2006 Pontiac G6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1,910 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,583 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,163 of 1,910 complaints (60.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1,220 | 63.9% |
| Braking behavior | 368 | 19.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 153 | 8.0% |
| Engine operation | 88 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 80 | 4.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 73 | 3.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 1163 |
| Electrical System | 231 |
| Exterior Lighting | 156 |
| Service Brakes | 116 |
| Air Bags | 92 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 76 |
| Power Train | 66 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 62 |
Steering: 1,163; Electrical System: 231; Exterior Lighting: 156; Service Brakes: 116; Air Bags: 92; Fuel/Propulsion System: 76; Power Train: 66; Vehicle Speed Control: 62
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 155 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 265 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 364 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 275 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 346 |
| 150,000 and above | 178 |
Under 25,000: 155; 25,000 to 49,999: 265; 50,000 to 74,999: 364; 75,000 to 99,999: 275; 100,000 to 149,999: 346; 150,000 and above: 178
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (364). 327 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 29 |
| 2007 | 65 |
| 2008 | 127 |
| 2009 | 226 |
| 2010 | 294 |
| 2011 | 150 |
| 2012 | 110 |
| 2013 | 144 |
| 2014 | 259 |
| 2015 | 106 |
| 2016 | 71 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2018 | 72 |
| 2019 | 52 |
| 2020 | 38 |
| 2021 | 29 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2005: 2; 2006: 29; 2007: 65; 2008: 127; 2009: 226; 2010: 294; 2011: 150; 2012: 110; 2013: 144; 2014: 259; 2015: 106; 2016: 71; 2017: 73; 2018: 72; 2019: 52; 2020: 38; 2021: 29; 2022: 13; 2023: 18; 2024: 12; 2025: 12; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1,220 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 368 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 153 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10150375 · 2006-02-15 (February 15, 2006)
2006 PONTIAC G6 GTP RENTAL CAR WITH APPROX 2,200 MILES DRIVING 25-35 MPH FOR APPROX 30 MIN., LOST POWER STEERING. PULLED OFF ROAD, SMOKE FROM GRILLE, OPENED HOOD TO FIND FIRE BETWEEN FIRE WALL AND ENGINE. DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING, I PRESUME POWER STEERING CONNECTION BROKE OR HOSE SPLIT SENDING FLUID ON HOT ENGINE CAUSING FIRE. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BEFORE IT GOT BIG BY PASSERBY'S SODA. CAR WAS STILL DRIVABLE (ENGINE HAD COOLED - FIRE OUT), BUT HAD RENTAL COMPANY PICK IT UP JUST IN CASE THE FLUID HAD NOT EVAPORATED/BURNED OFF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163118 · 2006-07-21 (July 21, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DASHBOARD WARNING FOR STEERING ILLUMINATED AND WAS AUDIBLE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE STEERING FAILED . THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE COMPUTER HAS BEEN RESET THREE TIMES. THESE EFFORTS HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. FOR THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT, THE STEERING SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,453 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170874 · 2006-10-15 (October 15, 2006)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 PONTIAC G6 IN JAN 06, AT 3000 MILES THE CAR WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER WITH LOW COOLANT, IT'S BEEN IN THE 2 TIMES SINCE AND IS GOING BACK FOR THE SAME REASON 10/16/06. TOTAL THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE CENTER 7 TIMES INCLUDING THIS TRIP. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME FOR COOLANT LEAK. 1 FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE, 1 FOR A PINCHED BRAKE LINE, AND 1 TO REPAIR ITEMS THE SERVICE CENTER LEFT UNDONE. 7 TIMES IN THE SERVICE CENTER IN 9 MONTHS, WOW SOUNDS AS IF SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG HUH? I HAVE CONTACTED THE GM 8…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186123 · 2007-03-25 (March 25, 2007)
BRAKE LIGHTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY! BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WAS ON ALL THE TIME OR FLICKERED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT BY PUTTING ME IN ALT TRANSPORTAION ,BUT SEEMED THE PROBLEM ONLY EXISTED WITH ME FOR THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WHILE IN THEIR POSSESION, BUT WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR THE PROBLEM WAS AGAIN THERE. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, ABS MODULE, AND REPROGRAMMED THE BCM. BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. VERY DANGEROUS, NO ONE COULD TELL WHEN STOPPING ,SLOWING OR GOING OR JUST RIDING THE BRAKES. …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,052 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145446 · 2005-12-16 (December 16, 2005)
VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, WOULD NOT START, WOULD NOT STEER TO SAFETY. EXTENSIVE SMOKING, BURNT SMELL. VEHICLE WAS WIRED INCORRECTLY WHICH CAUSED A FUSE TO BLOW. INSULATION TO THE A/C DESTROYED AND STARTER BLEW. NEW WIRES ROUTED CORRECTLY, NEW FUSE AND NEW STARTER. PLEASE NOTE I WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IF BY CHANCE I WAS ON A BUSY STREET, IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC, MY G6 WAS THE SECOND IN TWO DAYS WITH THE INCORRECT WIRING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145446 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156114 · 2006-04-26 (April 26, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF SEVERAL DAYS, BUT AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION, THERE WAS THE STRONG ODOR OF SOMETHING BURNING. FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED GRAYISH BLACK SMOKE ERUPTING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE NEAR THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT PULLED UP THE PANEL WHICH REVEALED NO OBVIOUS FIRE, BUT MORE SMOKE. AFTER THE REMOVAL OF FOAM INSULATION BLOCK FROM THE CONSOLE, FLAMES WERE VISIBLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE EMERGENCY OPERATOR INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO THE TURN OFF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,253 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188851 · 2007-04-25 (April 25, 2007)
SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE 2006 G6 THAT WE PURCHASED IN 2005. WE HAVE HAD THE ENTIRE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY REPLACED, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE A TRANSMISSION ISSUE, THE PASSING GEAR ON THE CAR DOES NOT KICK IN. WE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER A 2ND TIME ON 04/23/2007 BECAUSE WHEN WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND THE CAR DIDN'T KICK INTO THE PASSING GEAR AT 60 MILES AN HOUR AND WHEN IT DID THE CAR DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MILES AN HOUR AND JERKED AND FINALLY ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER IT WENT BACK TO A NORMAL SPEED BUT STILL WOULD ACCEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188851 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151085 · 2006-02-24 (February 24, 2006)
GRINDING NOISE WHEN CHANGING GEARS ON 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. CLICKING OR POPPING NOISES FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF OF GAS. TRANSMISSION HAS A VERY POOR FEEL GENERALLY AND GENERALLY FEELS DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. GRINDING IS MORE APPARENT WITH LOW SPEED SHIFTS OR WHEN TURNING. THE SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT THE FOG LIGHT BUTTON AND THE SEAT HEATER SWITCH GET NOTICEABLY HOT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE LIGHTS ON. THE THIRD COMPLAINT IS THAT THE DASH LIGHTS DO NOT GO ON WHEN YOU PUT THE LIGHTS ON MANUALLY DURING THE DAY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151759 · 2006-03-04 (March 4, 2006)
F40 (GTP COUPE G6) 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION 2ND AND 3RD GEARS ARE VERY HARSH TO SHIFT, SOME GRINDING. EVEN WORST UNDER SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURE. CANNOT SHIFT BACK TO 1ST GEAR IF FREEZING UNTIL OIL IS WARM.. MAKE THE CAR DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT VERY LOW SPEED AND UNDER SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. HAVE TO GO TO COMPLETE STOP WHEN TRAFFIC STILL MOVING SO TO GET 1ST GEAR IN. GM HAS A REPLACEMENT PROGRAM BUT REFUSES TO APPLY IT TO MY CASE. DEALER CHANGED FAULTY LINKAGE CABLE AND TRIED TO ADJUST SHIFTER 6 TIMES WITH NO RESULTS. GM'S DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGERS, DEALER…
Owner-reported narrative. 14 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199871 · 2007-08-16 (August 16, 2007)
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, STAYED ON, RAN ROUGH-TOOK IT TO THE DEALER (27,245 MI) & THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. THEY SAID IT WAS A SENSOR BUT IT WAS BETTER TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MODULE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249146 · 2008-11-18 (November 18, 2008)
I HAVE TWO COMPLAINTS. I HAVE A 2006 PONTIAC G6. IT HAS 107,000 MILES, THEY ARE ALL HIGHWAY MILES. MY FUEL TANK RECENTLY STARTED LEAKING ALOT OF GAS. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I COULD HAVE CAUSED AND THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE PART. I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE MY CAR CAN CATCH ON FIRE. THE SECOND IS THE POWER STEERING HAS BEEN BAD SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, THEY JUST KEEP TELLING ME THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED? THE POWER STEERING JUST LOCKS UP SOMETIMES AND I HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249146 at NHTSA ↗