2006 Pontiac GRAND PRIX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
239 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
92,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 187 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 239 complaints (24.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 64 | 26.8% |
| Steering behavior | 41 | 17.2% |
| Braking behavior | 33 | 13.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 22 | 9.2% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 59 |
| Power Train | 48 |
| Exterior Lighting | 45 |
| Steering | 36 |
| Engine | 32 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 10 |
Electrical System: 59; Power Train: 48; Exterior Lighting: 45; Steering: 36; Engine: 32; Air Bags: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 13; Service Brakes: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 31 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 37 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 46 |
| 150,000 and above | 39 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 31; 75,000 to 99,999: 37; 100,000 to 149,999: 46; 150,000 and above: 39
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 52 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 | 1 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 50 |
| 2015 | 31 |
| 2016 | 15 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2007: 11; 2008: 18; 2009: 9; 2010: 10; 2011: 18; 2012: 17; 2013: 16; 2014: 50; 2015: 31; 2016: 15; 2017: 13; 2018: 8; 2019: 8; 2020: 6; 2021: 5; 2022: 2; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 64 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 33 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 10145045 · 2005-12-12 (December 12, 2005)
AIR BECOMES TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN GM PI# C3711. THREE GM SERVICE CENTERS WERE UNABLE TO PURGE THE AIR FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM. NM
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183097 · 2007-02-20 (February 20, 2007)
CAR MAKES A GROAN NOISE FROM FRONT END WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189380 · 2007-05-01 (May 1, 2007)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A DEER CROSSING THE ROAD CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AS SHE AVOIDED HITTING THE DEER. ALSO, THE BRAKES FAILED AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER 3 TIMES. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WERE INJURED WITH BROKEN BACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF PHOTOS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190960 · 2007-05-16 (May 16, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE VEHICLE'S TIRES WERE PREMATURELY WORN. AS RESULT, THE TIRE PENETRATED THE STRUT MOUNTS WHEN THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH. THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE RUBBER DEBRIS ON THE STRUT MOUNTS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED SERVICE # 010232001 ON THE SERVICE BULLETIN, NHTSA ITEM # 618086. THE DAMAGED TIRES TREAD DEPTH WAS 1/4 INCH. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,700. THE CONSUMER STATED INFO…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190962 · 2007-05-16 (May 16, 2007)
THIS IS A CUMULATIVE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND FAILURE MODES ARE IDENTICAL TO THE GTO FAILURE CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE07010. MAKE: PONTIAC, MODEL GTO , 2006. COMPONENT : SUSPENSION:FRONT: MCPHERSON STRUT. TIRES:SIDEWALL. DATE INVESTIGATION OPENED : FEBRUARY 16, 2007 AND STILL OPEN. ODI RECEIVED 69 COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A FRONT STRUT TO TIRE INTERFERENCE CONDITION IN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2006 PONTIAC GTO VEHICLES. THE COMPLAINTS INDICATED THAT THE CONDITION CAUSED INNER SIDEWALL WEAR TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190962 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10192003 · 2007-05-30 (May 30, 2007)
MY VEHICLE HAD 32,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. IT SEEMED THAT THE STEERING HAD A GOOD AMOUNT OF PLAY IN IT FOR ONLY BEING A YEAR OLD. MY GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HIT A PARKED CAR. SHE WAS NOT INJURED. SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHY SHE LOST CONTROL AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT. IT LOOKED LIKE THE WHEEL CAME LOOSE FROM THE AXLE. THE DAMAGE COST $3,000 TO FIX. THE STABILIZER BAR AND TIE ROD ENDS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196898 · 2007-07-19 (July 19, 2007)
MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES CAUSING ERROR CODES OF "CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE", "TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE", "STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE". DEALER VERIFIES FAILURES HOWEVER, SINCE THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURES; NO SERVICE IS BEING PERFORMED. TWO FAILURES PREVIOUS AND THIRD OCCURRED THIS DATE. PRIOR SERVICE APPOINTMENT OIL LEAK SERVICE REQUEST RESULTED IN MAIN SEAL FAILURE WHICH WAS REPLACED AS WARRANTY ITEM. ONLY CONSEQUENCES TO DATE HAVE BEEN TIME AND MONETARY LOSS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10196898 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204096 · 2007-09-25 (September 25, 2007)
VEHICLE DRIVEN FOR 60,000 MILES - 95% HIGHWAY MILES. COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE - SLIPPING AND UNABLE TO DRIVE, AND OIL POURING ON GROUND. WALK HOME FAILURE ON HIGHWAY. PONTIAC REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL WEAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204096 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V400000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.
NHTSA campaign record ↗