I have had to take my car in for the same problem 10 times due to a rear differential issue. The first time was just a couple of month's after I had purchased it brand new in "06". I return every couple of months because of the same problem. The seal had been recalled and replaced, twice. The tubing has been replaced, trimmed and adjusted and the fluid refilled to many times to count. I am well aware of the deadly consequences this issue can cause, if that seal fails. I have been in contact with gm concerning this issue with no help. The repair shop says the car's a lemon, gm says that the repairs are not being done correctly.
2006 Pontiac Solstice transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 28 of 28, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2006 pontiac solstice - rear axle leak. Axle replaced. Prevailing whine and clunk noise after the fix. Took in left overnight, they said would test drive. Next day they said the noise is normal and there is nothing wrong with the car. The mileage was same as I left it, so no test drive was taken. Fed up with them. Will not drive on highways and very inconvenient, am mostly using hubby's vehicle. Soon out of business, pontiac should not be getting away with this.
Tl*the contact owns a 2006 pontiac solstice. While performing an oil change, the dealer found a leak coming from the rear differential seal. The dealer stated that she would be responsible for the repair since there was no recall available. The failure mileage was 45,311. Updated 06/09/09. *lj there was an oil leak coming from the rear differential. Updated 06/10/09.
5/15/06 at 5200 miles rear pinion seal is repl due to a bad leak, upon leaving the dealer shortly after noticed a whining noise&felt the rear end binding returned the car same day 5288 miles and was told the wrong gear oil and additive was put in and the seal had to be replaced again. 5/23/06 rear end starts leaking again and noise never went away dealer repl pinion seal again&said noise is normal 8/18/06 8655mi leaking again repl pinion seal told noise from rear now worse is normal. Gm states they will not address any future claims for noise case closed its suppose to whine and gives me a bulletin stating the noises were designed engineering characters which I strongly disputed and voice my concern that the differential was clearly going bad, gm flagged my file and told me they would not warranty any future claims and further refused to accept any calls from me requesting a meeting with the field manager 10/12/07 gm refuses to address leak and noise 2/27/08 22079 mi gm issues a safety recall 07204 which states the axle may leak, if enough fluid leaks bearing would be damaged and make noise, binding when backing, feeling of brakes applied while driving or sudden locking of the rear will while in motion could occur with out warning which the driver may not be able to control and cause the car to crash. Recall was done noise still present dealer states its normal / 3/17/08 car taken to different dealer that has it a week gm factory calls to tell me to pick the car up gave me another bulletin stating noise is normal which is dated back from 07/06 prior to recall 02/08 which contradicts the earlier bulletin gm again states warranty has been denied for any claims on rear end noise its normal. I make 2 attempts over summer to address noise dealer refuses road test or look at the car. Today 02/13 while driving on beltway loud bang w/ no warning loss of control across 4 lanes of traffic sliding sideways before skidding over 300ft with rear wheels locked up very scary.
Pontiac safety recall 07204 2006 pontiac solstice rear axle seal leak, the failure occurred soon after the car was purchased and was taken to the dealer for repairs, axle seal was replaced, upon return of the car it was noticed the rear axle was making a whining noise that was very pronounced and unable to talk over. Car was returned to the dealer and they changed the axle fluid and put an additive in for the whine. Noise did not go away and is still present to this day. I returned the car to the dealer 5 more times and was told the noise was normal. Feb 2008 received a recall letter from gm saying the differential seal needs to be replaced and "damaged bearings will create noise" "differential could jam and lock the drive wheels while the vehicle is in motion" "a crash could occur with out warning" I returned the car for the recall and the axle seal was replaced again, upon return of the car the axle is still whining as loud as ever and is now a very huge safety concern to me that the car may crash without warning. I have called pontiac to advise them the issue is still on going case #71-606320808 at this point they have not offered any resolution to the issue and have stated that the recall has been satisfied by replacing the axle seal.
Rear-end clunking noise coming from rear-end while shifting gears, none repairable.
2006 pontiac solstice grinding noise in the differential assembly. Consumer states that the dealer is saying that the noise is normal and there is nothing wrong. *kb the consumer stated that the grinding issue had become so bad that the vehicle would violently jerk not only while attempting to turn, but also while driving straight.
I purchased my pontiac solstice in november, 2005. Since then the rear differential has gone out twice (the first time approx. 3 months after purchase) and has been repaired once for a leaking diff seal (shortly after the first replacement). It was replaced twice since it was under warranty. However, I am concerned once the warranty has expired I will be left "holding the bag" for this problem. I am on my third diff for this car and have met other solstice owners with the same problem. In fact, I have not met a solstice owner who hasn't had a diff problem. I think pontiac needs to recall this diff and provide a reliable one! (incident date provided is a "guess" of the last replacement.)
The clutch packs in the differential were binding on the 2006 pontiac solstice with just around 11,000 miles. A major vehicle component like the differential should not bind at this early stage in the vehicle's life. In any case, it made the vehicle harder to maneuver, which I consider to be a safety risk.
Differential making clunking sounds when shifting. Nothing was done as dealer said that thiswas one of the vehicle's characteristics.
While driving on I-95 southbound about 2 miles south of st. George, sc a loud grinding noise combined with vehicle jerking occurred, and about 3 seconds later the differential locked, causing the rear wheels to stop turning and the vehicle to skid along the roadway. Amidst clouds of smoke and dust the vehicle came to a stop on the shoulder facing perpendicularly to the roadway.
Transmission makes high pitched whining noise during acceleration in 3rd, 4th and 5fth gear. Constant high pitched whine in 4th and 5th gear. Problem developed within 3 months of owning the car. Took the car into the service shop in august of 2006. Was told that the noise was normal and sent away. Complained to the service manner, mr. Stone. He failed to respond to my complaints. Contacted owner of dealership, mr. Robert hess. He drove in the car in september of 2006. Noted the noise but could not identify. Was told that he would test drive a new car to see if the noise was present. Contacted owner (mr. Hess) in october of 2006 was told gm rep would come look at car. Took car in on the 23rd of october. Was told that car was making a louder noise than normal and they would keep car for repair. Was contacted on the 25th of october. Was told that manufacturer feels that noise is normal and no repairs would be done. Was also told if I requested repairs on the transmission, then would not be covered.
Dt*: the contact stated the rear pinion seal failed and leaked oil onto the exhaust pipe and caused smoke that could lead to a fire. The service dealer and manufacturer were notified and offered to replace the seal. There was an oil leak from the vent in the differential, then oil leak in the differential pinion oil seal. Updated 12/05/06.
Vehicle was purchased on 1/8/06. Pinion seal on rear differential leaking 10 days later. Took vehicle to dealership for repair on 1/19/06. 1/31/06 dealership replaced the pinion seal and returned the car to me. 3/8/06 pinion seal began leaking again, heavily. Took back to service department on 3/9/06. 3/16/06 dealership replaced differential assembly (gm case #8733080). 7/10/06 rear differential leaking differential fluid again (for the 3rd time). 7/11/06 took back to dealership service department for diagnosis. As of today waiting for info from service department.
Dt*: the contact stated the day after purchasing the vehicle, with the brake pedal depressed, the vehicle began to jump. Once getting to the destination, the ignition was turned off, upon entering the vehicle, the vehicle jumped when in put in drive. The dealership was contacted and suggested the vehicle be driven in. While in route to the dealership, the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over and towed to the dealership. The dealership determined the computer listed the o circuits for the transmission was inoperable. The next day the dealership alerted the contact contaminated transmission fluid was put in the vehicle at the factory causes the transmission to completely fail.
2006 pontiac solstice rear differential pinion gasket leak repaired by gm on 5/2/06.
Differential leak leading to transmission whine, transmission clunk and eventual failure of differential. Gm will replace pinion seal when the permanent fix is replacement of the differential with a redesigned part.
Rear differential leak. Potential safety issue if differential was to dry out before vehicle is taken in to service. New differential seal was installed.
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