repaired · 2015 Q4
Electrical system: wiring
Risk. Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
2005 Pontiac G6Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 679 owner complaints about the 2005 Pontiac G6, most often about the steering. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 14V-224 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 6, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2005 Pontiac G6 has problems
679 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
459Steering19 crash/fire/injury
86Electrical system7 crash/fire/injury
62Exterior lighting2 crash/fire/injury
48Power train
31Service brakes
28Service brakes, hydraulic
20Fuel/propulsion system
19Vehicle speed control
18Engine and engine cooling
13721 other systems15 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 459 | 19 |
| Electrical system | 86 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 62 | 2 |
| Power train | 48 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 31 | 1 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 28 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 18 | 0 |
| 21 other systems | 137 | 15 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
5 recalls
2005 Pontiac G6 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2016 Q2
Power train: automatic transmission
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2016 Q2
Steering: electric power assist system
Risk. 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.
no report yet
Exterior lighting: brake lights
Risk. 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.
Show 1 more recall
no report yet
Other: owners/service/other manual
Risk. WITHOUT ADDITIONAL AND CORRECTED OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMATION, AN OWNER MAY ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY IN INSTALLING CHILD RESTRAINTS WITH RIGID ATTACHMENTS IN THE…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Pontiac.
Mileage at failure
When do steering problems start?
81kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 387 steering complaints. 62% were reported before 100,000 miles.
48under 30k miles241under 100k miles146100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Steering
35 owners mentioned a cost$800median
Middle half: $600 – $1,000
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2005 vs. every other G6 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the G6 median. How we score
'05'06'07'08'09'10'14
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2005 Pontiac G6 safety ratings
2005 Pontiac G6 4-DR w/SAB Later Release in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2005 Pontiac G6, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Light Switch/Sensor MalfunctionLed to recall 14V-252
- LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSISTNo recall
- STOP LAMP MALFUNCTIONLed to recall 09V-036
- Brake Light MalfunctionNo recall
In owners' words
What G6 owners report
Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Vehicle: 2005 Pontiac G6 VIN: [your VIN] Mileage: 185,000 Issue: Sudden **total loss of power steering assist** — **same symptom as NHTSA Recall 14V153000 (GM 14116)**. Recall **was completed years ago**. **Replacement part installed by GM failed in under 5 years**. GM Customer Assistance **refused…
I was driving car and went to turn and the steering wheel was very hard to steering. It was as if I had no power to steering. This happed several times without any accidents.
The contact owns a 2005 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel started vibrating and became difficult to turn. Additionally, the steering wheel was turning to the left independently. The contact stated that the power steering warning light and the…
Own a 2005 G6?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.