Clunk Or Pop Noise When Turning

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 3 of 4)

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.

6.8

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
$610
Average Mileage:
66,450 miles
Total Complaints:
80 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (41 reports)
  2. replaced intermediate steering shaft (13 reports)
  3. replace steering rack (7 reports)
  4. rack and pinion had to be replaced (3 reports)
  5. replace steering shaft (3 reports)
  6. replaced ball joints (3 reports)
2006 Pontiac G6 steering problems

steering problem

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2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #40

Mar 012010

G6 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,000 miles

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

I bought a Used Pontiac G-6 3.5L V-6. I personally like the car, but after reading all complaints I don't want to regret buying this car. I to have had the steering wheel pop noise when I bought the car. So I read online to see what it could possibly be and it seems the problem is from the I-steering shaft. I have had mine lubed from the place were I bought it some time in March. Its know the end of May and it seems like the it slowly wants to come back. But thanks to this site I have gotten some good info and know what to do if problem worsens !

- Kyle C., Milford, CT, US

problem #39

Jan 032010

G6 GTP 3.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,900 miles

Well this is my second G6-GTP...The first one had major steering and drive-line issues.....So bad.and they could not fix it at all.....as to other items such as motor stumble..trans slip.....So after yelling and screaming since the first day I owned the car they put me into another G6-GTP..but a cool coupe...NOT.SAME ISSUES!!!!!!!!! SAME...Now I have another file with G.M. customer (Dismiss) I mean service....and nothing is being done...and I own another very unsafe car...But they don't care.

- g6-gtp coupe, N.Miami Beach, FL, US

problem #38

Jan 112010

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

getting a clunking noise every time i turn the wheel on my 2006 g6, need a re-call because i think this is a on going problem & connected with other issues.

- Bill C., Highland, IN, US

problem #37

Jan 022010

G6 GTP 3.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 28,000 miles

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

I purchased a Certified used LEMON G6-GTP Sedan in 8/09 and had nothing but major issues with steering going out at highway speeds and Pano roof comming apart many times...I had it to dealer at least 11 times in NOT as many months.... Changed steering racks,column, intermediate shafts...I put s on end of parts because this is (2)cars same issue......

I got G.M. involved and raised hell at dealership Kendall Chevy in Miami...and got nothing but a run around and ripped off....here is where im at now... They took car back and told me i can get another from there dealer G.M. auction for $10K...I paid over $14k..so rip off.....The sedan was dangerouse and wanted out...so they got me another '06 G6 GTP but a Coupe in Jan this year....and guess what??? SAME steering issues and another case number from G.M...

Is there any Class action Lawsuites going on for this? Toyota had to do recalls and all i read is others with same issues on this VERY DANGEROUS car.... I sold my Audi to buy american..Obama bails them out with my $$ and i get it in the butt (2) times!!!!!!!!! Let me know if a class-action is going on...I WANT IN!!!!

- g6-gtp coupe, N.Miami Beach, FL, US

problem #36

Dec 112008

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

OMG! I can't believe how many people have had the same problem as me. I had the rack and pinion replaced back in December of 2008 and in November of 2009 it started making the popping noise again. I took it to the dealership and it was still under warranty but they assured me it wasn't the rack and pinion, the tech. guy said it was my struts so I came up with the cash and had both struts replaced and still a popping noise. So I take it back to the dealership and Guess what?' it's out of warranty now! So it cost 1,100.00 to fix at the dealership. It's total B/S! I believe Pontiac should recall this crap! If this many people are having the same issues and imagine how many other who have the same issues but don't post it or just deal with it. I WILL NEVER BUY A PONTIAC AGAIN!

- mcalderon, Houston, TX, US

problem #35

Jun 242008

G6 GT 6.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,253 miles

Dealer tried to lubricate it first and that worked for 1.5 days.

- charlieatbowvalley, Calgary, AB, Canada

problem #34

Feb 172010

G6 GT 6.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,351 miles

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

Am I going to need to do this every 60,000km? How can GM not know this is a recurring problem? And why is there no recall. This time it is going to cost me to fix it cause the warranty has expired.

- charlieatbowvalley, Calgary, AB, Canada

problem #33

Nov 102008

G6 Sedan V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles

I wish I would have done research on this car before buying it. After having this car for a year my power steering light flashed on for about a minute and I thought ok I need to get some power steering fluid. Everybody searched all over for somewhere to put the fluid and eventually we went online to only find out that it was electric, yeah was not happy. So I was like what am I supposed to do. The light never came back on it just popped up for a second that day. About 3 weeks later. I was driving to work, I work in another town, which is probably 35 miles away. I drove maybe 2 miles and I lost control of the car. Fortunately, it swerved to a gas station and I was able to move it to a parking spot with great force. I was so scared to drive it because I was so shocked how it just swerved me off the road the light never came back on. I had my dad to come get it and take it to the shop because I was not going to get back in it. He drove it to the shop but hard to steer. They told me at the dealership that I had to get a part for it that was $600. I was like what........and of course Christmas is a month away I don't have that kind of money. So I just went ahead and sucked it up because the warranty was out. I ended up paying $700. Now it's a year later and that clunking noise is back. It has been clunking every time I turn maybe 5 months after they replaced the part. Yeah I know so that means it's probably about to go out again. Another $700. The car sometimes veers to the right when driving. The clunking noise bothers me a lot because I'm thinking please don't go out while I'm driving on this interstate. I don't have the money to get this fixed. I decided to go online and see if anyone else was having this issue with their G6 and to my surprise yes a lot of people. I just hope I don't have an accident in this car it's the only car I have now to drive and I have to get to work and especially not with my 7 year old son in it. After reading the complaints I think the best thing for me to do is get rid of this car. I have had too many issues for a car that was basically brand new. Who wants to pay a $400 or more note on a car just to pay more in repairs every 2 or 3 months. No more GM cars for me. A few people have asked me about my car and they like the style I do too but I tell them it's not worth it and don't buy it.

- t.la, Mansfield, LA, US

problem #32

Mar 012010

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles

Ok - the first time it was covered under warranty! So I had it fixed, then it was all good for about 3 months and it started again making the popping noise, which drove my insane! Anyways I called it wasn't under warranty at this time - but would cost me over $200 to fix, well come on $200 not everyone has that to pull out of their butt! Ok so I was told that it wouldn't hurt to drive it, it wouldn't cause an accident, the thing is I was told if you can stand the noise then you'll be ok, So it was up to me then! I didn't get it fixed (because of money) which I personally think GM should have a recall. So I emailed GM and told them what I thought about the problem - which they said take it to your dealership have them fix it, I said so I don't have to pay, they said oh you will but the price is up to the dealership! Well WHATEVER - so I said I think this problem should be a RECALL - well we haven't had problems with this and you are the first!!! WELL BULL!!!! I do not believe that AT ALL! So i'm waiting to see if there will be a recall, and nothing yet, i'm tired of the noise - and for this to happen twice that's crappy! I paid a lot of money for my car and didn't expect it to have all the problems that it has, i'm so disappointed in it! And I've had Pontiac before and that's why I bought another because I didn't have problems!

- Tammy B., Meeker, OK, US

problem #31

Aug 132009

G6 LX 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 58,000 miles

A local dealer said my rack and pinion steering was loose said he may be able to retighten it but was informed it needed a new rack, 500.00 dollars later and a allignment 6,000 miles later it started to buckle when turning the wheel a new rack was installed also had the upper struts plates replaced on both sides my nissan altima never has that noise and when i sold the altima it has 112,000 miles on it.---

- Brian B., Corning, NY, US

problem #30

Jan 052010

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

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

we had the car fixed back in January 2009 for the same problem steering popping every time i turn front end rattling every time i go over a bump in the street well they replaced some part something arm well now a year later it is doing the same thing on the same side of the car

- Carol C., Okc, OK, US

problem #29

Mar 032008

G6 GT 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

It is too bad that this annoying clunk sound can lessen the driving experience of an otherwise very nice vehicle. I think GM should fix the steering problem even after the warranty expires, since this is a design issue.

- Frank S., Linden, MI, US

problem #28

Dec 152009

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

i HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING SYSTEM REPLACED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRENTY WAS UP AND THE SECOND TIME WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO. ONCE AGAIN THE STEERING IS DOING THE SAME THING (POPPING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT) AT 86000 MILES

- Jonathan S., Howell, MI, US

problem #27

Mar 012009

G6 GTP 3900vvt

  • Manual transmission
  • 40,000 miles

really look rack/pinion. clunks when it finally locks back in to turn the wheels by way of the steering wheel

- Colin M., Albuquerque, NM, US

problem #26

May 012008

G6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 30,000 miles

had this problem accured a month after i bought the car used..waited months to see if the problem will go away...it start to bother me since i drive with a baby in the car..i fixed it,put in new steering rack...problem went away for couple months just to come back again.....now my warranty run out.......its realy sad,i hope they do something about it..i hate American cars.we try to support the economy we end up needing support.

- fadwatucker, Collingdale, PA, US

problem #25

Oct 212009

G6 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 17,918 miles

Arg, this is an on going rant for us Pontiac g6 owners. This is ridiculous because my steering shaft has been replaced twice now within the last year and a half. Yesterday i got my intermediate shaft replace due to that annoying clunking noise.. I couldn't stand it, for sure it was embarrassing to drive wen you have people in your car. But anyway I got it fixed for the 2nd time and i was driving it home after it was supposedly "fixed" I noticed the wheel was off to the right by about 4degrees. I mean WAT THE HELL so you mean GM mechanics didn't even aline the damn thing? So I come back to do MOREE work and they were charging me $109.95. And my mind just blew.. After talking to the manager I had to get it out of them that the adjustments were not included in the "fix" that they had done. Dear GM customers, that is illegal! you cannot tweak out a car to make more fake labor out of that, it aint our fault GM is money hungry! But now I'm just going to a private alignment shop just because I don't appreciate sloppy work.

- fastlane66, Vancouver, BC, Canada

problem #24

Jan 142009

G6 GT 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Clunk sound when I turn left or right at very low speed. It started off with a very low intermittent clunk sound and gradually got louder. Since my wife drives the car she never motioned the noise, just turned the radio on louder. Presently I took the car to 2 local auto shops and both did not want to work on the car and said this is a known issue the G6 and Malibu. Also, that I was lucky that the car lasted this long before the noise started. They recommended that I take it to a deal to have the problem fixed and it was most probably the steering shaft. I'm expecting a call this afternoon from the dealer on their initial inspection and what will the repair cost.

I'll keep you updated.

- rvega022, Miramar, FL, US

problem #23

Feb 012008

G6 2.4L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

Starting at 50k miles a clunk started in the steering of my car when making turns. I took it to the dealership and it was covered under warranty. I was told then that it was a lubricating issue and that they had resolved it. About 20-30k miles later the clunk or bump as you might call it returned. I returned and again it was covered under the warranty. This time I was insistent that this be permanently fixed, because I did'nt want to have the problem after the expiration of the extended warrenty. The dealer told me that there had been a recall on this issue and it was for sure fixed. The problem returned at 110k miles and I haven't had it fixed again.

- okpillpusher, Watonga, OK, US

problem #22

Oct 142009

G6 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,090 miles

I just bought a 2006 G6 3.5L 3 days ago before seeing these problems, I bought it used from the gm dealer and it has the clunk sound when I turn, went in today to ask them to look at it and the repair shop part was closed but the sales manager I talked to said "its a common problem but not a serious one and that they would look at it Monday, but its not dangerous and nothing will happen if I keep driving it".

I have an 8 month old son to think about and now I'm getting worried for his safety since its all I have to drive..I got it used, and it had 49k miles on it but I did get the extended warranty for 3yrs 36k miles. If they won't honor that I'll just set the car on fire since I paid for the GAP insurance...and try to get something else. I do like the car A LOT but my son's safety means way more to me than a stupid car. I'll keep everyone up to date on what GM tells me Monday when I can take it in to the shop. PS if I have to torch the car I'll have pics lol, I won't let these pricks stick it to me while my wife is deployed to Iraq

- hasst, Hinesville, GA, US

problem #21

Dec 122007

G6 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

As i make a left turn there is a noise that comes from the front axil area of the car. It is very irritating. This car was not manufactured very well! I had problems with a former ca produced by Nissan. There were several recalls on the car. I give them credited for acknowledging there faults. However, i would never buy another Nissan. As with Pontiac they are not owning up to there manufacturing faults therefore leaving me with the same feeling as with Nissan. I am not the only one in my area feeling this way. If Pontiac wants to redeem there standing with consumers they need to start accepting blame and fix some of there manufacturing problems. My steering isn't the only thing that has went wrong with my car. Air Compressor went out, Squeaking in the breaks, Auxiliary plugs not working...etc

- fantac_ali, Danville, VA, US

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