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Pontiac G6 jerking problems

168 of the 5,891 owner complaints about the Pontiac G6 describe jerking or lurching, most of them for the 2006 model year.

owner complaints
168
worst model year
2006
typical repair cost reported
$1,000
typical mileage
92,500
Is there a fix? There are 3 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 17, 2023 · Steering · MI

The steering wheel will start to shake as you drive and then it will stop. It will start again, some times is jerking like it is going to break. I can be parked, going 10 mph or 55 mph, it was random but now it is increasing. I have taken to 2 shops and everyone thinks it is electrical.

Filed Apr 9, 2023 · Steering · AZ

Sometimes when I start my car, my power steering doesn’t engage and I have to turn my car off and turn it back on for power steering to engage. My car is currently pulling heavily to the driver side and when I am idling, my steering wheel is shaking and rocking. Sometimes when I am driving down the road my car will jerk to one side or the other as my wheel will jerk it that way. And there’s been a couple of times as I’m turning or just driving and my power steering will cut out and I have to yank the car to the side.

Filed Mar 17, 2023 · Steering · NE

My vehicle steering wheel began shaking every time I am stopped at stop light. It also jerks when I am driving. When I start the car, it sometimes the steering wheel gets very hard nad a power steering notice comes up in the notification screen. A car with scwiggly lines also is shown. This happens intermittently. One time the power steering turned off while I was driving and it was very hard to drive and dangerous.

Filed Feb 14, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · MO

Power steering warning on radio, never once did a warning light on dash come up. This started at about 193,000 miles. Turning over car constantly to get my power steering to start. About a month after it just went out while driving approximately 40 mph. Kept pulling over to restart car, never turned back on. Potential wreck trying to turn to get into work parking lot when the car wouldn’t turn. Dealerships claim my car was fixed already years ago, however this problem with the steering started again apparently at about 193,000 miles. The steering wheel started jerking and shaking when the car was idle around the same time the power steering message came across the radio. The car would also randomly lock my horn, didn’t realize it could do that until I couldn’t honk when someone was merging into me.

Filed Jan 5, 2023 · Steering · OK

I have a 2005 Pontiac G6 that we purchased for our daughter about 4 or 5 years ago. The car has been a great first car and an emergency spare for our family, until recently. I was driving in Oklahoma City in 5 pm rush hour and without any type of warning I had zero and I mean zero power steering, I could not get the car off the highway at all, the steering wheel started shaking rapidly, and jearking from left to right. And as quick as it happened it stopped, I was able to pull over and call my husband back home 5 hours away to come get me and the car. Once I was pulled off the highway, I turned the car off and let it set for about 5 minutes then strated it back up, to witch the steering wheel went back to jerking and shaking, I thought well I have to get this thing off the major interstate worse case it goes crazy and I go down the ditch. I put it in drive and the steering wheel stopped shaking and jerking. I was able to get to a parking lot that was safe to wait the 6 hours for my husband and son to get there. When we got it back home, I had been doing research on this issue and discovered this the federal safety agency Recall 102442, butt for some reason my Vin number is not included in this recall. So I opted to replace. Number 41 in the fuse box under the hood. At first it seemed to help. So we allowed our son to drive the G6 to a friend's house about 5 miles away, he was on his way home and called saying come get me and the G6, it done it's steering wheel craziness again and I had an accident. With no clue how bad it was we went racing to him. Thankfully our sone was not hurt nor was there any damage to the vehicle. We hauled the car home and it sat for about 6 months. When we found our family needing to have it running. We pulled it out put a new battery in it, changed all the fluids and filters. Car yet again ran like it was new. Then we hit a pot hot in the road at about 4 miles an hour and boom there goes the steering wheel and it's craziness again. Please Help Us

Filed Aug 3, 2022 · Steering · 247,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle as both the power steering and battery warning lights would illuminate on the instrument panel. During one instance, the contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle stalled as both warning lights illuminated the instrument panel. The contact also stated that recently the steering wheel would jerk out of her control and move in the opposite direction than intended. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 15V064000(Steering). The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 247,000.

Filed May 20, 2022 · Electrical, Steering · NC

I have an issue with my power steering and eps turning off after my car has been cranked a minimum of 2 min maybe not even that long. My steering wheel also rotates (like shaking) without the car moving and if the car is being driven it poses a huge risk to crashing as the jerking causes the car to swerve. I took it to the dealership to have the recall issues replace seeing that the issues I am having are the exact same as the recall released on the pontiac g6 with recall # 14v153000 and also recall# 14e044000. The dealership insisted I was wrong after the service agent I spoke to that scheduled the appointment said all the part were there to fix my car and they seen the recalls. I need assistance as to what I can do to get this taken care of seeing as I am still paying on this car and I havent even had it two months yet

Filed May 17, 2022 · Steering · 256,000 miles · MS

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac G6. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist while pulling into his driveway. The contact attempted to steer the vehicle however, the steering wheel jerked to left. The contact observed that the "Power Steering Failure" warning light was illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure persisted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 256,000.

Filed Mar 14, 2021 · Airbags, Seats · 80,000 miles · WI

My service air bag light is on. My passenger air bag doesn't work. My traction control, ESC, and ABS light come on. My panoramic sunroof wont close. All of these are on the recall list but apparently every car other than mine is bad. When I drive the ESC light will come on and pull me to the next lane. My passenger airbag is a safety concern for my passengers. I was on the freeway and my car went into the other lane and I almost hit a semi with my kids in the car. The car makes a loud whistle noise while driving, the car jerks to the left. The car makes loud noises in the front end like the car is gonna fall apart. Replaced the front end $1000.00 worth of work and still making the noise. Ate my brand new tires up. Milwaukee, wisconsin recall-13036 recall-14152 recall-n140115 recall-14v252000 recall-07v146000 recall-14e04400 recall-14772&14v‑153 recall-15v064000

Filed Mar 2, 2021 · Steering · 124,000 miles · MN

My vehicle jerks to the left when breaking and I find it very dangerous to be driving it. So I looked my vehicle up and it has a few recalls including the steering which could be caused front he joint bearing it says which can fail and prematurely cause separation of the u-joint and a complete loss of steering control which is a high risk of a crash. So I was told to contact my dorman or use this website to let you guys know.

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shiftReported April 30, 2014 · 1,131,113 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 29, 2014, that they are recalling 56,214 model year 2007 and 2008 Saturn Aura vehicles. On May 22, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 1,074,899 model year 2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2003, through October 5, 2007, model year 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured from June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, and model year 2005-2008 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured from May 26, 2004, through September 28, 2007, and equipped with 4-speed transmissions. The total number vehicles being recalled is now 1,131,113.
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 may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash. Furthermore, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, despite selecting the ‘PARK’ position, the transmission may not be in ‘PARK.’ If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and GM dealers will replace the shift cable assembly and mounting bracket, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑553‑6000. GM's number for this recall is 14152.

Recall number 14V224000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)Reported September 18, 2012 · 426,240 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
Risk
If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in 'PARK.' The vehicle may not be able to be restarted and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instructed to not bring their vehicles for repair until January 2013. Owners may contact General Motors at 1‑800‑521‑7300.

Recall number 12V460000 · Recall details

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shiftReported March 6, 2009 · 276,729 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 buick enclave, chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, gmc acadia, pontiac g5, g6 and saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and fmvss 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park".
Risk
The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before march 24, 2009. Owners may contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668 and saturn at 1‑800‑972‑8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.

Recall number 09V073000 · Recall details

Questions about the Pontiac G6 jerking

Which Pontiac G6 years have jerking or lurching problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2006 (49 complaints), 2007 (40 complaints) and 2008 (33 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix jerking or lurching on the Pontiac G6?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,000 (median of 14 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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