Pontiac G6 2005–2010
1st generation (only generation) · GM Epsilon (GM6)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20268,443 complaints, 6,886 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 51,054 and 120,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 171 complaints (2.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 28,000
- 25%
- 51,054
- Median
- 80,145
- 75%
- 120,000
- 90%
- 155,867
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 218 | 3.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 79 | 1.1% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 92 | 1.3% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 86 | 1.2% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 120 | 1.7% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 134 | 1.9% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 194 | 2.8% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 201 | 2.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 225 | 3.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 226 | 3.3% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 288 | 4.2% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 276 | 4.0% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 320 | 4.6% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 243 | 3.5% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 300 | 4.4% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 290 | 4.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 326 | 4.7% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 266 | 3.9% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 256 | 3.7% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 235 | 3.4% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 269 | 3.9% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 166 | 2.4% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 196 | 2.8% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 156 | 2.3% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 202 | 2.9% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 145 | 2.1% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 153 | 2.2% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 146 | 2.1% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 136 | 2.0% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 105 | 1.5% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 120 | 1.7% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 91 | 1.3% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 93 | 1.4% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 60 | 0.9% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 77 | 1.1% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 60 | 0.9% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 61 | 0.9% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 24 | 0.3% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 54 | 0.8% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 26 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 171 | 2.5% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 8,443 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005–2010 Pontiac G6, and 6,886 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 51,054 and 120,000 miles. The median is 80,145 miles.
The most-reported areas are the steering (37.1% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles), the electrical system (11.8% of complaints, typically around 81,000 miles), the exterior lighting (11.6% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles).
5 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Steering86,000median 86,409 miles, middle half 53,000 to 129,000
- Electrical system81,000median 81,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 117,000
- Exterior lighting75,000median 75,000 miles, middle half 53,000 to 101,000
- Brakes80,000median 80,370 miles, middle half 60,000 to 116,000
- Airbag system85,000median 85,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 120,000
- Transmission and driveline90,000median 90,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 125,000
- Throttle and speed control76,000median 75,774 miles, middle half 55,000 to 100,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 3,129 | 37.1% | 86,000 | 53,000–129,000 |
| Electrical system | 998 | 11.8% | 81,000 | 55,000–117,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 980 | 11.6% | 75,000 | 53,000–101,000 |
| Brakes | 510 | 6.0% | 80,000 | 60,000–116,000 |
| Airbag system | 411 | 4.9% | 85,000 | 48,000–120,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 383 | 4.5% | 90,000 | 60,000–125,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 277 | 3.3% | 76,000 | 55,000–100,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 273 | 3.2% | 94,000 | 69,000–128,000 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 193 | 2.3% | 100,000 | 75,000–146,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 185 | 2.2% | 37,000 | 20,000–70,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 80,145 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The steering accounts for 37.1% of complaints (3,129 reports, 2,638 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,409 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 129,000 miles.
A single system taking 37.1% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The electrical system accounts for 11.8% of complaints (998 reports, 768 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 81,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 117,054 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 11.6% of complaints (980 reports, 814 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 75,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 53,000 and 101,000 miles.
The brakes account for 6.0% of complaints (510 reports, 411 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,370 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 116,500 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 4.9% of complaints (411 reports, 323 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 85,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,500 and 120,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 4.5% of complaints (383 reports, 313 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 124,689 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2006 model year drew the most — 2,602 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 432. The median year sits at 1,326.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 5 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the steering (2), the transmission and driveline (2), electronic stability control (esc) (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 8,443 complaints filed against this generation, 381 reported a crash; 111 reported a fire; 247 reported an injury; 10 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 4.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 51,054 and 120,000 miles, with a median of 80,145. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the steering and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 81,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Steering (electric Power Assist) 2005–2009 (15V–064 expansion covers 2006–2007 units built Apr–Jun 2006)
Sudden loss of electric power steering assist while driving, caused by a fault in the EPS torque sensor assembly; steering reverts to unassisted manual effort, worst at low speed. Remedy was replacement of the torque sensor assembly. NHTSA campaign 14V-153; expanded by 15V-064 for a further build window.
Electrical / Body Control Module 2005–2010
Increased electrical resistance at the Body Control Module connection produces voltage fluctuations that can disable brake lamps, cruise control, traction control/StabiliTrak and other crash-avoidance functions. NHTSA campaign 14V-252.
Transmission Shift Cable 2008–2010
The tabs on the automatic transmission shift cable end can fracture and separate, so the shifter position no longer matches the gear actually engaged — the car can be shifted to PARK and the key removed while the transmission is still in gear, allowing rollaway. NHTSA campaign 12V-460.
Transmission Shift Cable Adjustment Clip 2009
Shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully seated, producing a mismatch between indicated and actual gear position. NHTSA campaign 09V-073.
Engine (2.4l Ecotec Le5) 2007–2010
Timing chain wear/stretch producing cold-start rattle and cam/crank correlation codes, and elevated oil consumption; aggravated by extended oil change intervals.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 932 | 767 |
| 2006 | 2,602 | 2,109 |
| 2007 | 1,825 | 1,472 |
| 2008 | 1,608 | 1,295 |
| 2009 | 1,044 | 851 |
| 2010 | 432 | 392 |
Recalls (5)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 15V064000 | 2015-02-24 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 14V252000 | 2014-08-18 | Electronic Stability Control (esc) |
| 14V153000 | 2014-07-17 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 14V224000 | 2014-06-27 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever and Linkage:floor Shift |
| 12V460000 | 2013-01-01 | Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl) |
What owners reported
I own a Pontiac g6 and have power steering problems. I found your sight on g6 owners club forum. Many of the owners have the same problem and GMC won't do anything about it. The power steering keeps locking up and the light stays on. I've taken my car to the local dealership and they said they fixed it but the…
2005 · 10 miles · Steering
The steering on my car went out as i was going to turn on a busy street. Luckily i was barely picking up speed. But if this had not been the case i could have easily hit two people that were standing on the corner or even traffic light post. There was no warning at all. Except the beeping and then the steering…
2005 · 15 miles · Steering
I already fixed my front suspension three times already. It seems that this a factory defect. I never had an issue with this so many times in any previous vehicle. I have been left stranded for this reason. I also have issue with the electronic power steering for this vehicle. It gets really hard making it dangerous…
2005 · 20 miles · Steering
Open rear window or windows at speed of 40 MPH and above creates a safety problem as the noise from the rear of the car becomes so intense that you either have to close the window or stop the car. The noise sounds like a rotar on a helicopter and the faster you go over 40 the louder it becomes and your hearing becomes…
2005 · 40 miles · Body structure
Built from 6,886 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page