NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 7 of 11)

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:
7 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,358 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments (Page 7 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #98

Dec 102013

G6 6-cyl

  • 94,061 miles

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

Sometimes (randomly) the brake lights are illuminated when the brake is not being pressed. When this happens, if I press the brake, the brake lights actually go off even though I'm braking. When this brake light problem occurs, the cruise control function also does not work. This has been happening on and off since I purchased the vehicle.

- Washburn, IL, USA

problem #97

Feb 152014

G6

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the vehicle would sporadically fail to start. The contact would have to shift into neutral and then park numerous times before the vehicle would respond. The contact also stated that when driving over a road bump or any unleveled road surface, the instrument panel would fail. On one occasion while the contact was driving at an unknown speed, the power steering assist failed and caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle, who then crashed into a guard rail. The contact was not injured and a police report was not filed of the incident. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, who was not able to diagnose or duplicate the failure. The contact was advised that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14V153000 (steering). The vehicle had been previously taken to an independent mechanic for the same failures however, the mechanic also was unable to diagnose a failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000.

- Weymouth, MA, USA

problem #96

Oct 012013

G6 6-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
My vehicle is experiencing faulty power steering, which goes out without any notification. It does this when just starting to pull out and it also does it in the middle of a turn. This is very dangerous. It makes you lose control of the steering and could result in a wreck. My vehicle also has been experiencing the service aiir bag warning that has also been recalled in other GM vehicles. The breaking system on my GM is also faulty with the lighting. When the break is pressed the brake lights go off and when the brake is not pushed the brake light goes on. I have contacted GM numerous times and am told that the recall is not model specific that it is VIN specific. If my car is having all of the same dangerous issues, why is it not also recalled?

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #95

Jan 132014

G6 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles

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

(2006 Pontiac G6 GT) the first time I had trouble with my ignition & power steering was in January of 2014. I started my car and the power steering locked when I tried to pull out of a parking spot. I towed it to a mechanic which said everything seemed fine and it was so frustrating knowing there is still a problem. The problem continued. Recently on March 6 2014 while driving the power steering light came onto the radio screen. The power steering disabled while I was driving and it was almost impossible to pull over away from other cars on the road. It was the most horrifying feeling knowing I had no control. I turned the car off and back on again which the wheel was moving and seemed fine to drive. I pulled back onto the highway driving 35 - 40mph and the steering completely locked up and I could not move my wheel at all. I stopped put my hazards on and shut the car off and took the key out of the ignition. I tried starting my car and all the lights on the dash board went haywire also my 6 cd changer changed through every cd and then the car shut off. Mechanics are still not sure what the problem is. Weeks later, now March 30 2014 I started my car and the poweer steering is completely locked and it is not drivable.

- East Boston, MA, USA

problem #94

Apr 112012

G6 6-cyl

  • 70,000 miles
When I turned the car on, the power steering light came on and the power steering would not work. I would turn the car off and restart it and it would be fine, but once I would get going it would quit working again. This has been happening at least twice a week since 4/11/12. It is getting more and more dangerous. Without any warning, as I'm driving the power steering just goes out. I have contacted GM regarding this and they tell me that my VIN number was not included in the recall.my break lights also stay on if the break is not pushed down and when you press the break pedal down the break lights go off. More recently, when someone sits in my passenger seat the service air bag light comes on. I contacted GM again and again they told me that my VIN number was not affected and not included in the recalls. My car is affected, because I am having the same problems. I live in the dfw area and the break light issue and the power steering issue are causing huge problems for me. It is terrifying each time I have to go anywhere. At the drop of a hat the power steering just quits. GM does not see this as an issue and I am repeatedly given the brush off.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #93

Mar 182014

G6

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently failed to start. The contact also mentioned that the power steering assist failed while attempting a left turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #92

Mar 202009

G6 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles

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

Several times when attempting to start the vehicle by turning the key in the ignition the vehicle goes through the process but doesn't start. It will make a "winding" noise. It will take 2-3 attempts to get the vehicle started. This has occurred approximately 30-40 times since 2009. During this same period while driving the beep alarm inside the car begins going off cause it reads that someone is sitting in the passenger front seat without a seat belt. Each time this has happened the seat was empty. In addition, when a person has been sitting in the front passenger seat and vacates the seat the seat or sensor still registers a person there without a seat belt. During the same time period I have had to replace the headlights and front driver side about 6-8 times. I had the front driver side maker light replaced and it was noticed that it was completely corroded. I've had to replace the back brake lights 6-8 times. Lastly, the transmission has begun stalling both at initial acceleration and when driving above 35mph the vehicles suddenly loses its gear and begins to slow down in traffic. This vehicle has major electrical problems. To add, I have spoke to 4-5 other people that have the exact same and additional problems with either the same year, make, and model or the same problems with the same vehicle just a year different.

- Mukwonago, WI, USA

problem #91

Mar 132014

G6 4-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
The car cut off all the time summer or winter. I have taken the car to [xxx] and other car repair places and know one seem to know what wrong with it. We brought the car in Aug. Of last year and been having a problem every since. It cut of and read error across the dash board and want start back for sometime, in the middle of the road or where every. I'm scare someone may get hurt. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #90

Mar 082014

G6 6-cyl

  • 129,745 miles
When driving the car power steering popped up on the radio and all power steering stopped working on the car. I have researched online and some models have an issue with the power steering module and GM extended the warranty to fix the issue but I called the dealer and they said that my model is not covered. This is a very dangerous issue and if I had been going faster and on a turn it could have been very bad.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #89

Jan 242013

G6

  • miles
Brake lights engage when brake pedal is not depressed but disengage when the pedal is pressed. The symptoms started at the same time the cruise control disengaged at highway speed.

- Ashland City, TN, USA

problem #88

Feb 202012

G6 6-cyl

  • 46,000 miles

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

Started driving the car and power steering goes out.

- Livingston, CA, USA

problem #87

Jan 242014

G6

  • 105,000 miles
While driving home from work my ABS light came on without me touching the brakes. Then the security lock on the dash panel lit up, as if I had locked and activated the security system via the key fob. I was still driving, so there was no reason for me to activate the security system. As I came to a red light and went into the left hand turn lane, I noticed that I had no power steering. While waiting for the light to turn green, the battery light illuminated on the dash panel. I was able to make it safely across the street before the car shut itself off. When I tried to re-start the car, it wouldn't start. I let it rest about 5 minutes and tried again. The car started and within 30 seconds went through the same sequence. ABS light, security light, battery light and shut off. I have replaced the alternator and the battery as they both read low on voltage. To this day 2/15/2014, the only way to keep the car running is to run a direct cable from the alternator to the battery. It is the only way they give off the correct voltage and work with each other. They can no longer function separately of each other. I've read several other complaints of the same issue on edmunds.com with no response from GM. I have contacted GM and was told to take it to a dealership. I informed them I've had my own trusted, local mechanic look at it and he can't diagnose the issue other then a massive electrical failure. I asked GM what their resolution was since this is a know problem with the vehicle. Again, was just told to take it to a GM dealer. No further response or possible solution was offered from GM.

- Cochranville, PA, USA

problem #86

Jul 012013

G6 6-cyl

  • 50,000 miles
I have a '06' G6 gtp hardtop convertible. Engine spontaneously shuts off and ABS light comes on every time I hit a speed bump, drive over railroad tracks, hit a pot hole. Etc. Basically, every time I hit some sort of big bump on the road. When this happens, I would pull over the road, put it in park, and try to restart the engine. But, I would have to try several times before the car turns over. I would put car in total stop, park, turn off key, and wait a few seconds before restarting car. Sometimes it starts right up, other times would take a few attempts. It's almost like I need to wait for the care to reset itself. There is power when restarting, but it would not turn over immediately. Not even a starter sound or engine crank. It has gotten worse over the past week and my car is shutting off more often. This has become hazardous especially driving on a thru-way. I did take the car to a Pontiac dealer about a year ago to address this problem. The dealer changed out the electrical unit to a tune of $600. I brought the car back to dealer for same issue, and was basically told they could not find anything wrong with the car.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #85

Jan 032014

G6

  • 85,000 miles
Electrical power steering goes out periodically when it gets very cold outside. This has been occurring for sometime now. If the temperature gets close to freezing outside the power steering shuts off a few after I first start up the vehicle and if I make very sharp turns it goes out. I never experience this issue when its warm outside. GM should be responsible for repairing this no matter if your vehicle is past 70000 miles. They failed by making and electrical power steering system in these year models which obviously they realized was a problem since the 2007 models have the traditional power steering pump.

- Irving, TX, USA

problem #84

Sep 182013

G6

  • 80,000 miles
Headlight harness got corroded and will not make a solid connection.

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

problem #83

Aug 222013

G6 6-cyl

  • 74,397 miles
As I was exiting on to an off ramp the steering locked up and I lost control momentarily at the same time not being able to slow down. The car eventually spun out and slowed down on its own. Then I waited and started it back up and it went.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #82

Sep 302013

G6 6-cyl

  • miles
Brake lights are illuminated without pressing brake pedal and turn off once brake pedal is pushed. Also cruise control sometimes doesn't work and while on will suddenly turn off it's self. Windows also will not roll down/up sometimes from passenger door controlling.

- Greenville, NC, USA

problem #81

Aug 182013

G6

  • 88,661 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the headlights and wipers failed to function. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 88,661.

- Sparks, NV, USA

problem #80

Oct 012013

G6 4-cyl

  • 35,500 miles
Brake lights turn on buy themselves and turn off when brake pedal is applied. Gear shifter solenoid won't release out of park sometimes.

- Brookfield, IL, USA

problem #79

Oct 062013

G6 4-cyl

  • 106,000 miles
I bought this car for my 16 year old daughter. There are a few common electrical problems all connected to the steering column apparently. It started with the key not wanting to move, first to start the car and then not being able to get the key out of the ignition. The radio fails intermittently. The latest is that the power assist steering fails intermittently. Extremely dangerous! sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I've researched different sites and it seems to be a huge problem and connected to the electrical problems in the steering column. I'm told by mechanics it is a problem in almost all G-6's in 2006-2007 that have the power assist steering. Since it is such a safety issue, why is it not being recalled?

- Box Elder, SD, USA

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