2005 Pontiac G6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

932 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2005 Pontiac G6, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 34/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Steering leads the reports, typically around 81,916 miles.

932Complaints
34/100Trouble index
6Recalls
83,223Typical trouble mileage

Typical

Where 2005 sits among all G6 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Steering 462 complaints (50%) · typically ~81,916 miles
“On my pontiac g6 2005 the power steering control unit went out on me i have no steering”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 G6
Electrical 152 complaints (16%) · typically ~81,500 miles
“Power steering stopped all of a sudden while driving. Very dangerous. They came back intermittently and then left again. Very very dangerous! It is not working at all now.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 G6
Brakes & stability 65 complaints (7%) · typically ~62,000 miles
“I randomly started smelling gas was driving one day and breaks stopped working and car randomly dies while turning a corner”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 G6
Transmission & drivetrain 49 complaints (5%) · typically ~100,000 miles
“Over a short time the transmission kept trying to go in to 1st gear but would slip and go into 2nd gear. It has the right transmission fluid. The shift cable works but when i change to reverse or drive it won't go into gear and basically sits there in no gear. It goes into park but when i put it to…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 G6
Other 39 complaints (4%) · typically ~93,146 miles
“I took my car to jeff schmitt in miamisburg oh i have 3 recalls and i feel like they didn't do not 1”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 G6
Fuel system 34 complaints (4%) · typically ~102,500 miles
“My car is smelling like gas i have a leak and im thinking its the fuel pump leaking. My son is a certified mechanic and he looked at my car. He is the one who also said that is probably the fuel pump.there were recalls on 2006 and up in years on the fuel pump. I have one a year 2005 . I think they…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2005 G6

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 745 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 83,223 miles. Half of those reports fall between 50,000 and 123,244 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

STEERING 14E044000 2014

Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010…

Fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service…

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V252000 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured May 16, 2003, through October 11, 2012, 2004-2007 Malibu Maxx vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, through April 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will attach the wiring harness to the BCM with a spacer, apply dielectric lubricant to both the BCM and harness connector and the BAS and harness connector, and…

POWER TRAIN 14V224000 2014

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…

Fix: 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…

STEERING 14V153000 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles,…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available,…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 09V036000 2009

GM IS RECALLING 8,012 MY 2005-2006 PONTIAC G6 VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY BECAUSE OF CORROSION IN A WIRING CONNECTOR. CORROSION IN THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS NOT BEEN DEPRESSED, OR…

Fix: DEALERS WILL APPLY A DIELECTRIC LUBRICANT TO THE CONNECTOR TO PREVENT CORROSION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT…

EQUIPMENT 05V098000 2005

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER ANCHORS IN THE CENTER REAR SEATING POSITION ARE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 90MM BEHIND…

Fix: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED AN OWNER'S MANUAL SUPPLEMENT. THE RECALL IBEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Federal defect investigations

Brake Light Switch/Sensor Malfunction EA13005 opened 2013, closed 2014

Led to recall campaign 14V252000.

Brake Light Malfunction RQ13001 opened 2013, closed 2013
STOP LAMP MALFUNCTION PE08054 opened 2008, closed 2009

Led to recall campaign 09V036000.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST PE07023 opened 2007, closed 2007

Technical service bulletins

569 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2005 Pontiac G6. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2005 G6 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2005peak 134 in 20142025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2005 Pontiac G6 reliable?

The 2005 Pontiac G6 drew 932 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 34/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).

What are the most common 2005 Pontiac G6 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2005 Pontiac G6 are steering (462 complaints), electrical (152), and brakes & stability (65).

At what mileage do 2005 Pontiac G6 problems show up?

Owners most often report 2005 Pontiac G6 problems around 83,223 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 50,000 and 123,244 miles.

Does the 2005 Pontiac G6 have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 2005 Pontiac G6. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2004 G6 All G6 years 2006 G6 →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.