NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 13 of 58)

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:
53 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
30 / 1
Average Mileage:
75,280 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 13 of 58)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #902

Dec 082015

G6

  • 217,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V064000 (steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 217,000.

- Mount Pleasant, TN, USA

problem #901

Aug 072015

G6

  • 53,000 miles
We never had a problem with loss of power steering but did see the power steering message on the display flash a few times. We decided to bring the car to the dealer to get the 3 recalls done on it of which one of them was for the power steering message. After the recall was done we went to pick up the car and the power steering did not work intermittently. We brought it back to the dealer and they changed a different part and charged us $734.26 and said the second part was not covered under the recall. I also contacted GM headquarters and they told me the same thing. Since the part changed in the recall actually broke our power steering maybe they were changing the wrong cheaper part and billing the customer to fix the issue. We did not have an accident as the loss of power steering was less than a minute at a time and it was very hard to turn but the car still could be turned.

- Wantage, NJ, USA

problem #900

Nov 072015

G6

  • 147,534 miles
Steering wheel shakes at idle and while driving, creating difficulty steering. Power steering alert on info screen. Loss of power steering. Turn vehicle off and steering returns. GM dealer states the power steering module is bad but is not apart of the steering recall.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #899

Nov 062015

G6

  • 201,182 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 35 mph, the steering wheel jerked to the left and the vehicle lost power. The power steering warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled to the side of the road, turned off, and restarted. The failure recurred on the way home. The vehicle was later taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 201,182.

- Waxhaw, NC, USA

problem #898

Nov 102006

G6

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal sound emitting from the vehicle and the steering wheel moved independently before seizing. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V044000 (steering); however, the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #897

Jun 142006

G6

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering and an abnormal noise could be heard coming from the vehicle. The failure happened without warning. Prior to the failure, the vehicle was taken to the dealer and remedied under NHTSA campaign number: 15V064000 (steering); however, the failures recurred frequently after the recall repair was performed. The failures were intermittent prior to the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #896

Jul 152015

G6

  • 79,985 miles

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

I had a recall done for the steering. Unfortunately, the problem was not solved by the part replacement. In fact, I continue to lose steering at low speed and during park. The recall was to resolve the issue. GM replaced a defective part with another defective part. The problem is worse now. When is GM going to fix the issue. This is a safety issue for me and my family not to mention to the public. GM are you for real? please get your act together!

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #895

Oct 252015

G6

  • 96,400 miles
I was driving making a turn and I hard a noise didn't know what it was until I felt my steering wheel tighten up.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #894

Oct 132015

G6

  • 133,380 miles
I was going through an S curve on a local road down the street and when I was coming out of the curve the wheel jerked to the left I heard the car chime and I lost the steering. Was unable to get vehicle back on the road fast enough and at the end of the curve was a park parking lot. Luckily the side I had to swerve into was empty and no kids were in the area on the bike path because I ended up going into the grass. After I got the car stopped I shut it off, turned it back on and it was fine. As soon as I started to turn left to head back home boom car chimed and lost power steering again. Luckily this time I was expecting it and was able to keep control as I was turning around to head back home. I was able to nurse the car back the short mile back to the house then called a tow truck to take it to the dealer. I got a call from the dealer the next day stating that they had fixed the recalls on it but also said that the reason it went out ( short in the power steering control module) was a recall item but not on my year G6. I told them that when I pulled the year on my car, it said there was a recall for the control module and they said mine was made too early in the year or something and he also said its a very very common part failure. I asked what the difference was between my steering module and the ones on recall were, and he stated the only difference was the part number and it was the same exact part. So for $900 to fix it I told them to tow it back to my house unfixed and now the car sits unused because I refuse to pay for a part that is knowingly unsafe and faulty by the manufacturer. The outcome of this could have been a lot worse had I been on a busy road. Did I mention my son was in the car with me as well? I have the invoice from the dealer but dont have a scanner.

- Saint John, IN, USA

problem #893

Oct 082015

G6

  • 142,000 miles
Thursday, October 8, 2015 I was driving my car and suddenly the steering wheel jammed. I almost hit 2 cars.on the car board appear "power steering ". at General Motors ' S dealer service they put me to pay 860$ for fixing the power steering issue.

- Conshohocken, PA, USA

problem #892

Sep 232015

G6

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 5 mph, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 15V064000 (steering), but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power steering assist motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #891

Sep 082015

G6

  • 191,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While accelerating from a stop light, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was restarted and resumed normal operation. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V064000 (steering). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 191,000. The VIN was not available.

- Kodak, TN, USA

problem #890

Sep 072015

G6

  • 162,000 miles
When turning the steering wheel in different directions, there is a clunking coming from the steering column. This also occurs when changing the direction of turning, moving or stationary, and in or out of gear. Upon further investigation, I found that the intermediate shaft was not lubricated as described in the GM recall affecting similar vehicles.

- Waterford, MI, USA

problem #889

Jan 122015

G6

  • 176,165 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving at approximately 20 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the power steering assist warn light illuminated. The vehicle was serviced under NHTSA campaign number: 14V153000(steering) but the remedy failed to repair the vehicle. The contact mentioned that the failure recurred intermittently. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 176,165.

- Dallas , TX, USA

problem #888

Aug 152015

G6

  • 91,000 miles
When I was backing out of my driveway and when I turn the wheels my rack broke on the steering. The wheels would only turn half way to the right. I am lucky I was not on the highway when the rack broke.

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #887

Aug 132015

G6

  • 148,361 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving at approximately 5 mph exiting a parking lot, the power steering seized. The contact stated that the power steering indicator illuminated. This was a recurring failure. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician performed unknown repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 148,361.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #886

Jul 302015

G6 6-cyl

  • 133,687 miles
While putting vehicle in gear it jerks very hard. When driving, the vehicle shifts really hard and while driving, the security light comes on and it shuts down. While in reverse, the brake light continues to blink off and on. Took to transmission shop and put it on test they said wiring was bad. Took it to dealer and they didn't fix it. Also, they fix recall for power strain and gear shift cable and car been acting up ever since service light on and not changing properly.

- Batesville, MS, USA

problem #885

May 042015

G6 6-cyl

  • miles
2006 Pontiac G6. Consumer writes in regards to steering wheel locked up while driving and other vehicle issues. The consumer stated while driving, a message light and alarm went off simultaneously while the steering wheel locked up. The consumer had very limited steering capabilities. By the time she was able to get the vehicle stopped, she had no control of the steering. The consumer stated the vehicle was supposedly repaired due to a recall back in October 2014.

- Bothell, WA, USA

problem #884

Jul 262015

G6

  • 84,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving at various speeds, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle had to be turned off and back on in order for the steering to be restored. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the power steering motor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

- Lenexa, KS, USA

problem #883

Nov 022014

G6

  • 139,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While in reverse, the power steering seized and the vehicle crashed into a pole. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The dealer diagnosed that the torque sensor assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.

- Lawrenceville, IL, USA

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