NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2008 Pontiac G6 (Page 1 of 4)

CarComplaints.com Seal Of This Might Hurt

CarComplaints.com Notes: Unfortunately the 2008 Pontiac G6 continues a serious trend of steering problems from the prior model years.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,468 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.

2008 Pontiac G6 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2008 Pontiac G6 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #76

Feb 052022

G6

  • miles

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

No SE lights on dash. Shudder shifts intermittently between all gears both in automatic and manual driving mode. No shops have been able to diagnose what the actual problem is. Huge safety risk as there is no telling when it will actually happen and -€œstall-€ the car out in traffic when shifting. In searching the internet this is a common problem for 5+ years and there has not been a solution identified by GM.

- Pardeeville, WI, USA

problem #75

Sep 072021

G6

  • miles
The shifter is not going into the correct gear. This year vehicle has had (2) different recalls for this issue.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #74

Jan 222011

G6

  • 102,000 miles
Transmission shifts hard its a automatic, cant drive in snow or when wet it slides front end off road do to shifting.ABS alert stays on all times and has been to shop.

- Elizabethtown, IN, USA

problem #73

Jan 172021

G6

  • 218,005 miles

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

Power steering disengages once vehicle is turned off. Only way to reengage it is to turn car completely off and turn it back on. Sometimes it reengages but occasionally it still remains an issue. If I also lightly pull on the wheel, the steering wheel will vibrate and shake while stopped and driving. My position switch on the transmission also causes the engine to not start every so often as well. I have to shift into neutral sometimes to restart my car.

- Columbus, WI, USA

problem #72

Aug 082020

G6

  • 166,000 miles
My son was driving my car tonight. He called me from his friends house and said that the car was stuck in neutral, car was off, but couldn't remove ignition key. I got there, car was parked in friends driveway, I started the car, was able to move the shifter, even though I couldn't feel it shifting into any gear. I then shifted it into what I "assumed" was park, shut car off, removed key, and car started rolling backwards. I applied the E-brake, but the car kept rolling. I went ahead and rolled it backwards out of the drive since I knew it had to be towed from the front end. I had to back my other car up to it, bumper to bumper to stop it from rolling backwards until the tow truck arrived.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #71

Jun 012019

G6

  • miles
The break lights are always on. They only turn off when I stop which has alomst gotten me rear ended multiple times. The front left headlight cannot be repaired due to imporper wiring and ive had it looked at twice only to not be able to find the problem. Also, when I am driving the car will not go below 3rd and is not properly shifting causing accelerating problems, when driving in general, and am unable to keep a proper amount of gas because its buring through due to this. I have problems when driving, especially on the highway, and the breaks and headlight are always a problem wheter driving or in park. This happens every day!

- Leslie, MI, USA

problem #70

Oct 022019

G6

  • 157,826 miles

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

I filed a report yesterday after my sons car would not accelerate while in drive after he had been stopped at a red light in the turning lane on the city street. He pressed the gas pedal, the engine revved up, but the car wouldn't move forward, only reverse and park. I had it towed to my mechanic and after they pulled my tranny, took off the filter and pan, they found some kind of 4 way metal tube that had broken, and that's what caused the car to not drive forward. I had to have a transmission filter and gasket, they had to drain and replace the fluid, a transmission tube assembly, and new transmission fluid which cost me $602.25. Also, my mechanic said that the transmission shift cable needs to be replaced because it's screwed up. After all the money I spent today, I couldn't afford to get it fixed and I was informed that there was a recall on this issue on my sons car. I just bought this car used from a private seller on July 30, 2019 for my 18 year old son and was not informed of any recalls until yesterday when I happened to look up this car after the problem occurred.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #69

Oct 012019

G6

  • 157,000 miles
My son was driving my car and he was stopped at a red light in the turn lane. He went to press on the gas pedal, the car revved up, but it would not move forward. It was stuck. The car moves when in reverse and that's it. The car wouldn't even drive in low gear. It will not drive while in the drive position. Had to call a tow truck to tow it to the mechanic. I bought this car used in July 2019. Came home and did some research on the car only to find there were 5 recalls.

- Topeka, KS, USA

problem #68

Feb 012019

G6 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the electric power steering warning indicator flashed and the steering wheel seized without warning. In addition, the gear was difficult to change over from park. As a result, the contact had to shut the vehicle off and back on for it to operate properly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was not available.

- Montgomery,, AL, USA

problem #67

Jun 122019

G6

  • 171,000 miles
Gear shift level is constantly breaking. Shift level is said to be in park but the car keeps rolling backwards. Car will not switch to a different gear nor remain parked without emergency brake. When I put my car in reverse and back up, I switched gears to drive and my car continued to go backwards instead.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

problem #66

Apr 102019

G6

  • 163,000 miles

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

My 2008 Pontiac G6 GT is experiencing a failure in the transmission shift cable kit as previously recalled via GM recall #N130036. GM states they have already closed recall and will be in no further assistance with problem. The car is experiencing a failure to shift gears resulting with the car being in reverse even though shift leveler is in park. Shift leveler freely shift from park to drive with transmission engaging.

- Clearwater, FL, USA

problem #65

Jun 102014

G6

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. While driving 35 mph, the battery indicator illuminated, the steering lost power, and the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was restarted after a couple of hours, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to classic Chevrolet (440-953-1070, located at 6877 center St, mentor, oh 44060) where it was repaired per NHTSA campaign numbers: 14V252000 (service brakes, hydraulic, electrical system, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control, electronic stability control), 12V460000 (power train), and 14V153000 (steering). The failure recurred the next morning. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

- Willoughby, OH, USA

problem #64

Nov 232018

G6

  • 100,000 miles
The catalytic converter failed with less than 100,00 miles on the car loss of power in the middle of a 3 lane highway. Almost causing us to be hit from behind. This is a known problem but GM never notified us and now will not cover the repair

- Derry, NH, USA

problem #63

May 092018

G6

  • 144,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. While driving approximately 25 mph, the brakes failed. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was a failure with the gears in the gearshift. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 144,000.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #62

Feb 162018

G6

  • 193,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that the gear shift did not select the correct gear. The contact was able to place the vehicle in drive; however, when selecting park, the vehicle did not respond and remained in the initial selected gear. The contact had to apply the emergency brake and manually shift the vehicle in park from the engine compartment. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 193,000

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #61

Jan 022018

G6

  • 78,000 miles
After the car is started and attempting to put the car in reverse, or any other gear in automatic transmission, the shift lever moves into the positions, but the transmission does not engage and the car remains in a nuetral position and the brake pedal does not allow any movement. With that the car is able to roll forward, or reverse depending on the levelness of the area it is parked in. Once the engine is shut off, the car will not re-start immediately after. The engine tries to start, but won't. after waiting for several minutes, the car will start again and everything works fine again.

- Random Lake, WI, USA

problem #60

Jul 022017

G6

  • 154,000 miles
Pulled 2008 G6 into my driveway. Put it in park, went to exit and it started rolling backwards. My husband applied the breaks and found that the shifter was not doing it's job. We had to pull the emergency brake. This also caused the car to not start. The transmission cable separated.

- Moundsville, WV, USA

problem #59

Apr 062017

G6

  • 113,000 miles
My car rolled backward while in park when being removed from the back of a tow truck. I parked my car and when I return the car wouldn't start. I had it towed and that is when it rolled off the tow truck while the gear shift was in park. I believe for some reason the car was in gear (reverse). The car then start and appears to function without issue. I searched the internet and found 2009 G6 were recalled for a similar issue as well as Saturn aura. These cars use the same components as the 2008 G6. Fortunately my experience had no consequence mainly because I parked my car on level ground. I now consider that this is a serious safety issue and I will not use the car until I have someone inspect the car.

- Mandeville, LA, USA

problem #58

Oct 272016

G6

  • 91,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. While the vehicle was parked with the emergency brake applied, the vehicle rolled away and crashed into a tree stump. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the gear shifter was replaced five times; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #57

Aug 082016

G6

  • 97,000 miles
We are having trouble getting the key out of the ignition. I done some research and there is potentially an issue with the shift cable. Of the car is not in park when shut off then the key will not come out. Unfortunately the potential.issue with the shift cable is it may look.like the car is in park but may not be. Leading to the car possibly rolling away and cause damage or injury. I have had many issues with this car and recalls fixed.this needs to be another recall for these cars.

- Northampton, PA, USA

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