NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 41 of 57)

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:
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 41 of 57)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #327

Jan 142010

G6

  • 108,500 miles

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

I have recently did a tune up on my 2006 Pontiac G6 just plugs and plug wires. When my wife told me the car locked it steering wheel upon a quick take off I then drove the car again and also had two lock ups with me. After that happen to us we never really do any fast takeoffs with the car. This happen 3 times in the month of January. This only happens with a takeoff and all the panel lights act like they turn off with all gauges drop in off position, but the car still running. Im not sure if this is part of the defect, but for the past 9 months this car has been real hard to start up and no lights display for a check engine. I have taken this car in for a computer diagnostics test and nothing was found to be wrong with the car. The dealership told me to get a new key and I did and it didn't help.

- Rockdale, TX, USA

problem #326

Jun 012009

G6

  • 70,000 miles
My 2006 Pontiac G6 loses power steering at least 5-6 times per week. It usually kicks back in after restarting the car several times. Approximately beginning in January of 2009 the steering column would make a popping noise when turning. Then about June of 2009 the warning came on "power steering". within a couple of weeks of the warning the power steering began going out. I am concerned that it may go out when my teen is driving. We have also had issues with the electrical system in general. At times the electrical goes out completely in the dashboard.

- Vista, CA, USA

problem #325

Jun 012008

G6

  • 30,000 miles
Power steering on my 2006 Pontiac G6 has been a problem since I purchased it. It makes a popping noise when ever it is turned left. When the car is cold and just started sometimes the steering wheel will move on its own left and right for a few seconds.

- Cedar Rapids, IA, USA

problem #324

Aug 252009

G6 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles

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

I own a 2006 Pontiac G6 (4 cylinder). I have problems with the steering going out on the car. This usually happens during warmer weather. I will be driving, I will hear a warning chime and the computer system will indicate that there is a power steering failure on the digital dash display. Then I can feel the steering go out. I can shut the car off and it will sometimes reset the steering. Other times I may drive without power steering for a few days before it will resent. It sounds very similar to the steering issue that recently caused a GM recall on the cobalt, G4 and G5. I've read of numerous complaints similar to mine on the G6 as well, but GM failed to include that model in the recall. This failure can take place anywhere from several times a day to once every few days.

- Lincoln, NE, USA

problem #323

Sep 162009

G6

  • 45,000 miles
Steering wheel would not turn it locked up.

- Nicholasville, KY, USA

problem #322

May 152009

G6

  • 35,067 miles
My electric power steering went out on my Pontiac G6 on more than one occasion. I lost power steering multiple times within an hour. I have lost control but only gone off the road without any damage to me or the vehicle. I have no replaced any parts of me vehicle because of my financial situation. I use a lot of caution while driving my car and will not let anyone other than myself operate it.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #321

Jan 312007

G6

  • 36,000 miles

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

Pontiac 06 G6 has power steering issues, and steering shaft issues. The power steering is very hard to steer, some times it wont steer. It locks up and is always very tight.

- Troy, OH, USA

problem #320

Aug 012009

G6

  • 45,000 miles
Power steering on 2006 Pontiac G6 model car is making a loud noise.

- Walnutport, PA, USA

problem #319

Mar 032010

G6

  • 75,126 miles
My power steering motor in my 2006 Pontiac G6 keeps locking up on me. This has happened to me 4 times in the past month and a half. It happened the first time when I was driving in a parking lot. The power steering light went on and it started to chime. So I shut the car off and turned it back on in a few minutes and then it was fine. It happened a second time approximately 3 weeks later when I was pulling out of a parking spot. I did the same thing and turned the car off and then back on and it was fine. Two weeks later (yesterday) it happened twice within 3 hours. I took the same actions and restarted the car just so I was able to steer it. It's very scary cause it is so hard to steer. Thank goodness I was in a place that I could just stop and turn the car off and then back on.

- Somers Point, NJ, USA

problem #318

Aug 012009

G6

  • 75,000 miles
I drive 100 miles back and forth to work every day. Early on, I had noticed some pull in the steering wheel, but likened it to an alignment problem. I took the car to a local shop and they aligned the car - everything seemed fine. However, I would have to have the car aligned about once every 2 months and by August 2009, was on my 3rd set of tires in 3 years due to uneven tread wear. I also began to notice the steering wheel dither upon starting the car and when I would break, the steering wheel would turn sharply left. The local shop looked at the car and determined there was a steering motor issue and urged me to call GM about this problem. I called customer service - mind you the car is out of warranty. At the time, the car had about 75,000mi. As soon as I told them this information, I began to get the run around and they told me I had to take it to a GM dealer before they would even consider talking to me about the problem. Of course, GM charged to me look at it and determined I would need a new steering motor, steering column, and torque sensor to the tune of $1000! I did some research at that time and found others having similar issues. And now GM issues a recall for the same problem in other GM cars during the same years! I have tried several different things to correct this problem - I have had the steering motor re-calibrated on 4 different occasions and an intermediate shaft replaced. The car is easier to steer, but I still get a dither everytime I turn the car on and once again it is out of alignment, and I have some uneven tire wear. My problem is not as severe as others, but these are only temporary fixes. It has been the consensus of all the mechanics I have talked to including the ones at the local GM dealer that the motor will need to be replaced before I completely loose my power steering altogether. The recall needs to be expanded to include the 2006 G6!

- Decatur, IL, USA

problem #317

Nov 102009

G6

  • 56,000 miles

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

At first the problem was random only occurring after putting the car in revere. Steadily the problem became more and more common. Changing from happening every couple of weeks to happening almost every day. The pinnacle was when I was driving home one night and lost control of the vehicle when the power steering went out while making a left hand turn resulting in thousands of dollars of damage. The car now has power steering failure every time I turn left, and or put the car in reverse. The only way to fix the problem is to turn off the car and turn it back on. Unfortunately I have not had any parts replaced or had anything done to fix the problem, due to the cost of the replacement. So until there is either a recall, or a fiscally responsible way to repair the car, I'm driving a very unsafe car.

- Akron, OH, USA

problem #316

Feb 202010

G6

  • 86,000 miles
While driving the powersteering message appeared on the message center and my 2006 Pontiac G6 lost all powersteering. Luckily my husband was driving and was able to drive it the remainder of the way and back, nearly 60-70 miles away. Don't even try checking the fluid, there is none. The valet parking attendant at our destination could hardly park it or bring it back to us upon our exit. I had to take the G6 to our local GM dealer on Feb. 24 and it was there for 3 days and cost me well over $600 to repair. Now, after less than a week from picking it up from the shop, I see that GM is recalling some other Pontiac models for this exact same problem. I feel that the 2006 Pontiac G6 should be included. This problem is very dangerous since before the complete failure the car began getting hard to control. When the powersteering fails it becomes awfully hard to steer the car at slow speeds and extremely difficult to park or turn onto roads. While sitting idle at red lights, stop signs, etc. The steering wheel just quivers back and forth. Please please GM recall this model before something bad happens to someone. (especially since there is no way to avoid this since it cannot be maintained)... after my repair, the car drives wonderfully, I just hope it lasts.

- Barnesville, GA, USA

problem #315

Jan 032010

G6 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles
A couple of weeks ago I lost power steering in a snow storm which caused my car to slide sideways and I was unable to steer out of the slide because I did not have power steering. My 2006 Pontiac G6 has the same steering problem that is on the recall for the G5. At low speeds the power steering will cut out on a left turn an a warning light with flash on my display. This has been an issue for my vehicle for over a year. I complained about it at that time and was directed to take my car into the dealership. I did a little research and discovered that the previous year was recalled for the same issue. I was told at the dealership that it would cost me $1,000 to fix the steering issue. I unfortunately do not have the money to pay this so I have had to deal with the loss of power steering since which is scary as the wheel will snatch itself out of my hands. Luckily I was stopped by a curb. I find this as a huge safety issue and can not believe that when I called about this resent recall I was told that I just have to deal with it myself. The other issue I would like to comment on is that my car seems to be put together with other model parts. I found out that my wiper blade are actually camaro blades because they ran out of G6 blades while my car was in production. So how do I know if my steering is not a G5 steering column? as you can see this is a very frustrating and dangerous. I just want them to do the right thing.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #314

Feb 272010

G6

  • 42,000 miles
We have a 2006 Pontiac G6 and are having major issues with the power steering going out randomly. This generally occurs at low speeds and particularly in reverse trying to back out of parking spaces. I know this is a known problem and hope to have a recall issued to address this before the power steering begins to cut out at high speeds.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #313

Feb 232010

G6

  • 32,000 miles
The power steering would just go out on me. I would lose the ability to turn easily. I could still do it, it was just very hard. The power steering warning would pop up on my radio and with a dinging sound as soon as the power steering went out. If I turned my car off then back on, it would reset itself and I could steer again. After a couple of months of that, it finally got to the point where even if I turned my car off to reset it, it would go out again immediately. I had to take it to a dealership to get the whole steering column replaced. That cost me $750.10.

- Imperial, MO, USA

problem #312

Jan 012010

G6 6-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
My 2006 Pontiac G6 has had steering problems since I purchased it new and now there is a more serious one that occurred around 40K miles. The power steering stops working. It has quit while in a parking lot and making turns. I am scared the problem is going to get worse. I don't seem to be the only one having this problem.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #311

Jan 012010

G6

  • miles
I own a Pontiac G6, 2006. I bought it a year and 4 months ago. I thought it was one of the best cars ever! looked cute, drives really nice. Until a month ago when the dash would alert me "power steering". so, of course I went out to buy some power steering fluid, after searching countlessly I then found out there is none. It is all electrical, which in all honestly is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. But hey, what a great way to make some big bucks when it goes out. I was backing up one night after work, and my power steering went out. I ended up backing into a car because I couldn't control the steering! now everyday, "power steering" alerts me a couple times while I drive. I just wonder if its going to go out again. I also wonder if it will take someone's life. Today GM issued a recall on Pontiac G5's and Chevy cobalts power steering columns, I couldn't believe they did not recall one on the G6. I am truly angry about this, and without a doubt will never by a car from GM again. Thanks :)

- Hudson, WI, USA

problem #310

Feb 252010

G6 6-cyl

  • 113,400 miles
My wife was driving her 2006 G6 Pontiac home one week ago. While driving about 65 miles per hour down the highway, the car gave 3 chimes and then not a second later the power steering all at once quit, dragging her off the shoulder I was following her home and we traded cars. I own a 1989 Jeep with 33inch tires and manual steering, and the Pontiac steering was about twice as hard for me to steer as the Jeep is!! we are very lucky she retained control of that car!!! this issue has been under investigation for some time and now G.M. decided to do a recall on some of these units. When is the NHTSA going to do something?? I just got the car back from the shop where the entire steering column\steering motor had to be replaced. It cost $700 and could of cost me much more. This is our third Pontiac, all had big issues and the car company did nothing to address them. No more G.M. cars for us.....

- Silver City, NM, USA

problem #309

Jan 032010

G6 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving 25 mph the power steering light flashed on the dashboard and the power steering malfunctioned. The contact had to shut off the vehicle and restart it to reset the power steering. The contact has not taken the vehicle to the dealer. The failure could have caused a crash to occur. The failure mileage was 48,000. Updated 04/20/10

- Baton Rauge, LA, USA

problem #308

Feb 012010

G6

  • 55,000 miles
Random, intermittent failure of power steering. Steering gets extremely difficult without warning. This loss of power steering has happened numerous times since ownership, including the power steering dashboard light coming on intermittently. Dealer has never been able to duplicate condition.

- Perkasie, PA, USA

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