2006 Pontiac Gto

Above average

Owners filed 216 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › front. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
1,000 milesMedian miles at failure

198 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut68
000
Suspension › Front65
100
Suspension52
100
Tires8
000
Electrical System4
000
Power Train › Clutch Assembly2
000
Wheels1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Tires › Pressure Monitoring and Regulating Systems1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed May 4, 2016182,000 milesKS

MY 2006 PONTIAC CABLE SHIFTER WAS INSPECTED SOME TIME ON NOVEMBER 2014! PROBLEM IS THE CABLE SHIFTER ON MAY 1 2016! THE CABLE SHIFTER WAS OUT OF POSITION AND MY CAR WOUDN'T START! IF THE TABS WERE TO FRACTURE AND SEPARATE, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. THE DRIVER WOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE THE SHIFTER TO 'PARK' AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN 'PARK.' THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR! I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO SUPPOSEDLY INSPECTED THAT PART OR EVEN FIXED SAID THAT THEY ARE LIABLE SINCE IT WAS ALREADY DONE IN NOVEMBER OF 2014! I WOULD TO SEND A COMPLAINT REGARDING ROBERT BROGDEN BUICK GMC AT 913-782-1500 THEY DID NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS PART!! IF THEY DID IT WAS A DEFECT PART! THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THE PROBLEM

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jul 13, 201533,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT FROM THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. MA 10/19/2015

Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)
Filed Jan 6, 201532,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME LOOSE AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Suspension
Filed Nov 21, 201441,707 milesNV

I HAVE A 2006 GTO THAT WAS MAKING A LOUD HUMMING NOISE BETWEEN 20 AND 50 MPH AFTER A 5,600 MILE ROAD TRIP WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE PREMATURE TREAD WEAR ON THE INSIDE EDGE (APPROX. 2" WIDTH) OF EACH TIRE, WITH THE REMAINING TREAD ON EACH TIRE EXHIBITING NORMAL WEAR. THESE WERE STOCK-SIZE, 2 YEAR-OLD DUNLOP DIREZZA DZ101 TIRES ON THE STOCK 17" WHEELS WITH 18,276 MILES ON THEM. AFTER SEEING THIS I CHECKED THE TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR THAT I KEPT FOR ORIGINALITY AND THEY EXHIBITED WEAR ON THE INSIDE TREAD AS WELL; IT WAS JUST NOT AS NOTICEABLE. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES, HAD THE DEALER PERFORM A 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENT CHECK AND EVERYTHING WAS IN SPECIFICATION. SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT OFFER A SOLUTION I STARTED CHECKING ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE. I THEN EMAILED GM PRIORITY CARE AND THEY RESPONDED BY SAYING THE TIRES WERE AT FAULT SINCE THEY WERE NOT ORIGINAL TO THE CAR AND THAT GM WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH I GAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FROM OTHER PEOPLE, ALONG WITH EVIDENCE OF THE SAME WEAR ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT THE SUSPENSION ON THESE CARS HAVE QUITE A BIT OF NEGATIVE CAMBER BUILT-IN AND THAT THE CAMBER IS NOT FIELD ADJUSTABLE, SO THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE SUSPENSION WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS AT GREAT EXPENSE THAT ALLOW CAMBER ADJUSTMENT. FINALLY, I EMAILED GM PRIORITY CARE AGAIN, EXPLAINED THE NEGATIVE CAMBER ISSUE TO THEM AND ASKED THEM WHICH TIRES I SHOULD PUT ON THE CAR TO PREVENT T

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Aug 8, 2014125,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REMOVED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER FRACTURED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRILLED TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR WEEKS FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 19, 201486,000 milesUT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE NOT INVESTIGATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,128.

Suspension
Filed Sep 13, 201139,000 milesID

MY TIRES ON MY 2006 GTO ARE WEARING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND BLOWING OUT MY TIRE IT APPEARS TO BE RUBBING ON THE STRUTS I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES AND HAD ALIGNMENTS DONE AND THE NEW TIRES ARE DOING THE SAME THING IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH A CAR BLOWING OUT A FRONT TIRE LIKE THIS I ALMOST CAUSED A SEVER ACCIDENT. *TR

Tires
Filed Apr 25, 201122,000 milesNC

BLOW OUT OF RIGHT REAR TIRE ON 2006 PONTIAC GTO WITH FACTORY BRIDGESTONE POTENZA 18 TIRES WITH 22,000 MILES ON THEM. INSIDE TREAD SEVERELY WORN BEFORE THE REST OF THE TIRE CAUSING A TEAR ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE. THIS WAS NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL AFTER THE BLOW OUT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 31, 201117,000 milesCT

2006 GTO AND HAD ENGINE MOUNT PROBLEM. ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND BROUGHT IT IN TO BE CHECK OUT BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING OIL. COME TO FIND OUT WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE CRACKED AND BLOWN OUT LEAKING OIL EVERYWHERE. GM TECHNICIAN SAID A LOT OF THESE CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. LUCKILY IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY A NEW CAR HAS THAT SERIOUS OF A PROBLEM. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 31, 201131,581 milesCT

2006 GTO ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 4YRS. COUPLE DAYS AGO IT STARTED TO LEAK FLUID UNDER THE CAR. TOOK IT IN TO GET CHECKED OUT AND AFTER ONLY 31,500 MILES ON THE CAR GM TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK IS LEAKING ALL THE MOUNTS ARE CRACKED. POWER STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE TOTALLY REPLACED!!! GUY ALSO DECIDED TO TELL ME THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS KIND OF CAR HAS HAD A PROBLEM! HE SAID THE GTO'S AND G8'S HAVE HAD POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. I SAID WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS? HE SAID GM COULD POSSIBLY HAVE ONE IN THE FEATURE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH A $1,500 BILL THE GM KNOWS ABOUT. GM TECHNICIAN ALSO SAID YOUR POWER STEERING COULD FAIL AT ANYTIME RESULTING IN LOSS CONTROL OF YOU VEHICLE AND POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY. I COULD OF CRASHED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF FAULTY PARTS. *TR

Suspension
Filed Jan 9, 201139,000 milesFL

I WISH TO KNOW WHY NHTSA DID NOT HAVE A RECALL OF PONTIAC GTO'S FOR THE YEARS 2004, 2005, AND 2006..WHEN 200+ COMPLAINTS WERE FILED ABOUT FRONT SUSPENSION AND EXTREME TIRE WEAR.. *TR

Wheels
Filed Nov 22, 201041,750 milesOK

I FOUND THAT 3 OF THE WHEELS ON MY 2006 PONTIAC GTO HAVE CRACKS. 2 WHEELS HAVE ONE SPOKE CRACKED COMPLETELY THOUGH AND ONE IS STARTING. THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE ON THE WHEELS. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL 18X8 OPTIONAL WHEEL. *TR

SuspensionCrash
Filed Aug 19, 201024,500 milesNJ

HELLO, I WOULD LIKE TO SEND YOU A COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. I OWN A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS UNDER 25K MILES ON IT AND I HAVE ALREADY HAD TWO SETS OF TIRES BLOW OUT ON ME DUE TO INNER TIRE WEAR. I HAVE OWNED MY CAR FOR LESS THEN 1.5 YEARS AND I HAVE PUT UNDER 19K MILES ON IT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, I AM NOT THE GTO OWNER WITH THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ISSUE WHICH IS CAUSING THESE TIRE PROBLEMS HAS TO DO WITH BAD SUSPENSION. I BEG YOU TO HELP BY HAVING GM CONTACT GTO OWNERS AND PUT A RECALL ON THESE CARS. HOW CAN GM GET AWAY THIS? THE FIRST TIME MY TIRE BLOW OUT I FIGURED THE TIRE WAS BAD B/C THE CAR WAS A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD EVEN THOUGH IT ONLY HAD 5XXX MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME I HAD A BLOW OUT, I WAS WITH A LOVED AND NEARLY HIT A TELEPHONE POLE AFTER I AVOIDED HITTING AN ON COMING CAR. MY TIRES ARE ROTATED REGULARLY AND MY ALIGNMENT IS SET JUST AS OFTEN. THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I BEG FOR YOUR SUPPORT, I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR AND THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE CASE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND PLEASE PLEASE HELP. *TR

Tires
Filed Aug 14, 201015,948 milesIN

I JUST FOUND OUT MY GTO HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN I STARTED HAVING MANY OTHER NUMEROUS PROBLEMS COSMETICALLY WITH MY CAR BY RESEARCHING MY PROBLEMS ON THE GTO FORUMS ONLINE. I OWN A 2006 PONTIAC GTO THAT HAS NOT BEEN MODIFIED, IS ORIGINAL STOCK, IS NOT RACED OR BEAT ON, BUT HAS BEEN BABIED. BACK ON 5/10/2008 I HAD A TIRED BLOW OUT WITH ONLY 15,948MILES ON MY CAR. ON 8/30/2008 I HAD ANOTHER TIRE THAT WOULD NOT HOLD AIR AND HAD TO GET IT REPLACED WITH THEN ONLY HAVING 18,721 MILES ON THE CAR. AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT STRUTS RUBBING ON THE TIRES ON THIS CAR AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR AT THE TIME AND PERSONALLY I DIDN'T THINK ABOUT THERE BEING SOMETHING WRONG, I GUESS I JUST ASSUMED BAD LUCK THEN BUT I DID FIND IT ODD. HOWEVER, ON 7/26/2010, WHEN I STARTED HAVING MY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR, I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE STRUTS RUBBING ON TIRES AND HAD MY DEALERSHIP LIFT MY CAR UP TO SEE IF IT HAD THIS PROBLEM; AND MY GTO DID. GM WOULD ONLY PAY 50% OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I EXPLAINED IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT THEY WERE LUCKY 2YRS AGO THAT I DIDN'T HURT MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I UNDERSTAND THEY CAN NOT PROVE SINCE IT'S BEEN 2YRS NOW THAT THE STRUTS WERE THE CAUSE THEN, HOWEVER, IT'S KIND OF FUNNY HOW MY CAR HAD THE STRUT TIRE RUB ISSUE AND I HAD TIRE LEAKAGE AND A BLOW OUT WITH VERY LOW MILES BACK IN 08. I CURRENTLY HAVE 27,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I STILL HAVE 2 OF THE ORIGINAL BF GOODRICH TIRES AND TWO THAT ARE NEW AND

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 13, 201019,106 milesFL

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSPENSION STRUT FAILED. OIL LEAKED OUT ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS NO ACTIVITY PRIOR TO FAILURE THAT WOULD LEAD TO UNIT BEING UNDER ABNORMAL STRESS. THERE ARE ONLY 19000 MILES ON VEHICLE. BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED WITH MONROE UNITS AS I WOULD HAVE NO FAITH IN STANDARD UNITS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jun 10, 201048,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GTO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR THE CONTACT NOTICED THE RADIATOR WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WHEN HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER REGARDING RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT HE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48000.

Suspension › Front
Filed Jun 1, 201025,500 milesAL

STRUTS LEAKING OIL- STRUTS BUSHING COLLAPSED- NO RECALLS FROM GMC SEEMS ALOT PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH 06 PONTIAC GTO. *TR

Suspension
Filed Apr 5, 201014,000 milesAZ

I HAVE A 2006 PONTIAC GTO WITH JUST OVER 14,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS GETTING AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND THE CAR WAS UP ON A LIFT. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO COME LOOK AT SOMETHING. HE SHOWED ME THAT THE INSIDE OF MY RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE STEEL BELTS WERE SHOWING THROUGH THE TIRE. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE INSIDES OF MY OTHER TIRES WERE SHOWING WEAR BUT NOT NEAR AS BADLY AS THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. HE STATED TO ME THAT THE ONLY CAUSE OF THIS WAS TO GET AN ALIGNMENT. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED BY AN ALIGNMENT SHOP THAT TELLS ME THAT THE ALIGNMENT IS IN FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. I HAD TO PAY FOR FOUR NEW TIRES AT DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY HERE IN PHOENIX. I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND MANY OTHER GTO OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING. PONTIAC NEEDS TO RESEARCH THIS AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES IF NECESSARY. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE. *TR

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 30, 20101,000 milesCA

I BOUGHT MY 2006 PONTIAC GTO END OF JULY 2006, AND SINCE THEN THERE HAS BEEN A CLICKING NOISE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS IT WAS THE STRUT MAKING THE NOISE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN OVER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME NOISE, BUT THE NOISE STILL REMAINS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT STRUT BECAUSE IT COMPLETE CAME OUT. SHORTLY AFTER THE STRUT WAS REPLACED I HAD A TIRE COMPLETELY POP. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES (NOT EVEN 2 YEARS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE). SECOND PROBLEM, THE SWAY BAR HAD TO BE REPLACE. IT STARTED AS CLICKING NOISES, TURNED INTO RATTLING, AND THE SHAKING OF THE VECHILE WHEN IN DRIVE. THIRD PROBLEM, GAS DOOR FELL OFF BY ITSELF AND SO DID AC VENT ON DRIVER SIDE DOOR. FOURTH, THE KEYS DON'T ALWAYS UNLOCK THE DOOR WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED. FIFTH, THE UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON INSIDE GETS STUCK. SIXTH, THE ORANGE TAB ON THE SHIFTER WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO RIGHT GEAR (DEALERSHIP HAD TO FIX). FINALLY, THE WINDSHEILD SPRAYERS WERE SPRAYING OVER THE WINDOWS AND THAT TOO HAD TO BE FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP.

Suspension › Front
Filed Mar 17, 201026,000 milesFL

WHEN REPLACING A "FLAT" TIRE ON MY 2006 PONTIAC GTO WITH STANDARD 17" WHEELS AND ORIGINAL TIRES (APPROX. 26K MILES), I NOTICED THAT THE WHOLE INNER SIDE OF THE TIRE WAS SHREDDED BEYOND THE BELTS. WHEN I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED, TWO ADDITIONAL TIRES WERE FOUND IN EVEN WORSE CONDITION - ALL WERE SHREDDED ON THE INNER SIDE. ONE TIRE THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED, WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. I REMEMBER THAT WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING "STRUT RUB" ON THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT WHEELS. I MADE SURE THIS WAS ADDRESSED AND THAT THE VEHICLE RECEIVED AN ALIGNMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECS. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IT APPEARS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, THE SOLUTION IS NOT A CURE. WE HAVE A VEHICLE THAT KEEPS ON SHREDDING TIRES - THAT IS NOT VERY SAFE. *TR

20 of 216 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
2006 — this page216000Above average
2005154020Routine
2004245012Fatalities reported

Compare every Gto year →

Reading this record

Complaint volume is well above typical for a single model year.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.