RoadVitals

2006 Pontiac Solstice Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
9
Latest Dec 3, 2022
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.
4%
of 242 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.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2006 Pontiac Solstice submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 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 engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 3, 2022

The electric system appears to be unsafe, the ignition doesn't turn over and drains the battery every day. I'm also worried about the airbags and other recalls on this car. I contacted the dealer "Dave Kirk Automotive" in Crossville, TN weeks ago. They took the vin # and looked up the recalls. This was a month ago. They said they would get the parts and call me. No one at the dealer has contacted me again. They know there are serious recalls on this vehicle. I need help on this. I'm 74, the car only has 39000 miles on it. This needs to be fixed at once.

NHTSA ID
11495876
Incident
Nov 25, 2022
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 4, 2018

WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP AND THE CAR GETS TO ABOUT 20MPH THE CAR SUDDENLY BRAKES HARD AND JOLTS. IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE SEAT BELT ONE COULD GO INTO THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAPPENS WITH EACH BRAKING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I SEE THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REPORTING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR FOR YEARS...WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? THIS IS A SMALL CAR IF A SEMI OR JUST ANY MOVING VEHICLE WAS CLOSE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS I AND MY PASSENGER WOULD PROBABLY BE CRUSHED. THE TWO ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHTS GO ON AND THE LOW ENGINE POWER LIGHT ALSO GOES ON AND STAYS ON. THE REPAIR FACILITY SEEMS TO BE STUMPED. SOMEONE MUST KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS BECAUSE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING.

NHTSA ID
11124351
Incident
Aug 13, 2018
Mileage
35,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 17, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND THERMOSTAT WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10926638
Incident
Sep 18, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 15, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, ANTI-THEFT, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START BECAUSE THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID
10849753
Incident
Mar 4, 2016
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID
10654603
Incident
Jul 9, 2014
Mileage
73,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2014

CAR HAS AN UNBELIEVABLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING MOSTLY FROM 1ST THRU 3RD GEAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT. AFTER 2 MULTI POINT INSPECTIONS(RESULTS FINE) I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM(IT WAS UNDER ITS 30 DAY FRONT TO BACK WARRANTY), WHEN THEY DROVE IT FOR 50FT SAID YES THERE IS A DEFINITE "CLUNKING" NOISE GOING ON AND WE'LL LOOK INTO IT. THEY TOOK IT TO THEIR PONTIAC/GM DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION. THAT DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE REAR END AND IT WAS NORMAL, HOWEVER MINE WAS EXCESSIVE SO THEY RE-PLACED THE REAR END/DRIVESHAFT AND DIFFERENTIAL. WHEN CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME IT STILL WAS MAKING THE NOISE W/ A LETTER FROM GM STATING THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THESE PARTICULAR CARS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME KIND OF DEFECT GOING ON W THESE MAKES AND MODELS, IF YOU SEARCH THE INTERNET YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT OF THIS CAR AND OTHERS FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE. WHEN DRIVING IT BASICALLY SOUNDS LIKE THE BACK END OR TRANSMISSION IS GOING TO FALL OUT OR SOMETHING IS STICKING, THE GEARS ARE ALWAYS GETTING STUCK WHEN SHIFTING AND IT IS A FIGHT TO GET IT INTO GEAR MOST TIMES. ADDITIONALLY WHEN TRYING TO TURN CORNERS OR COME TO A STOP THE CAR APPEARS TO BE LOCKING UP, STEERING GETS TIGHT AND BREAKS JUST DON'T FEEL TO BE WORKING PROPERLY. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IS IN MINT CONDITION FOR IT BEING A 2006 AND UNDER 26K MILES(W/ THE EXCEPTION OF THIS COMPLAINT). ALL THE PREVIOUS RECALL HAVE BEEN DONE AND THE NEWEST ONE HAS YET TO BE DONE EVEN THOUGH THE PONTIAC/GM DEALERSHIP ORDERED IT FOR ME 2 MONTHS AGO AND GM SENT ME A LETTER LAST WEEK TO GET THE RECALL PERFORMED, THERE STILL ARE NO PARTS AND IM STILL WAITING AND IM BASICALLY ACCORDING TO GM STUCK W A CAR THAT CLUNKS AND DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY AND STICKS IN BETWEEN GEARS WHICH THEY STATE IS NORMAL. SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THESE MODELS, I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10606650
Incident
Mar 28, 2013
Mileage
25,800 mi
Heating & air conditioningEngine
Filed Oct 5, 2012
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 80 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED AS WHITE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

NHTSA ID
10478706
Incident
Aug 31, 2012
Mileage
41,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 30, 2011

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE WOULD COME TO A SLAMMING STOP JOLTING BODY AND TRANSMISSION TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN PROCEEDING TO NORMAL DRIVING MODE UNTIL APPLYING BRAKES AGAIN. TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR SAME REPAIR. CODES P0013, P0014, P0700 & P2637 ON DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED ALL 4 TIMES WHEN SERVICE DEPT. CHECKED FOR ISSUES. ALSO, POWERTRAIN DIFFERENTIAL IN REAR MAKES DRAGGING NOISE SINCE DAY ONE.

NHTSA ID
10423408
Incident
Jun 1, 2009
Mileage
41,414 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 22, 2009

IN MARCH, 2007, MY 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE HAD A CATASTROPHIC CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65MPH ONE SECOND, AND THE NEXT SECOND THE CAR SLOWED TO 30MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING (NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO PRIOR ENGINE POWER ISSUE). I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MY DEALER AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 25MPH. THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A SERIOUS HIGH SPEED REAR-END COLLISION. PONTIAC HAS SENT A LETTER TO 2006 SOLSTICE OWNERS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES, BUT THEY DO NOT WANT ANYONE TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO THEIR DEALERSHIP UNLESS THE CONVERTER FAILS (POSSIBLY CAUSING A SERIOUS CRASH DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AS PREVIOUSLY DESCRIBED). THERE SHOULD BE A FULL RECALL OF THIS CONVERTER BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10274587
Incident
Mar 5, 2007
Mileage
13,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .