Engine Turns Over But Won't Start

2006 Pontiac G6

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Pontiac dealer.

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.

6.9

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$480
Average Mileage:
64,200 miles
Total Complaints:
14 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (12 reports)
  2. clean throttle body (2 reports)
2006 Pontiac G6 engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments

problem #14

Oct 182016

G6 GTP V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 113,109 miles

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

I hardly believe this car had so much problems. This is piece of junk not worth it. They are looking good but the engine is trash.

- Suniti D., Port Saint Lucie, FL, US

problem #13

Sep 162015

G6 GT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,000 miles

From day one of owning the vehicle the it had issues starting. Starting the car while the engine temperature was COLD would give me no issues. Once the temperature warmed up and you shut the car off. When you go to restart it, it was shake and studder and not start. Trying a second time and it would start. I had the vehicle taken to my dealership where they cleaned the throttle body. Afterwards it did not give me the starting issue as frequently, but it wasn't solved. One day while starting the car my hand slipped off of the key, yet the car started without me holding the key in the "start" position on the ignition. Intrigued by this I tried to start the car that way several more times and it worked fine. For 6 months now I've had no issues starting the vehicle no matter what the engine temperature is. All I do is put the key in the ignition, turn it all the way right and let go. The vehicle's computer then takes control and starts itself.

- ethanjwv, McM, WV, US

problem #12

Oct 012012

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

When starting my car at times, it seems to not start at first attemot. It does turn over bur seems to drop idle and shuts off. At times I am even having to give the car a little gas as I turn the ignition to maintain the car crunk.

- trenda, Lincolnton, NC, US

problem #11

Oct 082011

G6 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

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

THE CAR WOULD NOT START THE DAY AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED FROM RUSTY WALLACE FORD IN NEWPORT TN. WE WERE TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE WE WASHED IT....IT'S BEEN IN THEIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM... THIS IS A POS CAR

- Darlene T., Newport, TN, US

problem #10

Mar 012006

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

When you leave the heat or the air running plus the radio going and you go in somewhere for a second you come back out to start the car and it acts like it does not want to start and you have to keep turning the key to finally get it to start. And when you put the key in the ignition it makes a really loud clicking noise. Also while driving it sometimes completely shuts off. I am scared that this is going to happen to me while driving on the highway and i am not going to be able to pull off on the side of the road to put the car in park and try and restart it. If you need to turn on the car quickly you have to press in the gas pedal for it to start sometimes. Then I took it up to my dealership and they told me all they had to do was reprogram the E.C.M. and it would be ok. Not even 3 hours later I had my car & went to a friends then I came out of my friends house to start the car and it would not turn over but of course after trying awhile it finally did. (What do i have a warranty for again?) If they cant even figure out what is wrong with it the first time. I will never by another G6, it has one too many recalls on them and they wonder why they went under.

- Amanda P., Reading, OH, US

problem #9

Jan 102011

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 145,000 miles

Engine would seemingly start, and then cut off. Idling rpm's were around 1200. Fuel economy suffered.Cleaning the throttle body myself, adhering strictly to the Hanes manual, did not solve the problem. In the last week I have probably spent more fixing this p.o.s. than what it is worth...

- Bradley H., Cordova, TN, US

problem #8

Jun 062010

G6 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,750 miles

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

My 2006 Pontiac G-6 Still occasionally wants to over start or have trouble starting when attempting to start the car. It only seems to happen on short trips like when I go to one place turn the car off and come back and to start it thats usually when it happens or another stop afterwards. I've read from others, I turn the car off and go to start it again and it starts like normally never tired it numerious times it will always start normal usually on the second try. What I think causes the over starting is the Starter Solenoid not retracting back off the flywheel or like others have reported it could be a programming issue or the pass key theft system causing the problem. I've been keeping an Eye on it and it does it when it wants to not every time I go to start the car. If problem worsens or car does not start at all and when I get the $$ is when I will look further into this!!

Update from Sep 24, 2010: Attention all G6 owners!! When ever you go out to start your car it starts right up, however, you turn the car off run into the store and come back to re-start the car and the car will either lag to start, attempt to start and die or it seems like the starter is overcranking and then catches to start the engine! I figured out the solution to this matter from again the Pontiac G6 owners club website they got some good advice on there. The Throttle Body is the problem, by removing it off the car from the end of the air intake system clean out the inside of the throttle body and this starting issue will bother you no more I did it myself. I then drove the car around town all day long on hot starts is usually when this problem would accur the car starts right up heck even faster. So next time your bring your car in for service tell your mechanic to have the Throttle Body Cleaned!!!!!

- Kyle C., Milford, CT, US

problem #7

May 012010

G6 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 49,300 miles

I have a 2006 Pontiac G-6 I purchased used its been over all ok, not terrific considering its the newest car I have owned! The issue with the car starting is not to problematic the car always starts right up, but when driving the car on short trips and turning the car off and then starting it again there are times the car takes a little while to start up. I had a 1998 oldsmobile cutlass before my G6 and that car did the same exact thing. So I think it has to do with the security system that controls fuel injection delivery to the car I could be wrong, but thats what it was in my older car. Overall a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being good I give the car so far a 5 even steven!!

Update from Aug 30, 2010: I just got mine back from my mechanic I suggested a number of things to him it could be somthing as simple as changing the car battery but I said to myself thats to easy, then I found out from research that the car could need a PCM update or ECM update. Or the injectors could be dirty whihc seemed to be the FIX. Ever since I got my car back on hot starts is usually when the problem was happening it cranks right up with out hassle !!

Update from Sep 19, 2010: The Problem with the overstarting of the car is not the injectors. Clean the throttle body and that is the solution to this problem

- Kyle C., Milford, CT, US

problem #6

May 222010

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles

I haven't even made my first payment yet and already had to take the car for service twice!!! What did I sign up for with this vehicle??? I have the same complaint as the first person. After driving my car for about an hour I stopped at the park for 30 minutes. When I went to start the car it acted like it wanted to but then just died and the engine light stayed on. It took about four tries before it cranked right up like normal. Drove it five more minutes home and turned it off. Immediately tried to restart and nothing two more times. An hour later no problem, yesterday morning no problem, to take it to the dealer ship that I just bought it from...no problem. They tell me it is a programming issue and if so it probably won't be covered by my warranty. What's next?? This was supposed to be a certified used vehicle...I feel scammed!!!!!!!!!

- Jessica H., Hampton, GA, US

problem #5

Apr 072008

G6 Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

My car started doing this a year after I bought it. I bought the car used. It is an 06' and I bought it on Feb. 07 with 15,000 miles. After having it a year the car would not start I would have to start it maybe a couple of times. I was like well ok maybe it's nothing because it stopped doing it. It would do it for a couple of months then be ok and start again 4 or 5 months later. I'm like what the h***.....This year though it has just been a real pain. I missed a work meeting and other things because of this. I can go out to my car and try to start it 6 or 7 times and it just won't start. Then I will have someone try to start it maybe an hour later and it starts right up. So it makes me look stupid like I'm doing something wrong. Now finally my dad saw what it was doing. At first they said it was my battery we changed that and still have the same problem. they think it may be the starter don't know yet I'm going to take it to the shop and see but after reading all the complaints I bet it's going to be something expensive I have to once again pay for on this car. This is just embarrassing when you are at a store and the car will not start and you are just sitting there. Waiting to see when it will decide to let you start it up.

- t.la, Mansfield, LA, US

problem #4

Jun 202009

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,600 miles

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

the problem is the pass key system it will not allow my car to start and i think this is a real problem that this happens to so many GM cars and they continue to charge for this type of repair My own opinion is this is some of the reasons why more people are starting to by different cars better warranty's means more money is my pocket

- harrisil, Oak Park, IL, US

problem #3

Nov 012008

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

I have had this same problem starting my car on several occasions. I will try to start my car and all the gauges will come on and the car will not start. If I wait a few minutes and try to start it again and give it some gas it will usually start. Whenever I take it to the dealership it never happens. The dealership always say they reset the gauges but it is never the starter. I had to replace the battery twice. The first one dealership replaced. I needed another one less than a year after they replaced the battery. Listen to what I was told...

The battery they replaced was still under warranty less than 36,000 miles or 3 years which ever one come first. .However, since I was pass the mileage on my car when I need the new battery they would not replace it again.

The second one I had to replace but purchased the battery from Sears. I bought a die hard gold but still experience this problem from time to time.

- hmthing, Houston, TX, US

problem #2

Nov 302008

G6 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

I had/have the same problem as the original poster. The car (about half of the time) sounds like it does not want to start, the starter will just make weird sounds and noises.. but it has always started even though it sounds like it wont... I have taken it into the dealership once for this problem, and of course it didn't do it at the dealership, but they told me it was a "software issue" so they did an update and it did fix the problem for about 6 months and now it is doing it again, but this time the warranty is up so i doubt I'll be taking it to get fixed again any time soon... I just hope it doesn't ever not start for me! It only seems to do this after driving around town all day, or after starting up the car several times in one day like when I run errands...

- dcrm, Ventura, CA, US

problem #1

Sep 052007

(reported on)

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,000 miles

Half of the time my car starts without any problems. All the other times it acts as if it doesn't want to start. It makes all kinds of noise but eventually catches and starts. It has only not started once. I just gave it a moment and tried to restart it.

- rdwiggin, Knoxville, TN, US

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