RoadVitals

2008 Pontiac G6 Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
78
Latest Aug 3, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
7%
of 1,078 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Pontiac G6 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 78 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

The 25 most recent of 78, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 3, 2023
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac G6. The contact stated that after the vehicle was serviced for the recall of NHTSA Campaign Number:14V224000: (Power Train), the transmission shift cable failed causing the vehicle to roll back and hit the contact. During the incident, the contact sustained a severe abdominal injury and a fractured left knee. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who replaced the shift cable for a second time. The contact indicated that the shift cable recently had failed again. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,000.

NHTSA ID
11536215
Incident
Jan 14, 2019
Mileage
108,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 1, 2022
Crash reported

No SE lights on dash. Shudder shifts intermittently between all gears both in automatic and manual driving mode. No shops have been able to diagnose what the actual problem is. Huge safety risk as there is no telling when it will actually happen and “stall” the car out in traffic when shifting. In searching the internet this is a common problem for 5+ years and there has not been a solution identified by GM.

NHTSA ID
11462982
Incident
Feb 5, 2022
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 10, 2021

The shifter is not going into the correct gear. This year vehicle has had (2) different recalls for this issue.

NHTSA ID
11432399
Incident
Sep 7, 2021
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2021

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD ITS A AUTOMATIC,CANT DRIVE IN SNOW OR WHEN WET IT SLIDES FRONT END OFF ROAD DO TO SHIFTING.ABS ALERT STAYS ON ALL TIMES AND HAS BEEN TO SHOP.

NHTSA ID
11397242
Incident
Jan 22, 2011
Mileage
102,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 18, 2021

POWER STEERING DISENGAGES ONCE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. ONLY WAY TO REENGAGE IT IS TO TURN CAR COMPLETELY OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON. SOMETIMES IT REENGAGES BUT OCCASIONALLY IT STILL REMAINS AN ISSUE. IF I ALSO LIGHTLY PULL ON THE WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL VIBRATE AND SHAKE WHILE STOPPED AND DRIVING. MY POSITION SWITCH ON THE TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO NOT START EVERY SO OFTEN AS WELL. I HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL SOMETIMES TO RESTART MY CAR.

NHTSA ID
11388628
Incident
Jan 17, 2021
Mileage
218,005 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 9, 2020

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR TONIGHT. HE CALLED ME FROM HIS FRIENDS HOUSE AND SAID THAT THE CAR WAS STUCK IN NEUTRAL, CAR WAS OFF, BUT COULDN'T REMOVE IGNITION KEY. I GOT THERE, CAR WAS PARKED IN FRIENDS DRIVEWAY, I STARTED THE CAR, WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER, EVEN THOUGH I COULDN'T FEEL IT SHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR. I THEN SHIFTED IT INTO WHAT I "ASSUMED" WAS PARK, SHUT CAR OFF, REMOVED KEY, AND CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I APPLIED THE E-BRAKE, BUT THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. I WENT AHEAD AND ROLLED IT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVE SINCE I KNEW IT HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE FRONT END. I HAD TO BACK MY OTHER CAR UP TO IT, BUMPER TO BUMPER TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED.

NHTSA ID
11344130
Incident
Aug 8, 2020
Mileage
166,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lightingPowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 21, 2020

THE BREAK LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON. THEY ONLY TURN OFF WHEN I STOP WHICH HAS ALOMST GOTTEN ME REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FRONT LEFT HEADLIGHT CANNOT BE REPAIRED DUE TO IMPORPER WIRING AND IVE HAD IT LOOKED AT TWICE ONLY TO NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ALSO, WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR WILL NOT GO BELOW 3RD AND IS NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING CAUSING ACCELERATING PROBLEMS, WHEN DRIVING IN GENERAL, AND AM UNABLE TO KEEP A PROPER AMOUNT OF GAS BECAUSE ITS BURING THROUGH DUE TO THIS. I HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE BREAKS AND HEADLIGHT ARE ALWAYS A PROBLEM WHETER DRIVING OR IN PARK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY!

NHTSA ID
11321763
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 3, 2019

I FILED A REPORT YESTERDAY AFTER MY SONS CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE IN DRIVE AFTER HE HAD BEEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN THE TURNING LANE ON THE CITY STREET. HE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED UP,BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD, ONLY REVERSE AND PARK. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND AFTER THEY PULLED MY TRANNY, TOOK OFF THE FILTER AND PAN, THEY FOUND SOME KIND OF 4 WAY METAL TUBE THAT HAD BROKEN, AND THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT DRIVE FORWARD. I HAD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION FILTER AND GASKET, THEY HAD TO DRAIN AND REPLACE THE FLUID, A TRANSMISSION TUBE ASSEMBLY, AND NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID WHICH COST ME $602.25. ALSO, MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT'S SCREWED UP. AFTER ALL THE MONEY I SPENT TODAY, I COULDN'T AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE ON MY SONS CAR. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR USED FROM A PRIVATE SELLER ON JULY 30, 2019 FOR MY 18 YEAR OLD SON AND WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN I HAPPENED TO LOOK UP THIS CAR AFTER THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.

NHTSA ID
11265800
Incident
Oct 2, 2019
Mileage
157,826 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 1, 2019

MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND HE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN THE TURN LANE. HE WENT TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR REVVED UP, BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. IT WAS STUCK. THE CAR MOVES WHEN IN REVERSE AND THAT'S IT. THE CAR WOULDN'T EVEN DRIVE IN LOW GEAR. IT WILL NOT DRIVE WHILE IN THE DRIVE POSITION. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW IT TO THE MECHANIC. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN JULY 2019. CAME HOME AND DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THERE WERE 5 RECALLS.

NHTSA ID
11265450
Incident
Oct 1, 2019
Mileage
157,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 24, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR WAS DIFFICULT TO CHANGE OVER FROM PARK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON FOR IT TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *AS *AS

NHTSA ID
11222071
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 12, 2019

GEAR SHIFT LEVEL IS CONSTANTLY BREAKING. SHIFT LEVEL IS SAID TO BE IN PARK BUT THE CAR KEEPS ROLLING BACKWARDS. CAR WILL NOT SWITCH TO A DIFFERENT GEAR NOR REMAIN PARKED WITHOUT EMERGENCY BRAKE. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND BACK UP, I SWITCHED GEARS TO DRIVE AND MY CAR CONTINUED TO GO BACKWARDS INSTEAD.

NHTSA ID
11219414
Incident
Jun 12, 2019
Mileage
171,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 18, 2019

MY 2008 PONTIAC G6 GT IS EXPERIENCING A FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE KIT AS PREVIOUSLY RECALLED VIA GM RECALL #N130036. GM STATES THEY HAVE ALREADY CLOSED RECALL AND WILL BE IN NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WITH PROBLEM. THE CAR IS EXPERIENCING A FAILURE TO SHIFT GEARS RESULTING WITH THE CAR BEING IN REVERSE EVEN THOUGH SHIFT LEVELER IS IN PARK. SHIFT LEVELER FREELY SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITH TRANSMISSION ENGAGING.

NHTSA ID
11197170
Incident
Apr 10, 2019
Mileage
163,000 mi
BrakesElectricalPowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE BATTERY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING LOST POWER, AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC CHEVROLET (440-953-1070, LOCATED AT 6877 CENTER ST, MENTOR, OH 44060) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V252000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL), 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN), AND 14V153000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE RECURRED THE NEXT MORNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ID
11166007
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
Mileage
115,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 23, 2018

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED WITH LESS THAN 100,00 MILES ON THE CAR LOSS OF POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF A 3 LANE HIGHWAY. ALMOST CAUSING US TO BE HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT GM NEVER NOTIFIED US AND NOW WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR

NHTSA ID
11153368
Incident
Nov 23, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed May 17, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE GEARS IN THE GEARSHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

NHTSA ID
11096521
Incident
May 9, 2018
Mileage
144,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT DID NOT SELECT THE CORRECT GEAR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE; HOWEVER, WHEN SELECTING PARK, THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND REMAINED IN THE INITIAL SELECTED GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND MANUALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN PARK FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 193,000

NHTSA ID
11074153
Incident
Feb 16, 2018
Mileage
193,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 11, 2018

AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED AND ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, OR ANY OTHER GEAR IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, THE SHIFT LEVER MOVES INTO THE POSITIONS, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR REMAINS IN A NUETRAL POSITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT ALLOW ANY MOVEMENT. WITH THAT THE CAR IS ABLE TO ROLL FORWARD, OR REVERSE DEPENDING ON THE LEVELNESS OF THE AREA IT IS PARKED IN. ONCE THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, THE CAR WILL NOT RE-START IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE ENGINE TRIES TO START, BUT WON'T. AFTER WAITING FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CAR WILL START AGAIN AND EVERYTHING WORKS FINE AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
11062204
Incident
Jan 2, 2018
Mileage
78,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 3, 2017

PULLED 2008 G6 INTO MY DRIVEWAY. PUT IT IN PARK, WENT TO EXIT AND IT STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. MY HUSBAND APPLIED THE BREAKS AND FOUND THAT THE SHIFTER WAS NOT DOING IT'S JOB. WE HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE CAR TO NOT START. THE TRANSMISSION CABLE SEPARATED.

NHTSA ID
11002773
Incident
Jul 2, 2017
Mileage
154,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2017

MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE IN PARK WHEN BEING REMOVED FROM THE BACK OF A TOW TRUCK. I PARKED MY CAR AND WHEN I RETURN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED AND THAT IS WHEN IT ROLLED OFF THE TOW TRUCK WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN PARK. I BELIEVE FOR SOME REASON THE CAR WAS IN GEAR (REVERSE). THE CAR THEN START AND APPEARS TO FUNCTION WITHOUT ISSUE. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND 2009 G6 WERE RECALLED FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE AS WELL AS SATURN AURA. THESE CARS USE THE SAME COMPONENTS AS THE 2008 G6. FORTUNATELY MY EXPERIENCE HAD NO CONSEQUENCE MAINLY BECAUSE I PARKED MY CAR ON LEVEL GROUND. I NOW CONSIDER THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I WILL NOT USE THE CAR UNTIL I HAVE SOMEONE INSPECT THE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10971219
Incident
Apr 6, 2017
Mileage
113,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 8, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A TREE STUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000.

NHTSA ID
10925098
Incident
Oct 27, 2016
Mileage
91,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 8, 2016

WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. I DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THERE IS POTENTIALLY AN ISSUE WITH THE SHIFT CABLE. OF THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK WHEN SHUT OFF THEN THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT. UNFORTUNATELY THE POTENTIAL.ISSUE WITH THE SHIFT CABLE IS IT MAY LOOK.LIKE THE CAR IS IN PARK BUT MAY NOT BE. LEADING TO THE CAR POSSIBLY ROLLING AWAY AND CAUSE DAMAGE OR INJURY. I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND RECALLS FIXED .THIS NEEDS TO BE ANOTHER RECALL FOR THESE CARS.

NHTSA ID
10893900
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Mileage
97,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN PARK WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS LOOSE AND THAT THE SHIFT CABLE HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ATTACHED A CLIP TO THE SHIFT CABLE AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10893054
Incident
Jul 25, 2016
Mileage
150,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED HER BROTHER FOR HELP. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,179.

NHTSA ID
10884933
Incident
Jul 14, 2016
Mileage
125,179 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed May 16, 2016
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER STICK WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY LUNGED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. IN ADDITION, THE IGNITION KEY REQUIRED FORCE TO BE REMOVED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V460000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10865131
Incident
May 9, 2016
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC G6. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FAILED TO OPERATE IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE GEAR SHIFTER MOVED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V224000 (POWER TRAIN) ON JULY 24, 2014. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10845718
Incident
Mar 7, 2016
Mileage
55,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .