NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 27 of 57)

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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:
51 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
30 / 1
Average Mileage:
75,713 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 27 of 57)

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problem #607

Jan 242012

G6 4-cyl

  • 80,715 miles

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

I was driving down the crowded interstate, headed home from work and my steering wheel locked up. I could not turn to get to the shoulder of the road and could not steer so I had to stop. I turned off the car and restarted it and luckily the steering came back. I was past by semi trucks honking and one slamming on his brakes behind me to keep from hitting me. Once I drove the car home I told my dad what happened and he checked the car. He realized that the car had electric steering. He decided to let the dealer look at it. They offered no explanation but rather a repair cost of $1,200. He then looked online and found that there were hundreds of similar cases by just googling "Pontiac G6 steering problems". this is when he decided that I needed to file a public safety complaint.

- Amarillo, TX, USA

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problem #606

Feb 012012

G6 6-cyl

  • miles
I was driving my vehicle and the power steering came up on the radio screen and the steering wheel got hard I had to pull over wasn't able to drive my vehicle.

- Alton, TX, USA

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problem #605

Jan 302012

G6

  • miles
As I was turning into my housing edition, my steering wheel locked up and I noticed that my radio said power steering. I almost ran into our gate and I've also noticed there is nowhere to put the power steering fluid.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

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problem #604

Aug 182010

G6

  • 60,000 miles

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

Driving one day and hear thumping, ends up that 2 lug nuts are missing on the front right tire, buy 2 lug nuts and put them on problem fixed right? wrong!!!!!! now almost a year later, (how many people check their lug nuts everyday, no one because you shouldn't have too.) there are 3 lug nuts missing on the right side of the car 1 on the back tire and now 2 broken lug nut screws on the front right tire"??? I know, how do the screws that the lug nuts go onto brake?" I'll tell you why, because the car is always shaking, hit a bump and the whole car feels like its going to brake. Instead of "feeling so fly in my G-6" they should have made a song called "braking down in my G-6" I would have bought that song cause its true!!!!!!!!! with the recall on the steering, I would have to say there is something else going on with the shaking of the car as well and I don't think its the steering but more like the suspension maybe...

- Denver, CO, USA

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problem #603

Jan 152012

G6 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 112,368 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was then shifted into neutral and shut off. The steering functioned as normal upon restart. The failure recurred once. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 112,368. Updated 02/15/12

- Fountain, NC, USA

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problem #602

Jan 162012

G6

  • 79,328 miles
The driver owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the driver was driving 2 mph when the steering wheel seized and the driver was involved in a crash. Another vehicle crashed into the driver. One passenger suffered head and hand injuries. The injuries included a concussion and memory loss. The police were notified and a police report was on file. The vehicle was then towed to a repair shop. The manufacturer was not notified and the vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 79,328.

- Toms River, NJ, USA

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problem #601

Mar 222011

G6 6-cyl

  • 71,578 miles

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

As I was driving the vehicle power steering light illuminated. Lights of the car flickered and then the steering column locked up. I could barely move the wheel even after pulling with my whole body. I am an able bodied 25 year old male and found it ridiculous and dangerous that I could barely turn the car going 55 mph while using all my strength. I got off the freeway after almost exhaustion. I then turned the car off. Restarted it and the problem went away. I brought it to the dealership and they stated they could not find the problem. Per a "special policy #10183" they changed a few sensors and that was it. Then on 1/20/12 my wife was driving the car when the same problem occurred while at 65 mph. Luckily she was able to get off the road safely. I had to go pick her up and then attempt to drive the car back with its malfunctioning steering. Again same problem, steering wheel becomes almost immovable. These all need to be replaced. GM has built a very faulty product that will kill someone...its just a matter of time. This steering wheel is a major problem.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

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problem #600

Jan 132012

G6

  • 33,900 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the power steering would fail at any time without warning. The manufacturer and the dealer were notified of the failure, but the denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 33,900.

- Columbus, OH, USA

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problem #599

Jan 142012

G6 6-cyl

  • 127,000 miles
I was backing out of my driveway and all of a sudden the dash light concluded there was a problem with the power steering so I pulled back in the drive with great difficulty steering. I am just glad I was at home or even worse, I could have been driving with my children.

- Aurora, OH, USA

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problem #598

Dec 012011

G6 6-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
Electronic power steering problem. While driving, a power steering warning appears on the radio screen. After the warning, 3 tones sound inside the car. Then, the steering gets very tight and all power steering goes away. This is a very dangerous situation while driving at highway speeds. The only way to correct the issue is to turn off the car and restart it. This problem can lead to serious accidents when power steering is lost. Please report this issue to GM and require a recall before more serious injuries, or death, occur.

- Brownsburg, IN, USA

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problem #597

Jan 052012

G6 6-cyl

  • 197,000 miles

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

Purchased used 2006 G6 in May 2007. First noticed clunking and popping noise in steering a month after purchase. Local dealership did not hear any noises when they checked it over! over the 4 1/2 years that we have owned this car, the noises never go away. Steering seems loose at times. Driving home from work two days ago at 70 mph on four lane interstate, the clunking noises got worse and my front driver's tire fell off my car. I was able to control the car and get it to the side of the road. Thankfully, there was no one on the opposite side of the interstate or near me when my tire went flying off. Sure would be nice if Pontiac would do something about the steering/suspension problem with this car. Have read far too many stories about serious injuries, which I could have caused with my G6. I just got lucky there was no one around me when it happened.

- Glenville, MN, USA

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problem #596

Jan 062012

G6

  • 96,000 miles
The power steering light comes on the radio message center. It keeps popping up and off. There is no area to add more or find out what is going on. It keeps failing. This is not the first G6 to do this and needs to be fixed by the manufacturers.

- Clarksville, TN, USA

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problem #595

Nov 232011

G6 6-cyl

  • 76,453 miles
Driving down the street, steering wheel began to quiver and the power steering cut out. When I attempted to turn a corner, it was almost impossible to turn. I pulled over and shut the car off. When I started the car, the power steering came back on. This has happened several times.

- Kingman, AZ, USA

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problem #594

Jan 232009

G6 6-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
While driving the car the power steering randomly goes out. The display will say power steering and will ding. Very hard to turn. Had it fixed at dealer and then it occurred a few months later.

- Rock Falls , IL, USA

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problem #593

Dec 122011

G6

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 mph, the steering wheel seized and the warning indicator began to illuminate. The contact turned the engine off and upon restarting the steering functioned normally. The identical failure occurred two different times. In addition, the front driver's seat partially detached from its frame. The contact planned to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnosis and possible repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

- Munhall , PA, USA

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problem #592

Sep 012010

G6 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
My power steering goes in and out. When I start the vehicle, it usually is working. As soon as I make a right turn the steering turns violently and the power steering goes out. If this happens at speeds over 5 mph, it is very difficult to control. Luckily, I have not been in an accident yet, but am feeling the longer I allow this to happen, my luck will run out.

- Olathe, KS, USA

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problem #591

Nov 282011

G6

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the power steering would sporadically become inoperable and would cause the vehicle to jerk violently. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but advised the contact to speak with the dealer regarding the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 129,000 and the current mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Mendenhall, MS, USA

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problem #590

Nov 252011

G6 6-cyl

  • 119,000 miles
Steering dashboard lights come on and power steering goes out while driving. Had diagnostics done by dealer. Diagnostic shows problem with powersteering and powersteering motor. Totally locks up. Have to pull over to a safe place, I have to turn car off and then restart it....this happens a few times a week.

- Satsuma, AL, USA

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problem #589

Nov 012011

G6

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the power steering. The rack and pinion was replaced but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the power steering warning light would illuminate when the failure occurred. The vehicle was not inspected by a dealer or repaired a second time. The failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 144,000.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

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problem #588

Nov 282011

G6

  • 136,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the power steering failed and with the illumination of the power steering warning light. The vehicle resumed normal operation after it was shut off and restarted but the power steering warning light remained illuminated.the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the power steering failed and referred her to an authorized dealer. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised her that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Mason, TN, USA

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