Pontiac G6 under investigation for power steering loss
This week's recall woes come courtesy of the Pontiac G6, which is currently undergoing investigation by the lovable folks at the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
According to Bloomberg News, NHTSA has received 19 complaints about the G6s power steering failing, so far resulting in two crashes and one injury.
The affected models include 176,968 vehicles sold in 2005 and 2006 and assuming that NHTSA deems the problem recall-worthy, owners should expect a notice in their near future.
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Shanna Averre 9:35AM (5/01/2007)
I own a 2005 Pontiac G6 GT...this is not the only problem this car has but in regards to this particular problem my car has been showing signs as well. First, I have been getting the PS Fluid Low but had it checked when I got my oil changed and was told it was fine so I have been ignoring the warning light. Then the other day the wheel tightened up on me while trying to turn into a parking spot. This is definitely recall worthy. Not to mention my rotors warped after just 30,000 miles and the sunroof doesn't seal properly making the car sound like a windtunnel....I just want to get rid of the car...I like the style but it just has to many issues.
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Tim 9:40AM (5/01/2007)
This recall is really going to hit Hertz, Avis and Thrifty hard if it happens.
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brimg87 9:49AM (5/01/2007)
Off topic, but man if that isn't a nice shot of the G6 coupe.
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Pat Albrecht 9:54AM (5/01/2007)
According to the detnews article, it says G6 sedans. You'd think the coupes would be the same from the firewall forward.
brimg, that's the shot that convinced me to buy one. I have that same car (Gray GTP coupe).
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SKR 9:56AM (5/01/2007)
Just rented a Saturn Aura (which I beleive is the same platform, mechanicals) from National Car Rental, and actually returned it after getting 5 miles from the airport - power steering was failing. Interesting to come and read this article just a few days later!
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Atomicbri 10:03AM (5/01/2007)
Lord that's all GM needs. This is where they fail. If this were Toyota they would open up an investigation to avoid negative publicity. GM will fight it and say nothing is wrong until someone gets hurt like traveling at 70mph then total loss of steering control. They need to go ahead and look into, and not put up a stink about it.
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Gardiner Westbound 10:05AM (5/01/2007)
Car makers have been putting power steering in cars for decades. They should have the hang of it by now.
So much for improved GM quality.
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sagracer 10:11AM (5/01/2007)
Shanna, Great story....Although the G6 has EPS (electric power steering), so there is no power steering fluid.
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Sagracer 10:13AM (5/01/2007)
SKR, The Aura and G6 use completely different power steering systems. The Aura uses hydrualic power steering.
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brad 10:17AM (5/01/2007)
Like the Malibu and a growing number of smaller GM vehicles, the G6 employs electric power steering, adopted because hydraulic power steering puts a fuel-wasting load on the engine at all times, even when the car is going straight. The GTP, however, will use a hydraulic system because of packaging considerations with the 3.9-liter engine. "As we set up the 3.9 to be offered with the manual transmission, we had to make some adjustments from a vehicle packaging standpoint, and we didn't have the space available for the clutch mechanism and the instrument panel as well as the motor for the electric power steering, so we went for the hydraulic system," explained Greg Bellopatrick, the G6's chief engineer. "For commonality, we decided to offer it on the automatic as well."
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Alex 10:19AM (5/01/2007)
GM should start from scratch, kill the awful FWD platforms and finally design proper cars.
GM has the Corvette and Cadillacs - outstanding, excellent cars by all standards. They should become the cornerstone of the new GM strategy -- not penny-pinching and endless reuse of their horrible FWD platforms.
I know, I know, it ain't gonna happen...
Cobalt? G6? Gimme a break. I can't believe people are paying their hard-earned money for those POS...
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Mike 10:33AM (5/01/2007)
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/16/honda-issues-record-recall-in-china/
"Honda has just announced that it is issuing a recall of 528,406 Chinese-made cars. Apparently they need to fix power steering lines and pumps as well as fuel pump relays on the hundreds of thousands of affected vehicles."
do a google search and you will find PS recalls for any and every make and model.
These threads always bring out the biggest idiots on the board.
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fireblade 10:47AM (5/01/2007)
Typical gm crap :(
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Mr. Oak 10:51AM (5/01/2007)
7. Car makers have been putting power steering in cars for decades. They should have the hang of it by now.
So much for improved GM quality.
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So, what would you say, when I tell you that mine in the much vaunted A6 failed? It's not to be sneezed at though. This can really F*** your day up.
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Bryan 10:58AM (5/01/2007)
So Gardiner I guess its ok for a Prius to roll down the highway, stall, and catch on fire and its still just one fantastic typical great Toyota product but the G6 has an issue and its typical GM crap? Maybe you are just a typical blind zombie.
Alex...my brother has an 06 cobalt SS coupe. No problems, rides great, and the interior is very nice. 300/mo great gas mileage and looks. Its a winner. Take your bs elsewhere.
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Doc Lucas 2:22PM (5/01/2007)
> someone gets hurt like traveling at 70mph
> then total loss of steering control
The faster a car goes, the less effort it takes to steer. More likely, someone will get hurt or killed when failure occurs at 7 mph around pedestrians (parking lot).
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phewop118 11:10AM (5/01/2007)
Perhaps it's a supplier problem, as is always the problem with foreign automakers. Why can't GM do the same thing as Honda and blame it on the parts manufacturer, rather than taking the heat for it? B/c the media alway portrays GM in a negative light.
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Bob-omb 12:07PM (5/01/2007)
My mom bought a 2005 G6. Lots of initial problems, but not this so far. Beside the typical squeaks and rattles synonymous with Pontiac, the dash panel would crack/snap whenever the defroster was used (since there was no padding between plastic components expanding -- design flaw, they fixed it). The blower on the fan was permanently stuck on high (surge in the electrical blew a fuse or something). The battery went completely dead after two months (manufacturing defect). The buttons on the radio/power locks have already had their paint wear off (cheap construction and poor design). Add the recall for the leaky door and the fact that other people's awful electric power steering is failing, and I'm glad she bought the extended warranty on that thing.
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ETR 12:15PM (5/01/2007)
Pontiacs are the car of choice for so many in our rural area. Just about everyone under 45 seems to drive a Grand-Am or Grand-Pre. And most of the people I work with and know who have or had them have had many problems over the years. Just wish the US automakers would start to get things 'right'... As it is, there are few US made vehicles I would consider.
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PiCASSO 12:16PM (5/01/2007)
Not good for GM... but I'm sure it's the penny pinching pressure by GM's purchasing department that caused supplier to cut corners. Or, the supplier cut corners for internal savings without validating on a complete vehicle.
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