2006 Pontiac Solstice Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 178 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 178 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice, 73% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 39,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “air bag” (49% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Air bag: mentioned in 88 of 178 complaints (49%)
  • Passenger seat: mentioned in 43 of 178 complaints (24%)
  • Airbag sensor: mentioned in 18 of 178 complaints (10%)
  • Ignition switch: mentioned in 10 of 178 complaints (6%)

How much does it cost to fix?

Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical air bags repair on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice at $1,100, and half of them between $1,100 and $1,200.

Based on 30 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 126 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles3 · 2%
10k–25k miles22 · 17%
25k–50k miles54 · 43%
50k–75k miles25 · 20%
75k–100k miles15 · 12%
100k–150k miles5 · 4%
150k+ miles2 · 2%

How serious are the reports?

Of 178 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 an injury.

Pontiac Solstice air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2007, with 226 complaints
2006: 17820061782007: 22620072262008: 992008992009: 32200932

n = 535 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2009 Solstice3289%31,730
2008 Solstice9962%38,750
2007 Solstice22678%40,013
2006 Solstice17873%39,500

When owners reported it

Peak: 2014, with 39 complaints
2006: 1200612010: 442011: 1201112012: 882013: 102013102014: 39392015: 212015212016: 31312017: 292017292018: 17172019: 5201952020: 222021: 3202132022: 112023: 3202332024: 222026: 120261

n = 178 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (2)

Air bags:sensor:occupant classificationJan 26, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V061000 · 91,007 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Fix: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018. Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 17036.

Air bags; electrical system:ignition:switchFeb 10, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V047000 · 2,190,934 vehicles

Problem: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.

Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect. Owners of 2008 and later vehicles will be mailed an interim letter on April 21, 2014. All affected owners will receive another letter once parts are available. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737 or Saturn at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for the initial recall is 13454 and 14063 for the expansion. GM’s recall number for the vehicles that may have received the replacement parts is 14092. Note: Until the recall repairs have been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. Always wear your seatbelt.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

I have an alarm on my car that states the air bag needs service. I utilized a code reader which indicated there is a failure with the passenger air bag system. I checked for recalls and found one ( NHTSA : 17V061). The vehicle is a 2006 Pontiac Soltice. I contacted three local GM dealers about…

Received Sep 3, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11761835

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:Â 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The air bag…

Received Oct 17, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11620371

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the passenger’s side seat sensor air bag warning light was not illuminated; however, the passenger’s side seat was occupied. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number…

Received Aug 22, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11610284
Pontiac Solstice
2006-2008 Pontiac Solstice photographed in College Park, Maryland , USA.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2006 Pontiac Solstices have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 178 owner complaints about air bags for the 2006 Pontiac Solstice (73% of the 243 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice air bags?

Yes: 2 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do air bags problems start?

The median reported mileage is 39,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

How much does it cost to fix air bags problems on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice?

Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $1,100 and $1,200), from 30 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice?

The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 88 of 178 complaints, followed by “passenger seat” (43).

See all 2006 Pontiac Solstice problems or air bags problems across all Solstice years.