2009 Pontiac G6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
710 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
85,815 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 588 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 293 of 710 complaints (41.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 296 | 41.7% |
| Braking behavior | 133 | 18.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 93 | 13.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 39 | 5.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 36 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 3.1% |
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 | 293 |
| Exterior Lighting | 174 |
| Electrical System | 173 |
| Service Brakes | 63 |
| Power Train | 45 |
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 36 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 |
Steering: 293; Exterior Lighting: 174; Electrical System: 173; Service Brakes: 63; Power Train: 45; Air Bags: 40; Fuel/Propulsion System: 36; Vehicle Speed Control: 33
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 70 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 128 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 141 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 156 |
| 150,000 and above | 72 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 70; 50,000 to 74,999: 128; 75,000 to 99,999: 141; 100,000 to 149,999: 156; 150,000 and above: 72
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (156). 122 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 33 |
| 2013 | 77 |
| 2014 | 145 |
| 2015 | 110 |
| 2016 | 56 |
| 2017 | 64 |
| 2018 | 56 |
| 2019 | 59 |
| 2020 | 26 |
| 2021 | 22 |
| 2022 | 11 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2009: 2; 2010: 10; 2011: 12; 2012: 33; 2013: 77; 2014: 145; 2015: 110; 2016: 56; 2017: 64; 2018: 56; 2019: 59; 2020: 26; 2021: 22; 2022: 11; 2023: 13; 2024: 7; 2025: 3; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 296 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 133 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 93 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 10362835 · 2010-10-28 (October 28, 2010)
DRIVING MY PONTIAC G6 2009 LEAVING A PARKING SPACE IN SHOPPING CENTER DRIVING DOWN ISLE CAR CAME ACROSS I TRIED TO GET OUT THE WAY AND HIT PARKING LOT LITE POLE. WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT IT FAILED AND I HIT STEERING WHEEL VERY HARD. ENDED UP WITH 3 FRACTURE RIBS AND WHIP LASH OF THE CHEST. DEALER WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY COMPLAINT OF SEAT BELT FAILURE. CALLED GM AND THEY ARE NOT ACTING FAST ENOUGH FOR ME. I'M DRIVING THIS CAR AROUND KNOWING MY SEAT BELT IS NOT WORKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10392755 · 2011-03-24 (March 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FAIL SPORADICALLY AND WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THREADING IN THE STEERING COLUMN TWICE TO NO AVAIL AND THE DEALER NEVER GAVE THE CONTACT A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO ATTEMPTED TO DETECT THE ENGINE NOISE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329329 · 2010-05-07 (May 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES SQUEAKED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TWICE WHERE THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT; THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT IF THEY COULD NOT FIND A MECHANICAL FAILURE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329329 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359209 · 2010-10-05 (October 5, 2010)
I HAVE A NEW 2009 PONTIAC G6 AND THE BRAKES SQUEAK TERRIBLY. MANY MECHANICS HAVE SAID THIS IS DUST CAUSING THIS. I DO NOT AGREE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER VEHICLES AND THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN. PONTIAC SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTING THIS ISSUE. IT IS A TOTAL NUISANCE. HOW DO I KNOW THE BRAKES WILL NOT GO OUT. THEY DID NOT SQUEAK WHEN WE TEST DROVE AS IF IT DID, I WOULD HAVE NEVER MADE THE PURCHASE. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS NEW CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359209 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319114 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)
I WAS ON THE ROAD AND THE ANTI THEFT LOCK SYMBOL APPEARED JUST BEFORE ALL MY DASH GAUGES WENT WACKY. I DIDN'T HAVE SPEEDOMETER AND THEN NO ODOMETER SO I PULLED OFF ROAD AND SHUT OFF CAR BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE COULD HAPPEN. CAR WOULDN'T RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WIRING HARNESS WAS THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS THAT REPAIRED MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR IN AGAIN AFTER FIX BECAUSE REMOTE START INTERRUPTED AND WOULDN'T WORK AND WAS TOLD REMOTE NEEDED A NEW BATTERY EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD 29,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 28,418 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360314 · 2010-10-13 (October 13, 2010)
I OWN A 2009 PONTIAC G6 GT.MY ANTI THEFT SYSTEM KICKED ON WHILE DRIVING. I PARKED MY VEHICLE 5 MINUTES LATER FOR 20 MINUTES AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT WOULDN'T CRANK. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURENCE. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME, BUT LUCKILY I WAS PULLING INTO MY OWN DRIVEWAY. I HAD JUST DRIVEN FROM COLUMBUS,OH. A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER TRYING TO RESET MY SYTEM (BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE) I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER. AS IT TURNS OUT MY NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE HAD BROKEN. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THERE WAS A DEFEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362876 · 2010-10-29 (October 29, 2010)
2009 PONTIAC G6, 2.4L, 6 SPEED AUTO. CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVE. SUDDEN FAILURE OF CRUISE CONTROL. ERRATIC BRAKE LIGHT FUNCTIONING. TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T DEACTIVATE WITH BRAKE APPLICATION. OCCURS DAILY AFTER ABOUT 30+ MINUTES OF DRIVING NO CORRECTIVE ACTION PERFORMED YET. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10362876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10443417 · 2012-01-11 (January 11, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6 GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:09V073000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,315 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,400.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,315 miles reported. Look up ODI 10443417 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466585 · 2012-07-19 (July 19, 2012)
LARGE FUEL LEAK AT REAR OF GAS TANK ABOVE EXHAUST PIPE RESULTING IN AN OVERWHELMING FUEL SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE. DIAGNOSED BY DEALERSHIP AS CRACKED RETURN LINE CONNECTION ON THE FUEL PUMP MODULE. PART WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513338 · 2013-05-23 (May 23, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE GASOLINE FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A FUEL LEAK FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THROUGH THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK ON THE FUEL PRESSURE LINE THAT LED TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000. UPDATED 07/02/13*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607081 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING EITHER ONE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON. THEN THE OPPOSITE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OUT AND THEN COMEBACK ON. THEN SOMETIMES BOTH HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. I'VE HAD PEOPLE FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AT ME THINKING I AM HIGH BEAMING THEM WHEN ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS TURN BACK ON. I ALSO HAD A SPUN BEARING IN THE BOTTOM END OF THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION AND ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I ALSO HAD MY VEHICLE STALL FOR NO REASON AT ALL. HAD MY MECHANIC LOOK AT IT HE CAME…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10615077 · 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE BELT TENSIONER PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10615077 at NHTSA ↗