2006 Pontiac G6
Crash Test Safety Ratings
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.
NCAP 5-Star Crash Test & Rollover Safety Ratings
| Driver Front | Passenger Front | Driver Side | Passenger Side | Rollover | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 G6 2-DR. |  | | | | not tested | |
| NCAP videos are in WMV format. Mac users can use Flip4Mac. |  | |||||
| 2006 G6 4-DR w/SAB | | | | | not tested | |
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IIHS Crash Test & Rollover Safety Ratings
ood cceptable arginal oor
2006 Pontiac G6 2-door convertible
| Moderate Overlap Front | Small Overlap Driver | Small Overlap Passenger | Side | Rear1 | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Overall Structure Head/Neck Injury Chest Injury Left Leg Injury Right Leg Injury Restraints Full IIHS Moderate Overlap Crash Test report » |
Not tested. | Not tested. | Not tested. |
Overall Geometry Dynamic Full IIHS Rear Impact Crash Test report » |
Not tested. |
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1 — Manual cloth seats. | |||||
ood cceptable arginal oor
2006 Pontiac G6 4-door sedan
| Moderate Overlap Front | Small Overlap Driver | Small Overlap Passenger | Side1 | Rear2 | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall Structure Head/Neck Injury Chest Injury Left Leg Injury Right Leg Injury Restraints Full IIHS Moderate Overlap Crash Test report » |
Not tested. | Not tested. |
Overall Structure DriverHead ProtectionHead/Neck Injury Torso Injury Pelvis/Legs Injury Rear PassengerHead ProtectionHead/Neck Injury Torso Injury Pelvis/Legs Injury Full IIHS Side Impact Crash Test report » |
Overall Geometry Dynamic Full IIHS Rear Impact Crash Test report » |
Not tested. |
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1 — With optional side airbags. Applies only to models built after June 2005. With optional side airbags 2 — Manual cloth seats. | |||||
Ratings only apply to the model and body or seat type tested. The date of manufacture and optional safety equipment can affect results. For full details see www.iihs.org.