NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 5 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 5 of 57)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1047

Apr 222019

G6

  • 155,000 miles

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

My 2006 Pontiac G6 has been giving my wife issues while she is driving. At random times, the power steering goes out, ABS sensor comes on, and the lights inside and outside the car start to dim. This has caused her to nearly have an accident and is unsafe for the road. I replaced the battery and the alternator because it seemed like a power issue, but there was more behind the issue. Whenever I called my GM dealer, they told me there was an extended warranty on the vehicle and they would replace the torque sensors in the power steering system if the vehicle was under 150,000 miles. Since I was never notified by GM of this extended warranty issue and had to call them directly to find out there was an issue, my vehicle has 155,000 miles on it and they will not fix it.

- North Vernon, IN, USA

problem #1046

Aug 012018

G6

  • 116,000 miles
Takata recall, the power steering light keeps flashing on and off when I hit a bump. The steering has not gone out yet but it flashes all the time. I have noticed recalls for this on other 06 Pontiac G6 but not for my VIN. This has been happening for a few months.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #1045

Dec 302017

G6

  • 170,000 miles
I was driving one day, and I went to make a right turn and all of a sudden the steering wheel locked up and the power steering displayed on the dash. It has been happening since and mechanics don't want to work on it because of the area it's in. It's been going on for almost 1yr, and it's really annoying and tiring.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #1044

Jan 012018

G6

  • 80,000 miles

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

Power steering shuts on and off computer on car shows power steering code code for the power steering torque sensor is gone bad car will have no power steering for long periods of time shimmys on freeway while driving from power steering moving different directions mechanic looked it over and torque sensor code is coming up code CO545

- Struthers, OH, USA

problem #1043

Mar 182019

G6

  • 141,000 miles
Takata recall power steering warning comes on. Steering wheel locks up while driving down the road. Hard to steer car. Must shut car completely off and restart to loosen the wheel. Do not work all the time.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #1042

Mar 202019

G6

  • 2 miles
I've contacted GM regarding the issue I'm having with my vehicle, I'm having problems with my power steering. My vehicle wheel becomes hards to turn when reversing car. This is the second time this happened, I've been told my eps is bad. I took my car to a GM dealership in 2014 after receiving notice about torque recall on the power steering. I'm having problems with my power steering, I was told the part that was replaced in 2014 has expired. I don't understand that due to the recall being fixed and now having defaults. I'm concerned for my safety.

- Westchester, IL, USA

problem #1041

Feb 252019

G6

  • 158,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving low speeds or while the vehicle was stationary with the brake pedal depressed, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the failure occurred periodically. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 158,000.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1040

Mar 022019

G6

  • miles
My power steering kept freezing while driving until it finely just quit. Luckily I was parked when it finely went out.

- Columbus, IN, USA

problem #1039

Feb 232019

G6

  • miles
Takata recall my power steering light is on and it is very hard to turn wheel. Seen that there was a recall on my car a few years back in regards to steering issues. Need help please

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #1038

Feb 282019

G6

  • 90,000 miles
Power steering failure while driving nearing causing me to wreck into oncoming traffic while turning left on a busy state route in downtown columbus

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #1037

Feb 222019

G6

  • 134,000 miles

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

In 2014 I recieved a recall on my Pontiac G6 2006 to inform me of a faulty power steering. So I took my car to a GM dealership to get the recall fixed. At that time I wasn't experiencing any problems with my power steering. Now it's been 5 years later my car power steering is locking up and the steering wheel jerks while driving as well as, while in park. I'm getting the run around from GM my car is needed for working and school but. I'm afraid to drive it due to the fear thr car may lock up on me again. Feb 22, 2019 whild pulling out of a parking space my vehicle lost power to the steering wheel making it difficult to turn the wheel. Thankfully no other cars where coming, I was able to pull out. I turned the car off and back on... I prayed the while time while driving home with my 7 year old son in the back seat.

- Westchester, IL, USA

problem #1036

Feb 062019

G6

  • 119,444 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact powered off and restarted the vehicle, but the failure recurred numerous times. The contact called wentworth motors Chevrolet at (139 franklin St, dansville, NY 14437, (585) 204-0905) and was informed to schedule a diagnostic appointment. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer due to the diagnostic and repair fees. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,444.

- Dansville, NY, USA

problem #1035

Feb 202019

G6

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 25 mph, the steering ability seized. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road before driving home. The vehicle was later driven to glockner of ironton (911 S 3rd street, ironton, oh 45638) where it was diagnosed that the power steering failed and needed replacement. The contact also stated that the vehicle was previously repaired in 2014 for the same failure. The manufacturer was notified of the recurrence. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Ironton, OH, USA

problem #1034

Feb 162019

G6

  • miles
Electric power steering assist works intermittently. Car was manufactured 22 days prior to April 18, 2006 manufacture date for G6's covered under recall number 15V064000. Sometimes won't work at engine start-up, then begins working; sometimes stops working while vehicle is in motion. Unpredictable but power steering warning light comes on every time it occurs. Has been recurring for several months. Date specification below does not apply so I entered the last date of occurrence.

- Belvidere, IL, USA

problem #1033

Jan 032019

G6

  • 169,000 miles
The light power steering is on. The steering wheel is hard to turn. I believe it is the electric power steering assist motor that is causing the problem making it difficult to drive, I'm afraid it will cause an accident or worse. My car was parked and when I tried to drive off from my drive way that's when I noticed the problem and my car has been parked since then. I had taken it last year to a shop in las cruces to fix 3 recalls that my car had. That is why I'm wondering whats going on with my car.

- Lordsburg, NM, USA

problem #1032

Feb 102019

G6 6-cyl Diesel

  • 173,080 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 55 mph, the power steering suddenly malfunctioned and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn in either direction. During the failure, the message "power steering" displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (hubbard Chevrolet, 2635 North main St, hubbard, oh) where it was diagnosed that the steering torque sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact indicated that the vehicle was serviced in 2015 per NHTSA campaign number: 15V064000 (steering) for the same failure. The manufacturer was notified, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 173,080.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #1031

Jan 312019

G6

  • 220,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel seized and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and was able to drive normally, but the failure recurred three times while driving down the road. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 220,000.

- Van Buren, AR, USA

problem #1030

Jan 292019

G6

  • 190,023 miles
A sudden loss of power steering occurs during operation (that significantly increases the muscle strength needed to turn the steering wheel. This loss of power steering occurs in both high and low speeds and sometimes occurs during low speed turns.

- Lanham, MD, USA

problem #1029

Jan 232019

G6

  • 260,000 miles
Was driving on the highway and my steering wheel locked up on me! I was terrified! I could hardly move the car to pull over. If you turn the car off it usually helps but it happens again. Also, when car is in idle the steering wheel shakes.

- Amherst, VA, USA

problem #1028

Oct 052018

G6

  • 170,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the electric power steering warning indicator illuminated. The steering wheel veered to the right and the contact had to apply force to the steering wheel to ensure that the steering wheel was corrected each time the failure occurred. The dealer (arnold-baker Chevrolet, 619 S Washington St, magnolia, ar 71753, (870) 626-4057) diagnosed that the power steering assist module needed to be replaced. The dealer stated that the vehicle exhibited the same symptoms as listed in manufacturer recall number: 14772; however, the vehicle was not included. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the power steering pump needed to be replaced. The contact was unsure if the failure was related to manufacturer power steering recall numbers: N140115 and 14772. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

- Waldo, AR, USA

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