NHTSA — Steering Problems

2006 Pontiac G6 (Page 6 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 6 of 57)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #1027

Dec 282018

G6 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While the vehicle was at a stop light, the contact heard three ding chimes and the steering wheel seized. The steering wheel became difficult to steer. In addition, while driving and while idling, the vehicle independently moved left to right. The contact coasted the vehicle over to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and the chime sound recurred. The vehicle was driven to a friend's residence and later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called dave hallman Chevrolet at (814) 452-6731 (located at 1925 state St, erie, pa 16501) and was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000...

- Arie, PA, USA

problem #1026

Dec 222018

G6

  • 209,000 miles
Electric power steering in car is becoming faulty and unstable. When left in an idle position, steering wheel will shake terribly, either the whole ride or until it locks up, at which point power steering is lost and becomes hard to turn. I could be just turning the car on, sitting idly, or in the middle of driving and the power steering will do this. I have to restart the car while turning wheel to the left to try and "fix" the issue temporarily, and that's not even guaranteed, it's iffy.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #1025

Dec 162018

G6

  • 150,000 miles
Steering wheel locks up. I have to turn the car off, take the key out and put it back in turn it on to get it to unlock. Sometimes it will unlock the first try other times it takes two or three times. Also the steering wheel will move back and forth on its own while idling.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #1024

Dec 212018

G6

  • miles

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

My car was fine driving to a friend's house and when I went to leave after 2.5 hours of being there, a message on my dash came up saying my power steering was at fault. Now it is coming back on and going out again while driving. Apparently, my specific car is not part of the recall for this issue. I feel as though another recall should be opened for this because it appears I am not the only person with this car still having this issue.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #1023

Dec 192018

G6

  • 193,000 miles
I lost my power steering GM recall number 14772 which is the same that I got serviced a while back. I feel this should be another recall due to many other people having the same issue as me. I feel that the new part is just as faulty.

- Arkport, NY, USA

problem #1022

Dec 132018

G6

  • 126,000 miles
While driving home from a shopping trip on a major highway, my power steering went out and a light flashed on the dashboard indicating my power steering was at fault. I was driving around 45 mph and had difficulty steering. I slowed down and pulled off the road to check what happened. It then occurred to me that this was electronic steering and not hydraulic. I was able to get home with out any additional issues.

- Clinton Twp., MI, USA

problem #1021

Dec 132018

G6

  • 126,000 miles

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

While driving back home from shopping, my power steering fault light came on and my power steering went out. I had steering, but it was very difficult to steer. I was moving and on a highway.

- Clinton Twp., MI, USA

problem #1020

Dec 012018

G6

  • 135,600 miles
Power steering is going in and out during driving

- Sicklerville, NJ, USA

problem #1019

Oct 292018

G6

  • 160,000 miles
I am writing about our 2006 Pontiac G6. It had already had the recall (#14772-electric power steering) work completed in 2016 when we experienced some steering issues. On October 29, 2018, the very same part that had been replaced in the recall failed again, pulling my husband into oncoming traffic as he was returning home from work. Fortunately, he avoided causing an accident. We have talked with two different dealerships, the one that did the original recall repair, and one we trusted to better deal with the issue, and also with GM, who I first tagged in a tweet, then through messaging on twitter. They opened case #8-4778293416. I had some medical work done recently, so the work has had to be put off longer than we prefer, but once we took the car to dinsdale Chevrolet in grand island, Nebraska, it was determined that the very same part that was replaced per the recall was what needed to be replaced again, and it will cost us $715 to get the repair. We have researched online, and learned that many people have also had the recall done properly, and had the part fail again, only to learn that GM will not honor the recall a second time. Now, if this is a known problem that required a recall, but the 'fix' is only temporary, they are not really 'fixing' the problem, are they? that's like more of a bandage, not a repair, if you ask me, and every other person who has been placed into a potentially highly dangerous situation. It would be interesting to find out whether people have lost their lives as a result of this 'temporary' repair. I'm angry that GM is making a conscious choice to not honor this recall repair, and I feel they should be held accountable for a failure of one of their parts, especially since it was already found to have a defect. I am attaching the service order for the first recall work that was done. I can provide the tweet messages if requested.

- Kearney, NE, USA

problem #1018

Dec 012018

G6

  • 180,000 miles
While driving on the highway, my sensor came across the radio and stated 'power steering'. when I put my foot on the gas and began to turn the car, the steering wheel was very stiff as if it was locked. My steering was unable to lock, therefore my car had to be towed home because it wasn't drivable.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #1017

Nov 162018

G6

  • 129,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving 40 mph, the steering ability malfunctioned. The contact was able to drive to work, but the failure recurred on her way home. The dealer (J.D. byrider, 575 sagamore pkwy S, lafayette, in 47905, (765) 449-8200) scheduled a diagnostic appointment for next week. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 129,000.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #1016

Nov 122018

G6

  • 128,000 miles
Sudden loss of power steering while driving on a city street. There is a recall for this issue when I checked my VIN online it was not apart of the recall.

- Hamilton, OH, USA

problem #1015

Sep 282018

G6

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving 60 mph, the power steering failed without warning and the vehicle became very difficult to maneuver. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the electric power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V064000 (steering). Union park Buick GMC (located at 1704 Pennsylvania ave, wilmington, de 19806, (302) 658-7245) and the manufacturer were notified. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #1014

Nov 232018

G6

  • 173,000 miles
Electronic power steering pump is going out. When backing out from a parked position the steering is tight. Randomly while driving on the highway the steering is so loose that I can hardly control the vehicle.

- Neillsville, WI, USA

problem #1013

Oct 222018

G6

  • 72,000 miles
I was driving on my way to work this morning, and all of a sudden it was becoming impossible to turn my steering wheel. The mechanic hooked it up to the machine and told me that it has a bad sensor which is located in the steering column.

- Federalsburg, MD, USA

problem #1012

Sep 302018

G6

  • 150,000 miles
Power steering went out

- Wets Covina, CA, USA

problem #1011

Apr 112017

G6

  • 193,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While driving 55 mph, the steering wheel shook uncontrollably. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and turned off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and able to drive normally; however, sometimes the failure would persist. The contact also stated that the engine warning indicator remained illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 193,000.

- Buffalo Junction, VA, USA

problem #1010

Jul 232018

G6

  • 100,000 miles
Driving down the road the power steering error came on the radio screen. At this point I can't drive because the power steering won't allow the wheel to turn and constantly shakes

- Valdosta, GA, USA

problem #1009

Jul 172018

G6

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. While reversing from a parking space, the vehicle lost steering ability and the power steering warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who determined that the power steering module failed and needed replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

problem #1008

Jul 062018

G6

  • miles
My transmission is going on me, ive had several occasions where I went to shift into reverse waited almost a minute for it to shift pressed the gas & it wouldn't go anywhere then it kicked real hard. Took it to a shop & they told me that it's failing I'm afraid I'm going to take a chance & get into an accident or have my car rollaway when it's parked. Another issue I have is with my steering, took it to the same shop for a left control arm & they told me the reason for the cracking when I turn the wheel is that I need a U joint. Again I'm afraid I'm going to get into an accident with these issues I have with this car.

- Daisytown, PA, USA

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