G6 Brake Issues

The Pontiac G6 is a stylish car that can be purchased as a sedan, a coupe or a convertible. Made from 2005 to 2009, its sleek exterior gives it a sporty, yet sophisticated look. Despite its relative popularity, the G6 is no longer in production, as the Pontiac brand is phased out altogether. However, those with older versions of this car should be aware of the known brake issues the G6 has come under fire for.

Brake Lights

Faulty brake lights send conflicting signals to following drivers about stops.

In February 2009, General Motors (GM) recalled 8,012 G6 vehicles due to faulty wiring in the brake lamps. The wiring connector could potentially experience corrosion, causing the brake lights to work improperly. This corrosion would make the brake lights illuminate when the brake was not applied, or not illuminate when the brakes were depressed. The corrosion also caused issues with shifting and cruise control.

Brake Rotor

Warped brake rotors may make applying brakes more difficult.

A common complaint about the G6 was the brake rotor warping. The rotors would warp and either need to be re-machined or replaced entirely, often around the 15,000-mile mark. Several reports state that the shaking sensation caused by these warped rotors are noticeable when applying the brake at higher speeds.

Transmission

This recall took place in March of 2009.

While the transmission is technically not a brake, the recall of 2005 and 2006 G6 had to do with the transmission braking effect. Some of the 276,729 vehicles recalled had a transmission shift cable adjustment clip that was not fully engaged. As a result, the driver could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the car would not actually be in a parked condition. This could prevent the car from being able to restart, or worse, cause it to roll once the driver left the vehicle, causing a crash.