2009 Pontiac G6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,044 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Pontiac G6, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 39/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 74,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2009 sits among all G6 years
What owners report
“The head lights socket burn up and melt. Leaves me with no headlights. This should be a recall but it it not.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 G6
“Power steering locks up when driving and vehicle becomes unturnable until car is shut off and turned back on.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 G6
“Brake lights are illuminated continuously unless the brake is applied (talk about safety hazard!), the cruise control will randomly disengage, and the traction control light will alarm and light up.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 G6
“I was driving and my steering wheel locked up on me while i was on a highway something popped up on my radio saying power steering service esc i couldn't turn almost had accident”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 G6
“Strong smell of fuel when car is on and when car is parked. I was told fuel tank has a leak and needs to be replaced.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 G6
“The transmission will not shift about 3rd gear and has no reverse, i have research this and have found other gm transmissions have been recalled. I have contacted the dealer multiply times without any response.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 G6
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 844 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 85,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 60,000 and 120,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
1,043 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2009 Pontiac G6. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Pontiac G6 reliable?
The 2009 Pontiac G6 drew 1,044 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 39/100, scored against the model's worst year (2006).
What are the most common 2009 Pontiac G6 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Pontiac G6 are electrical (371 complaints), steering (294), and brakes & stability (77).
At what mileage do 2009 Pontiac G6 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Pontiac G6 problems around 85,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 60,000 and 120,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Pontiac G6 have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Pontiac G6. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.