Is the 2009 Pontiac G6 a bad year?
713 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other G6 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Pontiac G6 are in line with other G6 years. Steering stands 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 2009 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 112,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 296 (42%) | 84k–145k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Fuel system | 46 (6%) | 54k–114k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 40 (6%) | 69k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 29 (4%) | 47k–117k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Stability control | 18 (3%) | 80k–140k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seats | 12 (2%) | 66k–117k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 7 (1%) | 57k–127k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (1%) | 46k–113k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Exterior lightingSTANDS OUT | 190 (27%) | 54k–99k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 178 (25%) | 52k–106k miles · mostly behind | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 76 (11%) | 46k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 46 (6%) | 64k–98k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Speed control | 35 (5%) | 62k–100k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Latches and locks | 9 (1%) | 40k–64k 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 112,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 713 complaints: 26 mention a crash · 20 mention a fire · 18 report an injury · 7 say the car was towed.
9 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I was driving up an incline on I-287 in nj when my rpm's skyrocketed and by car's check engine light came on and my traction control light as flashed.
G6 began to shift gears on its own in the middle of the highway leading to near accidents due to sudden stops or slow downs.
Shift cable tab broke causing car to be stuck in drive. 460000 were recalled but my was not. They said it is because I had a 3SPEED instead of 4SPEED.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 112,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Pontiac G6: 5
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.
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.
On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate. If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match.
These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "Transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft protection and rollaway prevention". The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
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: 338
Repair instructions Pontiac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 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
Diagnostic aid information/procedures to perform inspections to determine if the engine needs to be replaced as opposed to just internal parts for knocking…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Neighbouring years
2008 G6: 1,079 complaints, keep it · 2010 G6: 273 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 2009 Pontiac G6 a bad year?
713 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other G6 years. At 112,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Pontiac G6?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (296), fuel system (46), air bags (40), engine (29), stability control (18).
How many recalls does the 2009 Pontiac G6 have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Steering (NHTSA 14E044000), Speed control (NHTSA 14V-252), Steering (NHTSA 14V-153), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 12V-460) 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.