NHTSA — Engine Problems

2009 Pontiac G6 (Page 1 of 2)

CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2009 is starting to have the same problems as previous model years, including the headlights blowing out due to bad connectors.

The wiring harness connections aren't a big deal to replace, as long as your dealer or mechanic doesn't charge you an arm & a leg to "diagnose" the problem.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,735 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.

2009 Pontiac G6 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2009 Pontiac G6:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2009 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #23

May 012024

G6

  • miles

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

Timing Chain making noise...voltage fluctuations throughout all the car...cruise control will shut off if I got to use wipers or blinkers or even turn on the air system and lights will dim if you use power windows or have the radio up loud.

- Granton, WI, USA

problem #22

Apr 202021

G6

  • miles
Taking off to a slow roll without giving it any gas and turning right or left, the steering wheel is extremely difficult to turn. There is absolutely no power steering. It lasts as long until you you give it gas and then the power steering will start working again. While at a steady maintained speed on flat level ground and while at a steady maintained speed going up hill rpm between 2,000-2,500, the vehicle begins to shake/buck/shudder/stall. Give it some gas and it begins to run smoothly again after about 3 seconds.

- Pevely, MO, USA

problem #21

Dec 232020

G6 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Was driving and saw a flame from under the hood.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #20

Feb 122020

G6

  • 138,400 miles

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

Car lost power while driving on highway. Engine light came on.garage pulled codes and discovered 4 full quarts low on oil. They proceeded with diagnosis and timing chain stretched to blown motor. No oil light ever came on nor any warning from the driver info center on the dash.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #19

Jan 082019

G6

  • 124,119 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G6. When the vehicle was started, the power steering and check engine indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact to call the dealer. The contact called davidson Chevrolet Buick GMC of rome at 315-337-2440 (located at 5871 rome-taberg rd, rome, NY 13440) and was referred to the manufacturer. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 124,119.

- Baldwinsville, NY, USA

problem #18

Mar 172018

G6

  • 166,000 miles
Headlights going out. Poor connection, burning/melted headlight socket, headlight choose when they want to work. Actions taken, I didn't wait for a recall. Burnt socket lead me to believe the harness wasn't able to withstand the amperage. I replaced the wires running to headlights with a larger gauge. Replaced the headlight connector. All has been well since, going on 3 years now. Another wiring issue is the injector/can sensor harness. If this becomes loose in any way the car runs very rough, poor fuel, low idle, or stalling. At the time my vehicle stalled and was running rough I had no faults or cel. I thought my timing chain was about to snap. All this due to a electrical connection that wiggled just a tad loose.

- Bolivar, TN, USA

problem #17

Sep 282017

G6

  • 86,000 miles

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

Another GM car fire: 2009 Pontiac G-6. received BCM electrical harness recall bulletin 13036 (August 2014) in the mail, 2.5 years after the fact, in spring 2017. Alleged fix was applied on 5/17/17, 4.5 months later, car is totalled due to an electrical fire in engine compartment. Sporadic electrical issues ensued after the recall work, headlight sporadically cutting out, trunk opening untouched, etc. Stopped at a traffic light, car died, smoke then flames coming from the engine compartment. Salem, Virginia fire department incident number 20174058.

- Bedford, VA, USA

problem #16

Jul 202017

G6

  • 130,000 miles
Gerald horne a & a automotive 1620 state St. Florence, al 35630 confidential this man sold me a 2009 Pontiac G6 gxp that he bought at an auction that had been wrecked on July 17, 2017 for $6,000. He told me he would 'fix everything that needed fixing on the car to make it drivable and acceptable before I bought it, ' even saying he would 'provide an oil change.' On July 17, 2017, he delivered car to my home. Car 'looked' pretty good except for the two back 'chrome' (he'd told me 'chrome' but they are plastic) rims. They were scratched really bad. My grandson checked the oil and it was quite low, dirty, and dark. I contacted Mr. Horne and told him I was not happy with the scratched rims and that he needed to perform the oil change he had promised. He said he would replace the rims and perform the oil change. He picked up the car that day or the next day, which would have been July 18, 2017. On July 20, 2017, he delivered the car to the florence, al ymca where my grandson was playing basketball and my grandson drove the car to our home, which is close to downtown florence. [the rims were still the same. He said he could not find any more used rims and would have to order new ones. I told him ok. He has yet to provide those new rims.] we did not check the oil at this time, as horne had given his word the oil was changed at this time, but I do not know if the oil was changed or not, as he said it was. Remember, upon initial delivery, oil was checked and was quite low, dark, and very dirty. Grandson then drove car with me in it to a gas station downtown so I could fill up gas tank. He then drove car to our home. Around 5:00 P.M., he drove car to the florence mall. He left mall at approximately 9:00 P.M. driving home, engine blew, no fault of grandson, almost got him killed by oncoming traffic, he had to swerve into oncoming lane.

- Florence, AL, USA

problem #15

Mar 042017

G6

  • 163,000 miles
The clips that hold the transmission shift linkage have completely snapped. This is a known issue in 4 cyl models and should be extended to 6 cyl models. My car will not go in to park. It will not start. You can actually open the engine compartment and see that the linkage has play. This is incredibly dangerous. I'm thankful we live in a flat area. This is completely unacceptable and someone will end up hurt or dead because of it.

- Marysville, CA, USA

problem #14

Aug 102014

G6

  • 2,000 miles
Engine is 3.5 L V6. After starting engine, several minutes later engine starts making a loud rapping noise which lasts several more minutes, then slowly disappears. GM dealer investigated and said it did not know cause. Said wait till noise is severe.I think it is timing chain related! tensioner, worn guide. Only 3000 miles on engine. 11/5/2016.

- Hicksville, NY, USA

problem #13

Aug 032016

G6

  • 81,000 miles

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

I had power steering lose about a year ago and then it just happened again yesterday. When I shut the car off it like resets and then it's fine I also had a friend of mine text me and told me that my brake lights were backwards when I when I was breaking the lights were off when I was driving and my brake lights were on. I have also always noticed that my car shifts weird sometimes when I'm passing it doesn't seem like I can get up to speed. I have also had trouble with my passenger front airbag sensor since I've had the car. I bought my car and 2010 it was only a year old with very few miles. Right now I only have about 81,000 miles on it. With all of my incidents with the power steering and brake lights I have been in town driving all were in motion. In town driving has probably been about 35 mile an hour I would never want to experience or have any of these on the highway.

- Kenton, OH, USA

problem #12

Mar 302015

G6 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
Car started dragging - could not drive no more than 5 miles - transmission went out - would not go in reverse - no indication on computer of engine problem - read about similar recall on Pontiac G6 for transmission problems - this incident happened around the same time recall put out on certain G6 - but not mine because of engine size - I do not understand why my vehicle did not fall under this recall - I spent a lot of money to replace it.....updated 10-27-15

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #11

Jul 312015

G6

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G6. While driving 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired. When the vehicle was started, the brake light illuminated; however, when the brake pedal was depressed, the brake light failed to illuminate. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

- Hondo, TX, USA

problem #10

Apr 072015

G6 6-cyl

  • 81,000 miles
On 4/7/15, while driving heard chimes. All icons on instrument panel turned on. The fuel gauge needle moved to empty. The low fuel gauge turned on. All this indicating malfunction. The odometer turned off and the code error came on and turned off; then the odometer came back on. All the icons on the instrument panel turned off except for the security light icon which stayed on. It felt as if someone was attempting to disable my vehicle. Later that day turned the vehicle on and everything seemed normal, like it reset itself. On 4/8/15, after driving approximately 70 miles on the highway, the security light icon turned on and stayed on. I took the vehicle directly to the dealer and they informed me they would have to diagnose the vehicle. The result was inconclusive, they did not find anything wrong. So not only was I put in an unsafe condition, this end up costing me $140 just to tell me they could not find anything - not only am I in the hole for $140 but I am back to square one. I feel GM should foot this bill as a customer courtesy due to the predicament this vehicle put me in. This should never have happened to a vehicle that is 6 years old and 80,000 miles.

- Hamburg, NJ, USA

problem #9

Apr 122015

G6 6-cyl

  • 115,471 miles
Leaking antifreeze overheating pressure building up in radiator.

- Columbia, TN, USA

problem #8

Mar 012012

G6

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 mph attempting to make a turn, the engine stalled without warning. The contact mentioned that the door independently locked and unlocked. In addition, the contact mentioned that the brake lights illuminated intermittently without the brake pedal being depressed. The headlights were also replaced multiple times due to burning out prematurely. The contact managed to merge over to an emergency lane and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnosed the failure but decided replaced the battery in order to restart the vehicle. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 48,000. The VIN was not available.

- Janesville, WI, USA

problem #7

Dec 272014

G6 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 116,920 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, there was a sudden loss of power steering assist and the check engine light illuminated. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was experiencing the same failure listed in NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000 (steering).the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,920. Updated 03/10/15 updated 6/17/2015

- Colorado City, TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 142010

G6

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnose that the belt tensioner pulley needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 22,000.

- Hammond, LA, USA

problem #5

Jul 192014

G6 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
At low speed the vehicle made a loud "pop" sound, which was immediately followed by smoke filling the interior via the air vents. The car was immediately shut off and the hood opened. The engine compartment was on fire with flames between the engine and fire wall. Upon putting the fire out it was found that the power steering fluid had leaked out of the car onto the exhaust manifold, resulting in melting the engine wiring and other components. The entire side of the car was sprayed with power steering fluid and the top of the fender had black soot from the fire. The hood pad and fire wall insulation showed large amounts of fire damage.

- West Haven, CT, USA

problem #4

Dec 012011

G6

  • 20,000 miles
When you are driving either one headlight will go out and then come back on. Then the opposite headlight will go out and then comeback on. Then sometimes both headlights will go out at the same time. I've had people flash their lights at me thinking I am high beaming them when one of my headlights turn back on. I also had a spun bearing in the bottom end of the engine which caused the vehicle to stall while turning at an intersection and almost got rear ended. I also had my vehicle stall for no reason at all. Had my mechanic look at it he came to the conclusion that maybe it was the battery and replaced it. I have also had issues with the door ajar light to where it causes the interior light to come on and stay on. I've had the door sensors replaced numerous times and have not had any issue with the door ajar for a little while now. I've also had an issue with bearings locking up in the air conditioning unit that caused a severe burning smell and caused the car to not want to start. Therefore I believe there is a major electrical problem with the car causing all of these issues.

- Connellsville, PA, USA

Read the next 3 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?