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2006 Pontiac SolsticeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 243 owner complaints about the 2006 Pontiac Solstice, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-061 the manufacturer reports only 42% of affected cars repaired.

2006 Pontiac Solstice
45
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Solstice median · #2 of 4 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 42%Owner complaints24317 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage39kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 3, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2006 Pontiac Solstice has problems

243 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags1783
Electrical system284
Power train281
Seats80
Engine71
Vehicle speed control40
Seat belts40
Service brakes40
Suspension41
9 other systems134

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2006 Pontiac Solstice 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.

42%repaired · 2019 Q2

Sensor: occupant classification

Recall 17V-061 · Jan 26, 2017 · 91,007 vehicles · 38,035 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag does not deploy as intended, the front passenger has an increased risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

72%repaired · 2016 Q2

Electrical system: ignition

Recall 14V-171 · Apr 10, 2014 · 2,191,014 vehicles · 1,569,104 repaired

Risk. If the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignition is not in the "off" position, the vehicle could roll away: (a) for an automatic transmission, if…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

72%repaired · 2016 Q2

Air bags

Recall 14V-047 · Feb 10, 2014 · 2,190,934 vehicles · 1,571,075 repaired

Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Axle shaft: seal

Recall 07V-589 · Dec 20, 2007 · 275,936 vehicles

Risk. A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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 air bags problems start?

39kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 126 air bags complaints. 94% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
39under 30k miles119under 100k miles7100k 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.

Air bags

32 owners mentioned a cost

$800median

Middle half: $800 – $900

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

2006 vs. every other Solstice 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 Solstice median. How we score

'06'07'08'09'10
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2006 Pontiac Solstice safety ratings

2006 Pontiac Solstice Convertible in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2006 Pontiac Solstice, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Passenger Sensing System Sensor MatDP16001 · closed Apr 24, 2017
    Led to recall 17V-061
  2. HVAC Blower Motor ConnectorDP20002 · closed Oct 27, 2022
    No recall
  3. FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIALPE07037 · closed Dec 27, 2007
    Led to recall 07V-589
In owners' words

What Solstice owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I have an alarm on my car that states the air bag needs service. I utilized a code reader which indicated there is a failure with the passenger air bag system. I checked for recalls and found one ( NHTSA : 17V061). The vehicle is a 2006 Pontiac Soltice. I contacted three local GM dealers about…
Complaint 11761835 · Sep 3, 2026
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The air bag…
Complaint 11620371 · Oct 17, 2024 · 192,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the passenger’s side seat sensor air bag warning light was not illuminated; however, the passenger’s side seat was occupied. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number:…
Complaint 11610284 · Aug 22, 2024 · 38,153 miles

Own a 2006 Solstice?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.