NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 3 of 57)

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:
51 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
30 / 1
Average Mileage:
75,713 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 57)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1087

Nov 302020

G6

  • 10,029 miles

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

The power steering in my car has locked up twice in the past 3 weeks. The first time I had just made a right turn out of a parking lot onto a busy city street and was probably going between 25-30mph when a message on my dash appeared for "power steering" and my steering wheel suddenly locked up. After finally managing to safely pull over I shut the vehicle off to call for help. Within 5 mins of their arrival, the vehicle was turned back on and power steering was working again. Two weeks later, waiting to make a right out of parking lot onto the same busy city street, my steering wheel locked up again just as I was pulling out. There was a car behind me and cars on the road quickly approaching. I was a sitting duck with my front bumper half way into the street with nowhere to go and zero steering power to turn the wheel. It was terrifying! luckily, with help of strangers we were able to get back into the parking lot without further incident. My vehicle had a recall through GM (N140116) that was repaired by the dealer in November 2014 to correct sudden loss of power steering. Clearly this did not fix the problem and is a huge safety concern for all drivers. This ongoing problem has continuously been reported as a safety issue by vehicle owners experiencing the same problem for several years after the so-called recall was completed. The repairs did not fix the problem and GM should absolutely be responsible for correcting this and have refused to do so. My paperwork from the original recall repair says there is no expiration date so why will they not honor this, I do not understand.

- Roseville, MI, USA

problem #1086

Aug 012020

G6

  • 182,900 miles
The contact owns 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while her mother was driving 25 mph and making a right turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The driver parked the vehicle at a nearby parking lot, turned off and restarted the vehicle and drove to her destination. The contact stated a week later while driving 25 mph and making a right turn, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to albright Buick GMC Cadillac located at 2008 N. belt hwy, St joseph, mo 64506, (816) 232-4413, where it was diagnosed and the contact was informed that the torque sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The contact was informed that manufacturer communication number: 14772 was completed in October 2014. The failure mileage was approximately 182,900.

- St Joseph, MO, USA

problem #1085

Oct 042020

G6

  • 188,000 miles
This 2006 G6 belongs to my wife and according to GM the vehicle has already had recall 14772 as well as 14116 and this vehicle is still having issues with the steering wheel locking up while driving. This happens on all types of roads from interstates to country roads and everything in between. It doesn't matter how fast she is driving, if she is turning, or what the weather is. She has to turn the vehicle off, remove key from ignition, reinstall key and finally restart vehicle and hopefully the steering will work again. This is completely and totally unsafe and I can not let her continue to drive this vehicle as we have a young daughter that frequently rides in this vehicle, so what are we supposed to do when the recalls didn't fix the problem?

- Senoia, GA, USA

problem #1084

Sep 142020

G6

  • 165,000 miles

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

Vehicle loses power steering off and on while driving the vehicle. Vehicle has only been driven on city streets and doesn't do it all the time.

- Muskogee, OK, USA

problem #1083

Jun 192020

G6

  • 139,000 miles
My power steering will shut off while I am driving I have seen this has been a problem and there has been a recall on the same type of Pontiac as mine and same year but mine was not recalled it happens whenever I turn

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #1082

Jun 172020

G6

  • 138,000 miles
When ever I am driving and I turn at a slow rate my power steering locks up and is very hard to turn then I get a message saying power steering on my radio console it happens every time I drive

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #1081

Jul 052020

G6

  • 246,000 miles

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

A couple months after I purchased my vehicle I got a recall for power steering asst. Letter. I took my car to GM to be repaired and its still not right. Yesterday steering wheel started grinding and vibrating to the right. Today I have no power steering at all. I was driving when it strted vibrating and I wasnt aure what was wrong. I made it home aand went to go to the store today and started up my driveway and had no power steering.

- Bedford, IN, USA

problem #1080

May 142020

G6

  • 159,019 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the power steering assist warning light illuminated and the vehicle loss power steering. Additionally, the contact stated that there was corrosion on the headlamp wiring harness which caused the headlamps to become inoperable. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 15V604000 (steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 159,019. Invalid VIN.

- North Port, FL, USA

problem #1079

Apr 022020

G6

  • 183,000 miles
Sometimes the power steering does not engage when the car is turned on, so you have to shut the car off a few times until the power steering engages. When the power steering does turn on the whole steering column will pulsate. This happens when you drive the car and when the car is parked. I do have video if needed.

- New Richmond, WI, USA

problem #1078

Apr 142020

G6 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
The electronic power steering system gives error code and suddenly fails while driving. This is extremely dangerous. My vehicle was not covered under recall 14772, however, the same issue that was described in that recall is affecting my vehicle as well.

- Tremont, IL, USA

problem #1077

Jan 162020

G6

  • 100,000 miles

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

Steering very dangerously. This is a recall the dealer refuses to fix.

- Richmond, KY, USA

problem #1076

Feb 052020

G6

  • 216,232 miles
Steering wheel locks up at low speeds. Shifter cable doesn't engage.

- Independence, MO, USA

problem #1075

Mar 202020

G6

  • miles
Power steering can't turn wheels even trying to get out of deiveway

- Little Elm, TX, USA

problem #1074

Jan 202020

G6

  • 129,000 miles
Power steering started going out sporadicly... now completely out... it started feeling odd about two months ago... didn't know that it was going out...I got off the highway not being able to make the turn.. scary moment,

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #1073

Mar 112020

G6

  • 135,000 miles
Power steering keeps locking up at low speeds. My daughter is pretty small and can not turn the steering wheel. Something need to be done by GM. 135000 miles.

- Ramsey, MN, USA

problem #1072

Mar 062020

G6

  • 134,000 miles
I will be driving down the road and the car dings and I loose power steering. After researching I found out that there was a recall due to this happening. When we bought this car, the dealer never mentioned about any issues. (lemon law?) the car has 134000 miles and I think this issue should not be my problem since this seems to be a manufacturing problem but it seems that I will have to deal with this!

- Catawissa, PA, USA

problem #1071

Feb 272020

G6

  • 219,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving 55 mph the steering wheel failed to turn and vehicle veered off road into a ditch. The power steering warning light was illuminated. There were no reported injuries the vehicle was taken by an independent mechanic to contact's resident. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 219,000.

- Bremo Bluff, VA, USA

problem #1070

Feb 262020

G6

  • 127,000 miles
Power steering is locking up and warning light comes on dash. Have looked on line and a lot of other people are having the same issue with this vehicle. Vehicle was parked at the time of incident

- Fairmont, WV, USA

problem #1069

Jan 162020

G6

  • 143,000 miles
Power steering has gone out. It was supposedly fixed per the recall. It had gotten stiffer and I needed to fight to turn the steering wheel until I could not turn it at all.

- Union, MO, USA

problem #1068

Feb 182020

G6

  • 170,000 miles
My power steering locked on me. Noticed there was a lot of recalls for the make and model of the car. It's the power steering motor located under the steering wheel. My vehicle was in motion when I received the power steering message and I was located on the highway also.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

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