NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 45 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

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2006 Pontiac G6:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2006 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments (Page 45 of 57)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #247

Dec 112009

G6

  • 110,000 miles

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

This morning as I was driving my son to school in my 2006 Pontiac G6. I stopped at a stop sign and I heard a 'ding ding'. I looked at my radio and it said "power steering failure". my steering wheel was locked up. I turned off my vehicle and restarted it, and it worked fine. I have 110,000 miles on my car. Is there any coverage for this component failing, or any recalls?

- Oblong, IL, USA

problem #246

Dec 032009

G6

  • 113,430 miles
Front end shakes when putting on brakes and clunking noise in frontend when turning in both directions, sometimes feels like frontend or both front tires going to fall off. Dealer says the intermediate steering shaft needs replaced again. Serious frontend problems with 2006 Pontiac G. 35942 mi replaced steering gear, 60318 mi replaced intermediate steering shaft, 77538 mi catalytic converter replaced, 79660 mi after 5th time to dealership for squeaking noise installed tensioner and belt for air cond. Took them 5 trips before they could hear the noise, 83442 mi replaced both front hubs, 103865 mi replaced power steering motor and module, 113158 mi replaced rt front hub assembly again because dealership left my front hub bearing excessively loose when they changed my hubs at 83442 miles, 113430 mi dealership states I need intermittent shaft(they told me this was the same part I changed at 60318 miles). All this work has been done at the same dealership(randy marion in huntersville in nc). I seriously think we need a steering recall on all 2006 Pontiac G6. I have a case number with GM, but they say there is nothing they can do for me. No more GM's for me.

- Denver, NC, USA

problem #245

Dec 082009

G6

  • miles
Power steering failure on the electric motor, resulted in loss of ability to steer vehicle safely. Steering becomes nearly impossible.

- Collins, MS, USA

problem #244

Jun 012009

G6

  • 57,000 miles

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

Pontiac G6 2006 power steering fails randomly and could easily cause a wreck. Especially with the snow starting to fall here in Utah it can be quite dangerous. The power steering fails when you turn to the left. I haven't had it happen when I turn right but always happens when turning left. It used to happen less frequently but occurs more often now. When the powering steering goes out it is very hard to turn. If you turn the car off and restart the powering steering comes back. Until you turn left again, then you are again driving with no powering steering. It kicks out anywhere during a turn and I feel in danger when driving because it's hard to turn it without power help. I feel even more in danger with snow on the road because quick movements with the steering could cause an easy slide out.

- West Haven, UT, USA

problem #243

Nov 182009

G6

  • 22,707 miles
Clunking in the front end when turning.stated GM aware of ongoing problem and instead of lubricating the I-shaft as GM says to do it was replaced. If GM is aware of problem why hasn't I been addressed? it has been reported many times to NHTSA but its obvious GM is throwing it under the rug. I had an extended warranty but still had to pay $100 deductible which I don't feel I should as it is a known problem that GM is aware of. Not to mention the car has only 22707 miles on it. You don't have to worry GM because this is the last GM car my family will purchase. Probably many more people switch to a Ford or imports because of the garbage that are produced by GM not to mention how they don't stand behind something that they were aware of yet I had to pay anyway.

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #242

Nov 032009

G6

  • 64,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving the power steering warning light would intermittently illuminate on the instrument control panel, and then the power steering would fail. She contacted the dealer and a technician stated that she would have to pay $240 for a diagnostic fee to determine the cause of the failure. The Ford manufacturer has not been contacted. The failure mileage was 64,000.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #241

Dec 072009

G6

  • 43,600 miles

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

Before I bought the car I heard a clunking noise in the steering when I turned the wheel either way. I told the dealer that there was something wrong with the front end. If they fixed it, then I would buy the car. The dealer said there wasn't anything wrong with the car. Not 6 month later I was pulling out of a parking lot and my power steering stopped working and I could not turn the wheel. I pulled to a safe place and called my fiance. We were looking at the book and it said to check the power steering fluid with an illustration of where to check. After about 20 mins we gave up looking because we couldn't find it. Turns out this car has electrical powersteering. I had the car towed and called the GM corporate to complain about the problem. I spoke with dennis and he said there was nothing that can be done unless I had complained about the problem before. I told him I had and gave him the background. After all the run around you can imagine I called the local dealer and told them what was going on. They said they would check the car out free of charge for me and let me know what was going on. They called back and said it was the power steering motor and rod. Dennis at GM Corp said he has done all he can and would have to forward to a district specialist. In the meantime the dealer called me back and said he would fix it free of charge. Case# 71-783266100 was then closed with dennis at Corp. This is a serious, well documented recurring problem with this car and should be a recall.

- Perrysburg, OH, USA

problem #240

Dec 052009

G6

  • 47,000 miles
I own a 2006 Pontiac G6, on 12/5/09 my power steering warning light came on. I checked on line for defect investigations or recalls for this problem. There was an investigation # PE07023 for the electric steering system. GM was supposed to send out letters to extend the warranty to 70,000 miles or 7 years. My car as 47,000 miles I was wondering if that would be under warranty.

- Panama City, FL, USA

problem #239

Jan 102008

G6

  • 34,500 miles
I have had trouble with my power steering almost 2 years. I have had to the dealer numerous times. They initially replaced the powering steering motor while it was under warranty. I still have problems. I can start my car and the power steering message comes up on my messaging screen and I will not have power steering. This happens some mornings in my garage, at the end of a work day in the parking lot, when I am out of town at conferences, when I pick up my girls from the babysitter, etc. I have given up taking it to the dealership because they tell me there is nothing wrong with it. It is getting really old and I am afraid it will do it one of these days without warning and one of my children, myself or someone else will get hurt. I feel this is a serious safety hazard and after searching on line I have found that GM has been under investigation for this problem however a recall has not been made. I hope this is still under investigation and a recall is made soon. I have had nothing but bad luck with this car. I bought is brand new and had to take it back to the dealer the day after I bought it and drove a program car for one week because of a defect. This should have been a warning.

- Dixon, MO, USA

problem #238

Nov 102009

G6

  • 280,000 miles
I bought a G6 new with 39 miles, it now has 28 thousand miles. Notices serious problems with braking, it shakes and when I try to stop it shutters. My steering is not good either, some days the steering will be nice and smooth and other days hard to turn. I also here a popping noise when I put my foot on gas pedal to drive.. the braking system is of major concern as they all are. My car is only three years old and only 28 thousand miles why has there not been a recall, it seems others out there are having the same problems, so it has to be the car. Before someone dies the government needs to call a mandatory recall, if the dealer won't..or replace our auto's with a safe one..

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #237

Dec 032009

G6

  • 78,858 miles

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

My husband recently bought a Pontiac G6 used last year in September of 2008. The car was running fine till about September 2009, when the car became very difficult to steer. The power steering light never came on, so he assumed that our tires just might of needed some air. We filled our tires up and the problem seem to disappear. I am now the only one driving the car, and today December 3, 2009 the power steering light came on. I do not have difficulty turning, but I fear that I will soon and cause an accident. I tried to replace the power steering fluid only to find that it is electric. I plan to bring my car into a local mechanic tomorrow. In the meantime I did some research online to find that the majority of Pontiac G6 from 2006 have faulty powering steering. Owners have been spending lots of money on repairs that are only a temporary fix. Nothing seems to solve this problem. It is my only vehicle and now I am scared just to drive down the street, in fear of causing or being in an accident.

- Belfast, ME, USA

problem #236

Nov 272009

G6

  • 62,000 miles
The power steering in my 2006 Pontiac G6 GT keeps going out...it goes out every time the car is cranked and driven. It makes a rattling noise and so very hard to turn. I have a 3 month old and can not drive this car like this. Dealership wants to charge me a little over $1000 to parts and labor but I know for a fact there is a recall on 2005 models...and one being worked for 2006...why isn't GM covering this?

- Seffner, FL, USA

problem #235

Jan 022009

G6

  • 40,000 miles
Failure of power steering in my 2006 Pontiac G6.

- Biddeford, ME, USA

problem #234

Nov 282009

G6

  • 32,425 miles
2006 Pontiac G6 power steering locks up. While driving it get hard to steer if I pull over and shut off the car then restart it seems ok. Happens often enough to cause concern for an accident.

- Lawrence, MA, USA

problem #233

May 012009

G6

  • 55,000 miles
I have a 2006 Pontiac G6 with a manufacture date of August 2005. The power steering goes out constantly on this vehicle(daily), regardless of temperature, speed, road conditions, backing-up, moving forward, turning, driving straight. I have found similar complaints (in the thousands) online. I was told that because I had no warranty nothing could be done other than paying a very large repair bill (900-1200). This is a very dangerous problem to have. I am currently financing this car and I think it's awful that they are still selling them. There are so many people who are having a similar issue please help us.

- Bartlett, IL, USA

problem #232

Nov 232009

G6

  • 70,400 miles
Loss of steering assist.

- Perkasie, PA, USA

problem #231

Nov 012009

G6

  • miles
I have a 2006 Pontiac G6 that the steering is locking up. I have read a lot of complaints about this and would like to know why no recall. I got this car for my daughter now im scared to let her drive it.

- Coldwater, MI, USA

problem #230

Nov 192009

G6

  • 62,000 miles
Faulty steering. When your driving it locks up and you have no control of the vehicle. Speed various between time to time when it happens. Has happened on several occasions.

- Cuyahoga Falls , OH, USA

problem #229

Nov 192009

G6

  • 40,236 miles
My 2006 Pontiac G6 GT pulls to the left while I am driving. It has gotten progressively worse over the past year and I feel it is a safety issue. I had it inspected by 2 different auto mechanics, both of whom informed me that there are numerous complaints about this problem. Upon inspecting this car, it was determined that the power steering is engaging by itself and causing the steering to turn left without any driver input at the wheel. I feel that this is something that Pontiac should pay to repair, as it is a safety defect in the vehicle.

- East Brunswick, NJ, USA

problem #228

Sep 052009

G6

  • 32,442 miles
The power steering in my car gives out sporadically when making turns. It happens at least 3 times per week. No repairs have been made as of yet, since I am unable to afford them.

- Greentown, PA, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?