2010 Pontiac G6: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
272 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
96,885 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 243 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 172 of 272 complaints (63.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 175 | 64.3% |
| Braking behavior | 39 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 30 | 11.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 2.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.2% |
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 | 172 |
| Electrical System | 60 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 55 |
| Exterior Lighting | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 19 |
| Air Bags | 18 |
| Power Train | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
Steering: 172; Electrical System: 60; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 55; Exterior Lighting: 32; Service Brakes: 19; Air Bags: 18; Power Train: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 45 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 64 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 67 |
| 150,000 and above | 46 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 64; 100,000 to 149,999: 67; 150,000 and above: 46
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (67). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 40 |
| 2015 | 36 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 39 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2011: 5; 2012: 7; 2013: 28; 2014: 40; 2015: 36; 2016: 24; 2017: 23; 2018: 39; 2019: 38; 2020: 11; 2021: 8; 2022: 7; 2023: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 175 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 30 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10389795 · 2011-03-10 (March 10, 2011)
MY FRONT ROTORS ON MY 2010 PONTIAC G6 KEEP SLIPPING. YA'LL NEED TO MAKE A RECALL FOR THIS. THIS IS MY THIRD AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE FROM GM AND I'M TOTALLY NOT SATISFIED! PISSED OFF!!! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!! AT LEAST HELP THE ONES THAT PURCHASE THE CARS WHILE THE BIG WIGS ARE SITTING IN THERE COMFY BLACK CHAIRS SIPPIN COFFEE! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10389795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408250 · 2011-06-19 (June 19, 2011)
PINS INSIDE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR RIGHT HEADLIGHT CORRODED, MAKING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT INOPERABLE. THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL GREASE INSIDE CONNECTION TO KEEP MOISTURE OUT.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10429552 · 2011-10-12 (October 12, 2011)
ON 9/14/2010 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN OUR 2010 PONTIAC G6 GT IN WHICH SHE TURNED FROM A PRIVATE DRIVE INTO THE PATH OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, IMPACTING OUR CAR IN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FENDER, WHEEL ASSEMBLY, AND DRIVERS DOOR. BOTH AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED IN THE OTHER CAR HOWEVER NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN OUR G6 DEPLOYED. THERE WERE NO LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS OF EITHER VEHICLE WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY COMPLAINT, THE ENTIRE DRIVERS FRONT FENDER ON OUR G6 WAS SMASHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,903 miles reported. Look up ODI 10429552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440128 · 2011-12-16 (December 16, 2011)
I HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE MY VEHICLE AT LEAST 15 TIMES. YESTERDAY BOTH THE DRIVER DOOR AND THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CAR WAS IN PARK, I PRESSED THE UNLOCK BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD HEAR THE DOOR UNLOCK, HOWEVER THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. I HAVE CALLED PONTIAC AND THEY HAVE STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. SO I LOOKED FURTHER INTO THIS BY DOING A GENERAL SEARCH ON GOOGLE AND APPARANTLY THERE ARE HUNDREDS HAVING THIS ISSUE. MY MOTHER AND SISTER BOTH DRIVE A G6 AS WELL AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THEM AS WELL. I WOULD THINK AN …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440157 · 2011-12-16 (December 16, 2011)
I HAVE GOT LOCKED INSIDE MY CAR. I WAS WITH MY FAMILY AT CASEY'S AND I COULD NOT GET OUT OF MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. WE UNLOCKED IT AGAIN AND AGAIN BUT COULD NOT GET THE DOOR TO OPEN. THE OTHER DOORS WORKED FINE. FINALLY MY DAUGHTER HELPED ME OUT OF THE CAR. THIS JUST HAPPENED TO MY SON TOO AND HE TOLD ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT AS WELL. THERE IS ONE OTHER GIRL THAT WE KNOW OF THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. IT WAS VERY SCARY BEING TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR. I WAS JUST GLAD I WASN'T ALONE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456555 · 2012-04-26 (April 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC G-6. WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,303.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,303 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457719 · 2012-05-07 (May 7, 2012)
MY CAR ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES ON THE CRASH THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30,552 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457719 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10458960 · 2012-05-18 (May 18, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458960 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V460000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Reported: 2012-09-18 (September 18, 2012)
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
Consequence: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1-800-521-7300.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V252000 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2014-05-14 (May 14, 2014)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.
Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.
NHTSA campaign record ↗