This service bulletin provides a vibration analysis worksheet the technician can use in conjunction with the appropriate Vibration Analysis-Road testing procedure when diagnosing vibration concerns.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Pontiac G6 steering problems
critical Owners of the 2006 Pontiac G6 have filed 1,218 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 75,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
1,218
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 G6 | 456 |
| 2006 G6 (this page) | 1,218 |
| 2007 G6 | 539 |
| 2008 G6 | 417 |
| 2009 G6 | 293 |
| 2010 G6 | 173 |
58crashes
4fires
35injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 1,218 steering complaints filed for the 2006 Pontiac G6, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 14 mileage-bearing steering complaints filed against the 2006 Pontiac G6 by each odometer reading. Median failure: 95,000 mi.
10% have failed by40,000 mi
Half the fleet by95,000 mi
90% have failed by168,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of Pontiac G6 we track for steering problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 1,218.
Steering accounts for 64% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to eliminate a power steering noise due to extremely low temperatures.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This preliminary information bulletin provides information for diagnosing a power steering fluid leak at the fluid reservoir.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician the steps needed to diagnose and repair the vehicles that may have unwanted or phantom phone calls. Technician will need to determine what type of call the customer is having that is unwanted. The vehicle may receive an incoming call just like any other phone. Typically the customer will hear the phone ringing in the vehicle. This scenario also includes incoming Bluetooth calls. One type of unwanted call can be made if the key pad is faulty the OnStar system will try to make a blue button call for shorted voltage in the circuits. The OnStar module could have an internal fault and produce a ″Phone Unavaila
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Electric Power Steering Assist
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac g6. When attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle could not be driven unless it was restarted. The contact notified pitre Buick GMC (9737 eagle ranch rd nw, albuquerque, nm 87114). The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 168,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac g6. The contact stated that the steering wheel became loose, made an abnormal loud noise and vibrated. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign id number: 14v153000 (steering) but the part was not available. In addition, the contact felt that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair for NHTSA campaign id numbers: 14v224000…
Failure of power steering in Pontiac g6 indicated by "power steering" sensor. Intermediate shaft and the power steering light sensor needs to be replaced. Repair being done at sudbay motors, gloucester, ma. Friends owning the same model & year had same problem and repair completed this year under warranty, my car is over the miles limit for warranty. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac g6. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized without warning. The vehicle was restarted and was able to operate as normal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac g6. While parking the vehicle and driving between 2 and 5 MPH the power steering failed. She stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn and that it began to shake. The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer for the failure. The failure was constant and was on going for the last three to four months. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was…
Steering wheel started shaking badly in my hands making it difficult to maintain direction. Took it in to dealer and he replaced the power steering motor. Car had slightly more than 29,000 miles on it. Cost of repair: just over $500. *tr
I completely lost steering in my vehicle..I was with my 16 month old son and my steering wheel went completely loose, then it would tighten up so tight, it would take all of my strength to turn the wheel. I was going around 20 MPH at the time of the second incident. If this would have happened on the interstate, we would have both been killed. This happened around 4 weeks before while trying to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac g6. The contact stated that while at a stop light and the light turning green, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver then seized as the power steering warning light illuminated. The contact coasted to the side of the waited a few minutes and was able to drive to her resident. The vehicle was later taken to steve moore Chevrolet dealer, located at 9325…
My car had a previous recall of power steering problems, and that recall was supposedly fixed in early 2014. I purchased the car in october 2015, now a little later than a year, I have the exact problems of the recall. Which is "your vehicle equipped with eps may experience a sudden loss of power steering assist that could occur at any time while driving. If the power steering assist is lost, a…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Pontiac g6. The contact stated that great effort was required to steer the vehicle at low speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the torque sensor and the u-joint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 14v153000 (steering) and 14e044000…
Had steering trouble with your 2006 Pontiac G6?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2006 Pontiac G6?
It's a serious issue. 1218 complaints have been filed, including 58 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 1020 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 50,000 and 117,000 miles, with the median around 75,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 117,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Pontiac/G6.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.