Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2006 Pontiac Solstice submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 26 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.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
DRIVE AXLE SEAL LEAK. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING DUE TO A FAULTY PINION SEAL. I CHECKED ALL RECALL INFORMATION, AND YES, IT WAS RECALLED. I WILL NOTIFY THE DEALER OF THE RECALL AND REQUEST THAT IT BE REPAIRED AT NO COST. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN I NOTICED THE LEAK. SMALL AMOUNT ON GARAGE FLOOR.
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.
VEHICLE WAS IN DEALERSHIP FOR IGNITION SWITCH RECALL WORK (RECALL 14063 AND 14113). WHEN VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME UPON COMPLETION OF THE WORK, THE VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES START, AND SOMETIMES NOT. I START WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR, CLUTCH DEPRESSED. THIS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE ANY IMPACT ON THE ISSUE, WHICH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN REPORTED WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HALL EFFECT DEVICES IN THE KEY HEAD. I AM AN EX GM ELECTRICAL ENGINEER - I UNDERSTAND NEUTRAL SAFETY. THIS IS NOT A CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL SAFETY ISSUE, THIS IS A KEY SWITCH FAILURE TO ENGAGE CRANK ISSUE. THE OLD IGNITION SWITCH ALWAYS STARTED IN THIS CRANK CONFIGURATION. AT THIS TIME, I HAVE MY VEHICLE AT HOME, AND BOTH RECALL KEYS HAVE DEMONSTRATED A REFUSAL TO START THE CAR AT TIMES. TURN THE KEY, NO CRANK. GREAT, IF I DUMP THE CLUTCH AND STALL THE VEHICLE, I MAY BE IN A ROAD CONDITION THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND BE UNABLE TO START MY CAR. IT "COULD" BE A WALK HOME FAILURE PER THE TECHNICIANS COMMENTS IF I UNDERSTOOD HIM CORRECTLY. IN RETURNING "ONE" OF THE "TWO" SUPPLIED KEYS SO THEY COULD ORDER REPLACEMENTS, THE COMMENT WAS MADE THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE WITH HALL KEY HEADS BEFORE. EXCUSE ME, I WOULD THINK A "NO START" CONDITION IS A RECALL CONDITION -- YOU CAN GET SOMEONE HURT IN TRAFFIC. I WOULD ALSO THINK ALL KEY HEAD SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR PERFORMANCE PRIOR TO INSTALLATION IN SERVICE. HOW MANY OF THE RECALLED "FIXED" VEHICLES HAVE THESE UNSAFE KEYS IN CUSTOMERS HANDS? I CHALLENGE THIS SOLUTION AS A "FIX", AND QUESTION THE RECALL SOLUTION. *TR
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
PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 2/4/14 FROM A LOCAL REPUTABLY DEALER.THIS 06 SOLSTICE SHOWED ONLY 36998 MILES AND HAD A CLEAN CAR FAX REPORT. HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR ONLY A COUPLE OF HUNDRED MILES DUE TO THE FOLLOWING . THE FEW TIMES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN THERE SEEMS TO BE A GRINDING NOISE IN THE REAR END ONLY AT LOW SPEED AND ONLY WHILE TURNING ,MOSTLY PARKING LOT SPEED .THE CAR WILL GRIND AND "VIOLENT SNATCH" AS IF SOMETHING IS BINDING OR CATCHING. THE LOCAL MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A DEFECT IN CLUTCHES OF THE REAR END ON THESE MODELS (06) AND THAT GM SHOULD HAVE REPAIRED IT A LONG TIME AGO .WELL, APPARENTLY MINE WAS NOT .ADDED THE REQUIRED GM ADDITIVE TO THE REAR ,BUT CAR CONTINUES TO GRIND.I HAVE READ MANY HORROR STORIES ON LINE FROM OTHER OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THERE REAR WHEELS" LOCKING UP "AT SPEED AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL IN THESE CARS (.I AM NOT ABOUT TO LET MY WIFE EVER DRIVE THIS CAR AGAIN.) PROBLEM #(2) I THOUGHT WAS INSIGNIFICANT UNTIL I SAW THIS CAR WAS RECALLED LAST WEEK ,AND NOW MY EXPERIENCE MAKES SENSE. NOT ONLY WILL THESE SWITCHES SHUT OFF DURING OPERATING THEY WILL ALSO UNINTENTIONALLY START DUE TO WEAK DETENTE IN SWITCH. ( NO HARM NO FOUL )...SO FAR....PROBLEM#3 MY PASS SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THIS CAR WORKS ABOUT HALF THE TIME. MEANING THE PASS SIDE BAG IS ACTIVE AND OPERATING ABOUT HALF THE TIME.(MY DAUGHTER HAS HAD HER LAST RIDE AS WELL) THE REAL PROBLEM HERE IS THAT I STILL OWE 14000 ON A CAR THAT LOOKS GREAT BUT CAN'T BE SAFELY DRIVEN . THIS PURCHASE IS MY FIRST SINCE BANKRUPTCY 2 YRS AGO ,AND IT LOOKS AS IF I WILL BE GIVING IT BACK TO THE FINANCE COMPANY AND WILL BE OUT MY 2000 DOLLARS DOWN PAYMENT. AFTER PURCHASING THIS CAR I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THESE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING ,HAVE BEEN AN ONGOING FOR GM.WHY ARE THEY STILL OUT THERE BEING SOLD TO THE CONSUMER? AND TO THINK I CHEERED WHEN GM WAS BAILED OUT!! BLAME GOES TO ME FOR TRUSTING GM? *TR
IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE IN 2006, I BEGIN EXPERIENCING A NOISE IN THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR UNTIL FINALLY IN 2007, PONTIAC RECALLED THE VEHICLE FOR THE POWER TRAIN BEING DEFECTIVE AS LISTED BELOW. I DID NOT HAVE ANY MORE PROBLEMS UNTIL 2010 WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER GM DEALERSHIP AS THE ONE I PURCHASED FROM HAD CLOSED. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORST AND NOW THE NOISE IF GETTING VERY BAD AS I AM DECELERATING AND BRAKING. THE GEARS GET MORE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS THE SAME WAY IT WAS ACTING BEFORE THE DRIVE TRAIN REPLACEMENT. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER GM DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY ONLY REPLACE THEM ONCE UNDER A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IF THEY ARE DEFECTIVE THEY SHOULD REPLACE REGARDLESS. I WAS TOLD THEY COULD CHANGE THE FLUID AND REPLACE FOR $700 AT MY COST. 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE POWER TRAIN RECALL 07V589000 NHTSA: ACTION NUMBER: N/A SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 07V589000 REPORT DATE: DEC 20, 2007 COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN POTENTIAL UNITS AFFECTED: 275936 MANUFACTURER: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK. CONSEQUENCE: A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINION SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. *TR
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.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL 07V589000(POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL) ON HIS VEHICLE AND THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, BUT HE CONTINUED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE IN THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,300.
2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE...DIFFERENTIAL NOISES AND CLUNKING WHILE TURNING SLOW CORNERS. DEALER INSTALLED RECALL FOR SEAL AND LUBE..STILL MAKES LOUD NOISES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS NOW . SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND SOME OF THEM HAVE HAD LOCK UPS THAT CAUSED THEM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE...SOME ONE HAS TO STEP UP TO GM AND GET THEM TO MAKE A PERMANENT FIX TO THIS PROBLEM...OR I GUESS IT WILL HAPPEN AFTER SOMEONE DIES FROM THE DEFECTIVE DRIVE TRAIN. *TR
MY WIFE SUGGESTED TO ME THAT THE ACCIDENT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION TO THE CAR. I DIDN'T REALLY CONSIDER THAT A POSSIBILITY. HOWEVER, SHE HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE ACCIDENT BEYOND SAYING "ALL OF A SUDDEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR". WHILE I WAS LOOKING FOR THE CAR TITLE, WHICH I'VE STILL NOT FOUND BY THE WAY, I DISCOVERED A RECALL NOTICE FROM EARLY 2008. I REVIEWED THE DOCUMENT AND DISCOVERED THE 3RD CONDITION WHICH MAY OCCUR SOUNDS LIKE A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE OF THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS POINT. I'M NOT A MECHANICAL EXPERT BUT IT SEEMS TO ME WE COULD EASILY DISCOVER IF THE DIFFERENTIAL IS JAMMED. IF SO, I SUSPECT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS NOT MY WIFE. IF NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF THESE THINGS CAN JAM AND RELEASE OR NOT. OF COURSE, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT SOMEONE ELSE ISN'T PLACED IN JEOPARDY LIKE MY WIFE MAY HAVE BEEN. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO WORK TO GET THE TICKET AGAINST HER DISMISSED AND REMOVE THIS FROM OUR RECORDS AS AN "AT FAULT" ACCIDENT. PERHAPS TRAVELERS COULD FIND SOME RELIEF IF THE CAR REALLY MALFUNCTIONED. WE HAD THE RECALL REPAIR WORK COMPLETED BY THE DEALER WHEN WE RECEIVED THE RECALL IN 2008. WHEN MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON DECEMBER 3, 2009 SHE ASKED THAT THEY ALSO EXAMINE A NOISE SHE WAS HEARING. THE DEALERS NOTES ON THE SERVICE TICKET INDICATE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL IN 2008. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND ORDERED PARTS. THE PARTS DID NOT ARRIVE SO THEY LET MY WIFE DRIVE OFF - KNOWING A POSSIBLE SERIOUS PROBLEM MIGHT EXIST. *TR
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. *TR
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.*JB
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. *TR
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. *TR
REAR-END CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR-END WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, NONE REPAIRABLE. *TR
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. *JB
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.) *JB
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. *AK
DIFFERENTIAL MAKING CLUNKING SOUNDS WHEN SHIFTING. NOTHING WAS DONE AS DEALER SAID THAT THISWAS ONE OF THE VEHICLE'S CHARACTERISTICS. *AK
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.*AK
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. *JB
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. *JB
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. *NM
2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION GASKET LEAK REPAIRED BY GM ON 5/2/06. *JB
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. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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