NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 1 of 57)

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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 1 of 57)

problem #1127

Feb 102023

G6

  • miles

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

Power steering warning on radio, never once did a warning light on dash come up. This started at about 193,000 miles. Turning over car constantly to get my power steering to start. About a month after it just went out while driving approximately 40 mph. Kept pulling over to restart car, never turned back on. Potential wreck trying to turn to get into work parking lot when the car wouldn-€™t turn. Dealerships claim my car was fixed already years ago, however this problem with the steering started again apparently at about 193,000 miles. The steering wheel started jerking and shaking when the car was idle around the same time the power steering message came across the radio. The car would also randomly lock my horn, didn-€™t realize it could do that until I couldn-€™t honk when someone was merging into me.

- Raymore, MO, USA

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problem #1126

Jan 122023

G6

  • miles
The power steering in my vehicle quit working. Sometimes it will work when I start the car and then it just goes out randomly. I took it to the dealership and they said it's a power steering assist motor and a power steering torque sensor. When I looked it up it seems there was a recall for the exact same thing in this type of car but there are none associated w/ my vin #. I called GM & they said it was serviced already due to a recall for the same issue & any further issues are my own expense. Power steering not working randomly is definitely a safety issue. There are only about 65,000 miles on the vehicle.

- Arvada, CO, USA

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problem #1125

Jan 042023

G6

  • miles
I went to the dealer to fix a power steering issue where the vehicle becomes dangerous to drive due to the power steering randomly shutting off. There is a recall associated with this and someone who had the vehicle before me may have replaced the steering column unaware of the recall. They may have replaced it with a vehicle from the junk yard that never went in for the recall on the electronic steering assist. The dealer, Friendly Chevrolet of Dallas-tx, out me and all who drives the vehicle at risk due to lacking the adult reasoning skills to comprehend that just because the steering column was replaced that doesn't 100% correlate to the safety recall being fixed. The vehicle is dangerous and the incompetence in GM's hiring practices for service technicians has put lives at risk. GM should have hiring practices to weed out any employee that stupid with simple pre-employment logic questions included in their pre-employment screening and having such questions be highly impactful in regards to to being offered employment. For a mistake this dangerous GM and all employees associated with the hiring of the 'service technician'/mechanic should be fired along with all customer service agents who are employed by GM and failed to properly address such a dangerous issue.

- Dallas, TX, USA

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problem #1124

Oct 042022

G6

  • miles

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

Steering wheel just keeps shaking real bad and I the power steering goes in and out all the time

- South Bend, IN, USA

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problem #1123

Sep 092022

G6 6-cyl

  • 200,000 miles
The contact's daughter owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist. The contact stated that an automated voice feature alerted his daughter that the power steering had failed. His daughter managed to drive the vehicle home and upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact stated that the power steering resumed normal operation. The contact called the dealer and was informed that NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V064000 (Steering) had been closed for the vehicle. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred him back to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

- Pinewood, SC, USA

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problem #1122

Jul 282022

G6

  • 247,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle as both the power steering and battery warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel. During one instance, the contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled as both warning lights illuminated the instrument panel. The contact also stated that recently the steering wheel would jerk out of her control and move in the opposite direction than intended. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V064000(Steering). The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 247,000.

- Baxter, TN, USA

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problem #1121

May 072022

G6

  • miles

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

Electronic steering only works intermittently. I was recently driving the vehicle and the power steering stopped working as I was going around a corner and almost collided with another vehicle because of it. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting it, the power steering started working for a little bit, then stopped working again.

- Beresford, SD, USA

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problem #1120

May 102022

G6

  • 256,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist while pulling into his driveway. The contact attempted to steer the vehicle however, the steering wheel jerked to left. The contact observed that the "Power Steering Failure" warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure persisted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 256,000.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

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problem #1119

Apr 282022

G6

  • miles
Power Steering lost all use while driving. After researching issue the, I found a recall on this year and model vehicle but have never received a notice of recall on the power steering torque sensor as stated in the recall. Cost for repairs is astronomical for the labor and part tha has been seen to cause accidents and.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

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problem #1118

Apr 182021

G6

  • 188,000 miles
The contact's son owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while at a complete stop, the steering wheel locked inadvertently. The contact's son turned off the vehicle and after restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring. There was a warning light displaying the vehicle with a lock across illuminated. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.

- Homosassa, FL, USA

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problem #1117

Mar 222022

G6

  • 174,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the power steering warning light illuminated and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact pulled over to side of the road, turned off and then restarted the vehicle and the power steering functionality returned. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacture had been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 174,000

- Duluth, MN, USA

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problem #1116

Feb 282022

G6

  • 215,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, and making a lane change, the vehicle lost power steering assist. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped and turned the vehicle off. The contact stated that power steering engaged upon restarting the vehicle; however, the failure recurred. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer and the vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The contact independently researched online and read that the failure was like NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V153000 (Steering). The failure mileage was approximately 215,000.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

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problem #1115

Aug 272019

G6

  • miles
Power-steering went out abruptly and had to be replaced. I wasn't aware of the recall several years prior to the incident. Upon further research acquired I learned of any refunds on any repairs for this situation.

- Mount Carmel, IL, USA

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problem #1114

Jan 162022

G6

  • miles
The power steering went out on me. Sometimes it will work turning to the left but never the right. It says -€œpower steering-€ on the radio. Upon doing some research I believe there is a recall on the eps, more specifically the torque sensor. I wanted to see if I was eligible. Thank you for your help.

- Willowick, OH, USA

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problem #1113

Dec 112021

G6

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH and making a right turn, the steering wheel locked up and could not be turned in either direction. The message "Power Steering Assist Fault" was displayed. After restarting the vehicle, the steering wheel operated as designed however, moments later the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 138,000.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

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problem #1112

Oct 082021

G6

  • miles
While driving my steering wheel will lock up n my car will reduce speed no warning lights to check engine lights on..my saftey and my childs safety were at risk while driving her to school on a busy street

- Denver, CO, USA

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problem #1111

Aug 232021

G6

  • miles
Driving the vehical down the road the steering gets hard and wont come back right away and also does it in turns and makes it hard to turn and almost hit someone its has the electronic power steering module

- Holland, IA, USA

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problem #1110

Jul 262021

G6

  • miles
1. Loss of power assisted steering making it hard to control car. But I turn off car and turn back on, it works. 2. Steering column knuckle or u-joints are making a loud clunking noise when turning steering wheel. 3. BCM or Body Control Mudule is either bad or needs cleaning because cruise control nor traction controls work. I checked fuses and they are ok.

- Cottonport, LA, USA

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problem #1109

Apr 212021

G6

  • miles
My car will flash "POWER STEERING" across the stereo notification screen and alarm and the power steering locks up as you drive and makes steering your vehicle impossible and unsafe! This was a recall which was supposedly repaired at Titus Will (dealership) some years prior when the car was previously owned by Kristena Fulton but it is still very much a problem and a HUGE safety risk. I've contacted their location and was yelled at by a female who stated they had repaired it previously and would NOT help me regarding this. This vehicle is dangerous and poses not only a safety risk which could result in serious injury and death should it be driven on a freeway or highway at the time this error occurs. I've taken video of this and am asking for this to be repaired ASAP as I transport my two children and could result in injury to myself and my children.

- Des Moines, WA, USA

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problem #1108

Jun 142021

G6

  • miles
I just cranked my car up and tried to drive it in the only thing I had done was change my battery out and I watched all the forms on how to do repair this but apparently there's been a recall and it's just going to cost the thousands of dollars we could have died

- Pineville, LA, USA

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