broken. Repaired cost $474.10. Front of body not aligned properly there is a gap within the hood and the car body don't know whether was caused by the motor shifting around.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #7

Aug 152014

G6 6-cyl

  • 145,000 miles
Was following a car they want to stop and I couldn't stop and rear ended the car.

- Cumberland, MD, USA

problem #6

Sep 022013

G6

  • 33,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6 convertible. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the "top not secure" warning message illuminated as the top of the vehicle failed to lock. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,000.

- San Fransico, CA, USA

problem #5

Jun 012013

G6 6-cyl

  • 67,580 miles
Transmission feels as though it enter overdrive- brakes feel unresponsive and if responsive only slightly, and continues to accelerate with the transmission stuck. Car will eventually stop when emergency brake is pulled, and then the transmission will not shift out of drive. Steering wheel will become locked as well. After multiple attempts of turning the vehicle off and on, it will eventually unlock the transmission and will allow to be shifted into park. Vehicle is an automatic.

- Wellington, FL, USA

problem #4

Jun 222011

G6

  • 30,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 15 mph the power steering stopped functioning without warning. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. When the contact attempted to make a right or a left turn while looking into the side view mirrors the view was blocked by the exterior of the vehicle. The contact stated that it was difficult to see if there was a vehicle in the next lane. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000.

- Point Pleasant, NJ, USA

problem #3

Oct 302007

G6 6-cyl

  • 38,900 miles
1. a few months after the warranty ran out I noticed a cracking in the paint on the hood only. The car is washed and waxed regularly with no unusual products. Paint has continued to deteriorate on the hood only (rest of the car is fine) and is now chipping through the clear coat entirely and to color underneath. I expect this will soon be flaking right off! 2. around same time paint problem started, cd player stopped working. 3. have experienced intermittent electrical shorts/problems with the console and have had to reset the clock and temp many times in addition to faulty "service airbag soon" warning that comes on then and disappears for months at a time. 4. within last few months, have begun smelling strong odor of gasoline outside the car even several hours after it has been turned off...fuel fill ups don't increase or dissipate this. Smell seems to be getting worse (intensifying) over time, however, although I cannot detect a leak or any noticeable change in the fuel economy. 5. several months after warranty ended began having difficulty starting car on "hot starts"...car cranks but doesn't ignite (same in hot and cold weather). This became more frequent until suddenly it completely reversed itself. Now "hot" starts are generally fine, cranking and non ignition typically happens on "cold" starts (same in hot and cold weather). For a car purchased with 29K miles and is now only at 66K I say this is deplorable! all these things occurred after 36K warranty ended but within the first 20-30K miles put on car. Ridiculous! my last car was a Plymouth and ran fine well over 100K (only major job was replacing timing belt @ 100K)...I don't think I can anticipate the same kind of longevity from this car. Considering the other serious problems raised concerning steering and everything else, I don't know what to do with it.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #2

Oct 092009

G6

  • 45,000 miles
Problems with car started in June of 06, for abnormal noise, from underneath car, condensation was constant in headlights even after replaced. Car disc player would constantly malfunction and was replaced - steering was always seemed not just right. Car would accelerate for short spurts, trunk filled with water after a rain really feel the whole stability of the car needs to be seriously looked at. Husband received brain injury from what looked like he just plowed into a block wall for no reason. He held a clean driving record with a current cdl license.

- Saint George, UT, USA

problem #1

Aug 102006

G6

  • miles
The paint on the interior's buttons are chipping off. I.e. the door lock/unlock, the buttons to raise/lower the windows, the radio buttons. The exterior paint job is awful. Anything that rubs against the car including my nail will scratch the paint.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

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