2006 Pontiac SOLSTICE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
243 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
36,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 178 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 172 of 243 complaints (70.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 6.6% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 5.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 3.3% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 172 |
| Electrical System | 25 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 10 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
Air Bags: 172; Electrical System: 25; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 10; Engine: 7; Power Train: 7; Seats: 7; Power Train:Axle Assembly:Axle Shaft:Seal: 6; Seat Belts: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 68 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 68; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (68). 65 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 12 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 51 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 13; 2007: 6; 2008: 8; 2009: 5; 2010: 10; 2011: 3; 2012: 12; 2013: 10; 2014: 51; 2015: 22; 2016: 34; 2017: 31; 2018: 18; 2019: 6; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10233788 · 2008-07-10 (July 10, 2008)
WHILE ROUTINE DRIVING OF THE CAR A TONE INDICATES AND THE BATTERY/ELECTRICAL LIGHT COMES ON FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. MANUAL INDICATES SERVICE IS REQUIRED. DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, YET IT DOES IT AGAIN AS I DRIVE HOME FROM THE SERVICE CALL, AND AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10588336 · 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V171000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS PERFORMED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE START POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148885 · 2006-01-28 (January 28, 2006)
I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AFTER TRAVELING 65 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. AS I COASTED UP THE EXIT RAMP W/CLUTCH IN AND FOOT OFF THE GAS THE CAR REVVED TO OVER 3000 RPMS. BY THE TIME I STOPPED AT THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RAMP BY USING THE BRAKE THE CAR RETURNED TO IDLE AFTER A SECOND OR TWO. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158573 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JUMP. ONCE GETTING TO THE DESTINATION, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF, UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE JUMPED WHEN IN PUT IN DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE DRIVEN IN. WHILE IN ROUTE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE COMPUTER LISTED THE O CIRCUITS FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERABLE.…
Owner-reported narrative. 23 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158573 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156893 · 2006-05-05 (May 5, 2006)
DIFFERENTIAL LEAK LEADING TO TRANSMISSION WHINE, TRANSMISSION CLUNK AND EVENTUAL FAILURE OF DIFFERENTIAL. GM WILL REPLACE PINION SEAL WHEN THE PERMANENT FIX IS REPLACEMENT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL WITH A REDESIGNED PART. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156893 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274587 · 2009-06-22 (June 22, 2009)
IN MARCH, 2007, MY 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE HAD A CATASTROPHIC CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH ONE SECOND, AND THE NEXT SECOND THE CAR SLOWED TO 30MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO PRIOR ENGINE POWER ISSUE). I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MY DEALER AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 25MPH. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A SERIOUS HIGH SPEED REAR-END COLLISION. PONTIAC HAS SENT A LETTER TO 2006 SOLSTICE OWNERS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO 10 YEARS OR 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10478706 · 2012-10-05 (October 5, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 80 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AS WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10478706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606650 · 2014-06-28 (June 28, 2014)
CAR HAS AN UNBELIEVABLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING MOSTLY FROM 1ST THRU 3RD GEAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER 2 MULTI POINT INSPECTIONS(RESULTS FINE) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM(IT WAS UNDER ITS 30 DAY FRONT TO BACK WARRANTY), WHEN THEY DROVE IT FOR 50FT SAID YES THERE IS A DEFINITE "CLUNKING" NOISE GOING ON AND WE'LL LOOK INTO IT. THEY TOOK IT TO THEIR PONTIAC/GM DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION. THAT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE REAR END AND IT WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER MINE WAS EXCESSIVE SO THEY RE-PLACED THE REAR END/DRIVESHAF…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10641949 · 2014-10-07 (October 7, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO LOCK. ALSO THE DOOR CHIMES FAILED TO ALERT WHEN THE KEY WAS PLACED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E021000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641949 at NHTSA ↗