Total Complaints
27 filings
PONTIAC 6000 · model year
1987 PONTIAC 6000
27 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1987PONTIAC6000 carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1987 6000 is structure:frame and members with 3 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (3) and steering:rack and pinion (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 17 investigation files overlapping the 1987 6000. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
27
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050518FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL TANK FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTING. FUEL TANK IS SEEPING GASOLINE WHEN FULL.
20050518FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
FUEL TANK FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTING. FUEL TANK IS SEEPING GASOLINE WHEN FULL.
20040310STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THIS IS REFERRING TO A CURRENT RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. YOUR CURRENT RECALL # IS 88V048000 UNDER THE NHTSA GUIDELINES. THIS RECALL INCLUDES CARS FOR ONE MONTH OF PRODUCTION FOR ONE YEAR. THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL YEARS OF THE CAR, 88 AND EARLIER. I AM A MEMBER OF A CLUB THAT HAS OVER 200 MEMBERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THERE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOU PHONE, BUT HAS BEEN BUSY FROM 12 MIDNIGHT, TO 12 MIDNIGHT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM. IN 1989 GM UPGRADED THEIR ENGINE CRADLE WITH A SUPPORT BRACKET TO PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM OCCURING. MY QUESTION IS, WHAT ABOUT THE 10 OF THOUSANDS OF CARS STILL ON THE ROAD TO TODAY THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND COULD BE POTENTIALLY FATAL FOR A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.*AK
20040310STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER STATED THAT ENGINE CRADLE CRACKED AT THE CONTROL ARM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 1988 MODELS, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND WAS TOLD THAT ENGINE CRADLE CRACKED, AND IT WOULD BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX THE ENGINE CRADLE. *AK
20040108FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 68 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A POPPING SOUND AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED REDUCED. THE CONSUMER THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH HER SON AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE. *PH *NM
19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
RADIATOR FAILED. NLM
19991214VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVER PUT THE GEAR SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND HIT A PARKED CAR. NLM
19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THERMOSTAT FAILED. NLM
19991214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
MAP SENSOR FAILED. NLM
19990116CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE REAR BRAKE LOCKING AND CAR GOING INTO SPINS ON SNOW AND ICE. I HAVE HAD THREE MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED, I HAVE HAD REAR BRAKING SYSTEM INSPECTED AND SERVICED BY FIRESTONE. GOODYEAR, AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS, CARX AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING PROBLEM FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME . OFTEN THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP. ON JAN 13 MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIS REAR END STRUCK ONCOMING VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY NEITHER WAS INJURED. I WISH I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF NHTSA BEFORE NOW BECAUSE THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS (POWER STEERING, SPARK KNOCKING, AND ENGINE VALVE COVER LEAKING TO NAME A FEW). I LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF TECHNICAL BULLETINS ON THIS CAR AND WAS SHOCKED! I NEVER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY PONTIAC OF DEALER FOR A SINGLE CAMPAIGN ON THIS CAR IN ALL THE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. I KNOW ANOTHER OW
19990116CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE REAR BRAKE LOCKING AND CAR GOING INTO SPINS ON SNOW AND ICE. I HAVE HAD THREE MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED, I HAVE HAD REAR BRAKING SYSTEM INSPECTED AND SERVICED BY FIRESTONE. GOODYEAR, AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS, CARX AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING PROBLEM FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME . OFTEN THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP. ON JAN 13 MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIS REAR END STRUCK ONCOMING VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY NEITHER WAS INJURED. I WISH I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF NHTSA BEFORE NOW BECAUSE THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS (POWER STEERING, SPARK KNOCKING, AND ENGINE VALVE COVER LEAKING TO NAME A FEW). I LOOKED AT THE NUMBER OF TECHNICAL BULLETINS ON THIS CAR AND WAS SHOCKED! I NEVER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY PONTIAC OF DEALER FOR A SINGLE CAMPAIGN ON THIS CAR IN ALL THE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. I KNOW ANOTHER OW
19981109SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WERE HARD AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO PUSH DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKES TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY SEP. '86, THIS VEHICLE MANUFACTURED DEC. '86, BUT HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK *ML
19981019CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING SPACE ABOUT 5MPH WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HAD NO WARNING. VEHICLE HIT TRUCK ACROSS STREET. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. *AK
19970814STEERING:RACK AND PINION
CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT CAUSED FAILURE OF RACK & PINION STEERING.
19961231FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT)
19961029ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
COMPUTER FAILURE.
19960802STEERING:COLUMN
THE TILT STEERING COLUMN HAS DEVELOPED TOO MUCH PLAY AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES SOME BEARINGS INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE CAUSING AN EXCESSIVE WOBBLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN. *SLC
19960802SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
THE TILT STEERING COLUMN HAS DEVELOPED TOO MUCH PLAY AND COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES SOME BEARINGS INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE CAUSING AN EXCESSIVE WOBBLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN. *SLC
19960731SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
POWER BRAKES -SECONDARY-PUMP FAILED. *AK
19960731VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE-PIVOT DRIVE ASSEMBLY FAILED. *AK
Compare 1987PONTIAC6000 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1987 PONTIAC 6000 have?▼
The 1987 PONTIAC 6000 has 27 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 PONTIAC 6000?▼
The most-complained component for the 1987 PONTIAC 6000 is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and STEERING:RACK AND PINION.
Is the 1987 PONTIAC 6000 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.