2006 Pontiac G6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 2, 2026 · 1,910 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other G6 years
Far more complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1,910 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Pontiac G6. That is the most of any G6 model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is steering (1,220 complaints, 64%), typically at around 74,000 miles. Complaints mention 90 crashes, 11 fires, 61 injuries. There are 6 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.

Pontiac G6
2005-2007 Pontiac G6 photographed in USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2006 Pontiac G6 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Steering1,220 · ~74,000 mi
Electrical System245 · ~88,998 mi
Exterior Lighting198 · ~79,966 mi
Air Bags117 · ~77,500 mi
Service Brakes116 · ~104,000 mi
Power Train89 · ~105,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System76 · ~104,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control69 · ~80,000 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic63 · ~34,500 mi
Suspension56 · ~52,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Steering problems1,22064%74,000“steering column” (11%)$1,200
Electrical System problems24513%88,998“cruise control” (15%)—
Exterior Lighting problems19810%79,966“cruise control” (25%)$340
Air Bags problems1176%77,500“air bag” (49%)—
Service Brakes problems1166%104,000“cruise control” (29%)—
Power Train problems895%105,000“traction control” (9%)$2,100
Fuel/propulsion System problems764%104,000“fuel pump” (45%)$1,350
Vehicle Speed Control problems694%80,000“cruise control” (64%)—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems633%34,500“brake pads” (8%)—
Suspension problems563%52,000“tie rods” (13%)—
Engine problems553%115,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling332%54,500——
Unknown or Other332%117,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline322%65,000——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)312%122,000——
Structure271%60,000——
Visibility211%12,000——
Equipment161%31,950——
Seat Belts121%53,500——
Seats111%74,397——
Service Brakes, Electric90%45,000——
Latches/locks/linkages80%27,000——
Tires80%26,000——
Wheels80%77,623——
Traction Control System50%65,000——
Interior Lighting30%39,300——
Forward Collision Avoidance20%72,515——
Parking Brake20%45,000——
Visibility/wiper20%———
Electronic Stability Control10%48,000——
Equipment Adaptive/mobility10%———
Fuel System, Other10%10,579——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2010, with 294 complaints
2005: 220052006: 292007: 6520072008: 1272009: 22620092010: 2942942011: 15020112012: 1102013: 14420132014: 2592015: 10620152016: 712017: 7320172018: 722019: 5220192020: 382021: 2920212022: 132023: 1820232024: 122025: 1220252026: 8

n = 1,910 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2006 Pontiac G6 recalls (6)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Steering:electric power assist systemFeb 4, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V064000 · 69,633 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured April 1, 2006, to June 30, 2006, and 2006-2007 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured April 18, 2006, to June 30, 2006. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began February 24, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. GM's number for this recall is 14772. Note: This is an expansion of recall 14V-153 to cover additional vehicles built between April 1, 2006 and June 30, 2006.

Electronic stability control (esc); vehicle speed control:cruise control; exterior lighting:brake lights:switch; electrical system:wiringMay 14, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V252000 · 2,440,524 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shiftApr 30, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V224000 · 1,131,113 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.

Risk: If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Steering:electric power assist systemMar 31, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V153000 · 1,373,177 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.

Risk: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.

Exterior lighting:brake lightsJan 30, 2009 · NHTSA campaign 09V036000 · 8,012 vehicles

Problem: Gm is recalling 8,012 my 2005-2006 pontiac g6 vehicles. The brake lamps may not operate properly because of corrosion in a wiring connector. Corrosion in the connector could cause the brake lamps to illuminate when the brake pedal has not been depressed, or the lamps may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. In addition, the cruise control may not engage, and greater brake pedal force may be required to shift the vehicle out of park.

Risk: Brake lamps that are not operating properly may not warn a driver in a following vehicle of the braking status and could lead to a crash without prior warning.

Fix: Dealers will apply a dielectric lubricant to the connector to prevent corrosion. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The recall began on february 17, 2009. Owners may contact pontiac at 1- 800-620-7668 or owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.

Air bags:frontalOct 31, 2006 · NHTSA campaign 06V417000 · 794 vehicles

Problem: Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.

Risk: If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled. In either case, in the event of a crash that requires air bag deployment, a front passenger's level of injury may be increased.

Fix: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (gm) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in gm's letter to owners. The recall began on november 6, 2006. Owners should contact gm at 1-877-477-1022 to begin the process of repurchasing their vehicle.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Brake Light Switch/Sensor Malfunction (EA13005) — opened Jun 6, 2013, closed Jul 1, 2014, led to recall 14V252000.
  • Brake Light Malfunction (RQ13001) — opened Feb 4, 2013, closed Jun 6, 2013.
  • Stop lamp malfunction (PE08054) — opened Sep 15, 2008, closed Jan 30, 2009, led to recall 09V036000.
  • Loss of power steering assist (PE07023) — opened Apr 25, 2007, closed Sep 25, 2007.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

While driving I'm going around a corner and the steering was grabbing and getting tight I had to mussel the car home then it stopped doing it the again and again now my steering has not power steering and when I back up it grabs sometimes out of my hands and almost breaks my arm. This car is a…

Steering · received Sep 2, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11761483

The vehicle experienced a complete failure of the Electric Power Steering (EPS) motor, matching the identical failure symptoms of NHTSA Recall 15V064000, but this specific VIN is excluded from the campaign. Operating this vehicle without electronic power assist put extreme torsional stress on the…

Steering · received Jul 6, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11748416

Recall I got a electric problem plus air bags problem plus TC problem 🙄

Air Bags · received Jun 27, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11746879

When first started sometimes power steering does not work. Temporary fix is to restart the car. It's gone out while I was driving. This is very scary and hard to turn when it goes out.

Steering · received May 14, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11737755

Airbag light staying on dash and the passenger seat does not register a person sitting in it. The passage seat bag alert does not making a sound

Air Bags · received May 7, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11736358

Other Pontiac G6 years

← 2005 G6 · 2007 G6 →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2014 G610
2010 G62722
2009 G67134
2008 G61,0804
2007 G61,2324
20061,9106
2005 G66795
2004 G620
2003 G610

See all Pontiac G6 problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Pontiac G6?

Owners most often report steering, electrical system, exterior lighting problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 1,220 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2006 Pontiac G6?

Yes, 6 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2006 Pontiac G6 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other G6 model years, the 2006 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.