Is the 2006 Pontiac G6 a bad year?
1,909 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other G6 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2006 Pontiac G6 are in line with other G6 years. Steering, exterior lighting and brakes stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 G6 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 75,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 1,219 (64%) | 50k–116k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 198 (10%) | 53k–110k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 188 (10%) | 42k–116k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 245 (13%) | 50k–126k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 117 (6%) | 41k–121k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 107 (6%) | 65k–129k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 89 (5%) | 58k–132k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 79 (4%) | 43k–134k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 69 (4%) | 58k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 56 (3%) | 29k–109k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Stability control | 31 (2%) | 66k–151k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 27 (1%) | 32k–107k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 23 (1%) | 6k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Equipment | 27 (1%) | 15k–52k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 75,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 1,909 complaints: 90 mention a crash · 11 mention a fire · 48 report an injury · 21 say the car was towed.
10 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I have a Pontiac G6 with 60,000 miles on it. My power steering keeps locking up going down the road and when I go to turn in somewhere my car completely goes dead.
The transmission shifter cable broken on this car. To repair the car, it had to be towed as it was not drivable.
While putting vehicle in gear it jerks very hard. When driving, the vehicle shifts really hard and while driving, the security light comes on and it shuts down.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 75,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 Pontiac G6: 7
In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected steering shafts may have a yoke that inadequately supports the u-joint bearing resulting in a premature failure. A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007… If the transmission shift cable fractures while the vehicle is being driven, the transmission gear selection may not match the indicated gear and the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving. If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The brake lamps may not operate properly because of corrosion in a wiring connector. Corrosion in the connector could cause the brake lamps to illuminate when the brake pedal has not been depressed, or the lamps may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. Brake lamps that are not operating properly may not warn a driver in a following vehicle of the braking status and could lead to a crash without prior warning.
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction. If the passenger sensing system malfunctions, the front air bag on the passenger side may be disabled when it should be enabled, or enabled when it should be disabled.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Pontiac: 233
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 Pontiac G6. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Brake Light Switch/Sensor Malfunction
Brake Light Malfunction
Stop lamp malfunction
Loss of power steering assist
Neighbouring years
2005 G6: 679 complaints, keep it · 2007 G6: 1,232 complaints, keep it.
Every Pontiac G6 year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2014 · All G6 years side by side
Other Pontiac models: Pontiac Aztek · Pontiac Bonneville · Pontiac G5 · Pontiac G8 · Pontiac GTO · Pontiac Grand Am · Pontiac Grand Prix · Pontiac Montana · Pontiac Solstice · Pontiac Sunfire · Pontiac Torrent · Pontiac Vibe. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2006 Pontiac G6 a bad year?
1,909 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other G6 years. At 75,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Pontiac G6?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (1,219), exterior lighting (198), brakes (188), electrical system (245), air bags (117).
How many recalls does the 2006 Pontiac G6 have?
7 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 15V-064), Steering (NHTSA 14E044000), Speed control (NHTSA 14V-252), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 14V-224) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.