Steering. Review the 295 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 190 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 178 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports20 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

712 reports

67,125 miles · May 16, 2013

Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages

Read full complaint

I BOUGHT MY 2009 PONTIAC G6 SEDAN BRAND NEW. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR DOOR LOCKS WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. MY 3-YEAR-OLD NIECE WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS ACTUALLY LOCKED OPEN! SO WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SHUT THE DOORS AND DRIVE UNDER "SAFE" CONDITIONS. I HAD TO BUNGEE-CORD THE DOORS LOCKED AND DRIVE TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP. THE LOCKS HAD RESET AND THE DOORS WERE ABLE TO CLOSE. THEN IN 2010, MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKED SHUT ON ME! I WASN'T ABLE TO GET OUT OF MY CAR. AFTER 2 HOURS THE DOOR LOCKS RESET. THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN TO THE REAR DOOR. THIS TIME, I WAS ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH ALL THE DOOR LOCKS AND THEY SAID THEY CAN ONLY FIX THE ONE SINCE THAT WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME. IN 2011, I HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WHETHER THE DOORS WERE LOCKED SHUT OR LOCKED OPEN. EVERY TIME I WOULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, THE LOCKS WOULD RESET AND THE PROBLEM WAS LEFT UNDIAGNOSED. IN FEBRUARY 2013, MY FIANCE HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO HIS LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC GOT LOCKED INSIDE MY VEHICLE! THEN IN MAY 2013, I WAS WITH MY NIECE AGAIN AND THE REAR DOORS AND DRIVER DOOR LOCKED OPEN! I GAVE THE CAR SOME TIME TO RESET, AND THE DOOR UNLATCHED AND CLOSED. BUT THEN IT GOT LOCKED SHUT! SO I DROVE MY CAR FOR 2 DAYS WITH THE DOORS LOCKED SHUT. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND ENTER/EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE LOCK MECHANISM WAS BROKEN AND THAT IT NEEDED REPLACED FOR $400 EACH BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY! SO I CALLED GM. THEY SAID THE DOOR LOCKS WERE NOT RECALLED, THE CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY, THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. PONTIAC IS VERY WELL AWARE OF THE DOOR LOCK ISSUES, AND SO IS- THE MECHANIC. THESE ARE FAULTY LOCKS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512318

37,000 miles · Apr 29, 2013

Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHEN I PRESS MY BRAKE PEDAL THE LIGHTS GO OFF BUT THE REST OF THE TIME MY LIGHTS ARE ON (WHEN I AM NOT PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL) WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME CANNOT TELL WHEN I AM BRAKING. IT ALSO CAUSES ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL BECAUSE MY CRUISE CONTROL THINKS THAT I…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10509830

78,000 miles · Apr 24, 2013

Power TrainSteering

Read full complaint

G6 BEGAN TO SHIFT GEARS ON ITS OWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY LEADING TO NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO SUDDEN STOPS OR SLOW DOWNS. CARS TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK AND WON'T REVERSE. CAR BEGINS TO REVERSE ON ITS OWN IN PARK BUT ENDS UP CATCHING ITSELF BACK IN PARK. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SET ON PARK AND WON'T CHANGE TO GO IN REVERSE. ALSO THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE BURST AT RANDOM WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, CAUSED SEVERE MELTING OF VARIOUS WIRES AROUND IT. NEARLY LIT THE CAR ON FIRE AFTER CAUSING THE STARTER TO CATCH FIRE FROM THE POWER STEERING FLUID GETTING INSIDE OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509406

63,000 miles · Apr 11, 2013

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

IN MAY 2012 THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT SO WE REPLACED IT WITH A BRAND NEW LIGHT. WITHIN 2 WEEKS (JUNE 8TH), I WAS DRIVING IN INDIANA WHEN I NOTICED MY HEADLIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. WE AGAIN REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT AND SINCE THEN IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN I START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE HEADLIGHT IS OUT, THEN MOST OF THE TIME, IT WILL TURN ON AS I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IF THE HEADLIGHT IS ON WHEN I START THE CAR, THEM MOST OF THE TIME AS I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD IT WAS FLASH AND THEN SHUT OFF. I HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE HEADLIGHT BEING BURNED OUT AND I REFUSE TO BUY ANOTHER HEADLIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505905

43,888 miles · Apr 8, 2013

Service Brakes

MY BRAKE LIGHTS ARE STAYING ON AT ALL TIMES, I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES BEFORE TURNING MY CAR OFF OR IT KILLS THE BATTERY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ONE MIN I COULD STEP ON THE BRAKES AND NO BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON...OR THEY STAY ON THE WHOLE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10505589

85,000 miles · Apr 2, 2013

Exterior Lighting

MY DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WAS REPLACED TWICE, WENT TO MY GARAGE AND THEY REPLACED THE CONNECTORS. NOW AS OF 3/15/13 MY PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT WAS REPLACED TWICE AND WHILE DRIVING IT GOES OFF AND COMES BACK ON CONSTANTLY. THIS ALSO RESULTED IN GETTING PULLED OVER BY A POLICEMAN AND FAILED INSPECTION. AS SOON AS I LEFT TO GO HOME FROM TH…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10505383

65,000 miles · Mar 26, 2013

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

Read full complaint

I OWN A 2009 PONTIAC G6. IN AUGUST OF 2011, MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT BEGAN TO WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY UNTIL IT NO LONGER WOULD ILLUMINATE. I REPLACED THE BULB IN THE HEADLIGHT, AND IT WAS BACK TO WORKING AS IT SHOULD. A MATTER OF SIX OR SO MONTHS WENT BY AND THE RIGHT LIGHT BEGAN TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM UNTIL IT WENT OUT. I REPLACED IT AS WELL, HOWEVER, WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSED, ALTHOUGH INTERNET RESEARCH SEEMS TO SHOW A PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504598

74,000 miles · Mar 21, 2013

Exterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BURNING OUT DUE TO THE BULB BECOMING OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTOR BURNED AND AS A RESULT, THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE A…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #10503930

81,000 miles · Mar 13, 2013

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC G6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED DESPITE THE BRAKE PEDAL NOT BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE BRAKE LIGHTS ALSO FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE CONTACTED WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 06/17/13 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10502628

78,000 miles · Mar 13, 2013

Exterior Lighting

Read full complaint

PROBLEM 1 APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS AGO, MY LEFT HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. REPLACING THE LAMP WOULD SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW DAYS, BUT IT WOULD THEN START AND STOP WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THEN GO OUT ALTOGETHER. THE LAMP WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. I WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM ON MY OWN BY SPLICING IN A NEW LAMP PLUG CONNECTOR, AFTER SEARCHING FOR THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. IT HAS WORKED WITHOUT PROBLEMS FOR THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, BUT I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT MY "FIX" HAS REALLY ADDRESSED WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED AT GREAT LENGTH ON INTERNET FORUMS, AND CLEARLY IS COMMON WITH THIS CAR. INTERMITTENT HEADLAMPS WOULD CERTAINLY SEEM TO ME TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE WORTHY OF A RECALL. PROBLEM 2 TODAY, I NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AS I DROVE ALONG, I TRIED TAPPING THE BRAKES, AND FOUND THE CRUISE WOULD ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GO OFF AGAIN. A SECOND DRIVE (AT NIGHT) CONFIRMED THAT THE CAR'S BRAKE LIGHTS WERE COMING ON AT RANDOM AND STAYING ON. TAPPING THE BRAKES WOULD MAKE THEM GO OFF, BUT THEY COME ON AGAIN A FEW SECONDS LATER. THE CAR IS NOT SAFELY DRIVABLE IN THIS CONDITION, WHICH IS UNRESOLVED. AGAIN, A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THAT THIS IS ANOTHER VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT A RECALL ACTUALLY EXISTS, BUT FOR ONLY A TINY NUMBER OF CARS, WHEN THIS CLEARLY AFFECTS THE ENTIRE MODEL RANGE. THIS CAR HAS ONLY 82,000 MILES AND I CAN'T DRIVE IT SAFELY BECAUSE NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK CORRECTLY. GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THIS MODEL TO FIX THE LIGHTING PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502599

Official recalls

14V252000 · Electrical System:wiring; Electronic Stability Control (esc); Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch; Vehicle Speed Control:cruise Control

May 14, 2014

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 manufactured May 26, 2004, through January 4, 2010, and 2007-2010 Saturn Aura vehicles manufactured April 24, 2006, through May 26, 2009. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. These fluctuations can cause one or more of these conditions: the brake lights to illuminate without the brake pedal being pushed; the brake lights to not illuminate when the pedal is pushed; difficulty disengaging the cruise control; moving the gear shifter out of the 'PARK' position without pushing the brake; and disablement of crash avoidance features such as traction control, electronic stability control, and panic braking assist features.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 will relearn the brake pedal home position, free of charge. The manufacturer distributed an Interim letter to customers on July 14, 2014. The recall began on August 18, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), 1-800-762-2737 (Pontiac), 1-800-553-6000 (Saturn). GM's number for this recall is 13036.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Electronic Stability Control (esc)