PONTIAC SOLSTICE · model year

2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE

288 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006PONTIACSOLSTICE carries 288 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 3 fires, 12 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 2006 SOLSTICE is air bags with 171 filings, followed by electrical system (25) and power train:driveline:differential unit (10). 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. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2006 SOLSTICE. 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.

288
Complaints
12
Crashes
3
Fires
12
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

288 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS171
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT10
POWER TRAIN7
ENGINE7
SEATS7
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
SUSPENSION:REAR4
SERVICE BRAKES4
SEAT BELTS4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY2

Recalls (5)

14E02100030/04/2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

UCI-FRAM Group is recalling certain LS1328 ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1328, Duralast LS1328, Airtex 1S6097, and Carquest 53-27479, and LS1497 Ignition Switches sold as Wells LS1497, Duralast LS1497, Airtex 1S10961, and Carquest 53-27967, for use on various General Motors model and model year

17V06100026/01/2017

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.

07V58900020/12/2007

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.

14V17100010/04/2014

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-2011 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-2010 Pontiac G5, 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice, 2003-2007 Saturn Ion, and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the key can be removed from the ignition when the ignitio

14V04700010/02/2014

AIR BAGS

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency

Recent Complaints

20250331EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLAMP HOUSING IS CRACKING AND ALLOWING MOISTURE TO GET INTO HEADLIGHT AREA. IT MAKES THE LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING VERY POOR AND IS A NIGHT HAZARD.

20241017AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 192,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 192,000

20240826UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Hello i would like to make an agreement with someone to recover a seized vehicle by cbp at the border I made a mistake and i really want to fix it because i really need the car for work but all proof of ownership is inside the vehicle under the driver seat on a red docs bag the guy that sold it to me doesnt want to help me and im Just a young buddy I got it on payments with the condition that i was going to have the original tittle until i pay it all help

20240822AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the passenger’s side seat sensor air bag warning light was not illuminated; however, the passenger’s side seat was occupied. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the inflatable restraint passenger presence module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,153.

Mileage: 38,153

20230707AIR BAGS

Passenger seat position sensor for the air bag system has failed. This sensor was inspected and supposedly "reinforced" under the GM Recall on this item in 2018, vehicle mileage 22390. It is now 2023, with the vehicle mileage at 25,131. The passenger seat in this vehicle is used very rarely by my wife, so in these 5 years perhaps 400 miles of usage on the component in failure. Contacting GM, they will do nothing regarding this problem from a recall or warranty standpoint. Doing the "fix" that GM should have done in 2018 on this seat is going to cost me $1095 per the dealership phone call this afternoon. So what exactly did NHTSA approve in this recall (reference 17036)? A fix that will not even survive usage for 400 or so miles on an airbag system component? I believe NHTSA needs to revisit this campaign and force GM to supply correct components to enable system performance. How many subsequent failures have happened to the GM vehicle involved in this campaign after the s

20230622AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated that the "Service Air Bag" message was displayed. Additionally, the air bag light remained off while the front passenger's seat was occupied. Additionally, a beeping sound engaged, and the SRS warning light was illuminated while starting the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,126.

Mileage: 25,126

20230622AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated that the "Service Air Bag" message was displayed. Additionally, the air bag light remained off while the front passenger's seat was occupied. Additionally, a beeping sound engaged, and the SRS warning light was illuminated while starting the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,126.

Mileage: 25,126

20230413AIR BAGS

Service airbag indication. Passenger airbag light OFF. Previous recall completed in 2018 at 87k miles. Vehicle is at 104k miles and PPS sensor failed again. Previous completed recall for this issue is N17V061000. Failure is the same, dealer refuses to repair a second time. Issue is once again a safety issue with no airbag.

20221203ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electric system appears to be unsafe, the ignition doesn't turn over and drains the battery every day. I'm also worried about the airbags and other recalls on this car. I contacted the dealer "Dave Kirk Automotive" in Crossville, TN weeks ago. They took the vin # and looked up the recalls. This was a month ago. They said they would get the parts and call me. No one at the dealer has contacted me again. They know there are serious recalls on this vehicle. I need help on this. I'm 74, the car only has 39000 miles on it. This needs to be fixed at once.

20221203AIR BAGS

The electric system appears to be unsafe, the ignition doesn't turn over and drains the battery every day. I'm also worried about the airbags and other recalls on this car. I contacted the dealer "Dave Kirk Automotive" in Crossville, TN weeks ago. They took the vin # and looked up the recalls. This was a month ago. They said they would get the parts and call me. No one at the dealer has contacted me again. They know there are serious recalls on this vehicle. I need help on this. I'm 74, the car only has 39000 miles on it. This needs to be fixed at once.

20221203ENGINE

The electric system appears to be unsafe, the ignition doesn't turn over and drains the battery every day. I'm also worried about the airbags and other recalls on this car. I contacted the dealer "Dave Kirk Automotive" in Crossville, TN weeks ago. They took the vin # and looked up the recalls. This was a month ago. They said they would get the parts and call me. No one at the dealer has contacted me again. They know there are serious recalls on this vehicle. I need help on this. I'm 74, the car only has 39000 miles on it. This needs to be fixed at once.

20211201CrashAIR BAGS

I purchased a 2006 Pontiac Solstice from a Lexus dealership in 2020. No known issues were discussed when I purchased the vehicle. The ignition switch turned off while I was driving around a curve which caused engine to stall, and my steering wheel to locked up preventing me from turning. I crashed into a guardrail at 60 mph and my car spun, hitting the back as well. The car is totaled. My airbag did NOT deploy in the crash, resulting in worsened injuries. Thankfully no other cars were involved, but the faulty ignition switch put my safety at risk. The car is available for inspection, and is currently in the hands of my insurance agency who has inspected and totaled it. I did not drive much, and had not experienced this issue prior with my car.

20211201CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I purchased a 2006 Pontiac Solstice from a Lexus dealership in 2020. No known issues were discussed when I purchased the vehicle. The ignition switch turned off while I was driving around a curve which caused engine to stall, and my steering wheel to locked up preventing me from turning. I crashed into a guardrail at 60 mph and my car spun, hitting the back as well. The car is totaled. My airbag did NOT deploy in the crash, resulting in worsened injuries. Thankfully no other cars were involved, but the faulty ignition switch put my safety at risk. The car is available for inspection, and is currently in the hands of my insurance agency who has inspected and totaled it. I did not drive much, and had not experienced this issue prior with my car.

20210526AIR BAGS

my car had a recall on it when I bought it for the air bag sensor in the pass seat. I took it in and they patched it...not fixed it but a patch... it has been sat in about 20 times since and now has the light on. I will not pay them to repatch or fix this as they should of fixed it properly the first time, if you OKed the use of a tape patch than you can pay for the proper fix. these should never of been patched. they should of been fixed. it will not go back to the dealer that did the patch as I got the car back with grease on many portions of the neer new like leather as well as the new like exterior of the car along with scratch,dent etc. so somebody needs to find the correct fix and have these cars fixed!! not a patch that last 20 times sat in. this is a low millage car and garage or carport kept, still looks about like a 2 month old car. is is despicable that any body could be permitted to patch something like this!! it was patched by perston hood chevy in fortwalton beach

20210526SEATS

my car had a recall on it when I bought it for the air bag sensor in the pass seat. I took it in and they patched it...not fixed it but a patch... it has been sat in about 20 times since and now has the light on. I will not pay them to repatch or fix this as they should of fixed it properly the first time, if you OKed the use of a tape patch than you can pay for the proper fix. these should never of been patched. they should of been fixed. it will not go back to the dealer that did the patch as I got the car back with grease on many portions of the neer new like leather as well as the new like exterior of the car along with scratch,dent etc. so somebody needs to find the correct fix and have these cars fixed!! not a patch that last 20 times sat in. this is a low millage car and garage or carport kept, still looks about like a 2 month old car. is is despicable that any body could be permitted to patch something like this!! it was patched by perston hood chevy in fortwalton beach

20210526SEAT BELTS

my car had a recall on it when I bought it for the air bag sensor in the pass seat. I took it in and they patched it...not fixed it but a patch... it has been sat in about 20 times since and now has the light on. I will not pay them to repatch or fix this as they should of fixed it properly the first time, if you OKed the use of a tape patch than you can pay for the proper fix. these should never of been patched. they should of been fixed. it will not go back to the dealer that did the patch as I got the car back with grease on many portions of the neer new like leather as well as the new like exterior of the car along with scratch,dent etc. so somebody needs to find the correct fix and have these cars fixed!! not a patch that last 20 times sat in. this is a low millage car and garage or carport kept, still looks about like a 2 month old car. is is despicable that any body could be permitted to patch something like this!! it was patched by perston hood chevy in fortwalton beach

20210413AIR BAGS

CAR HAS LESS THAN 10000 MILES AND THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. MANUAL SAYS NEVER NEEDS SERVICE. THE IDIOT LIGHT ALSO CAME ON SHOWING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT

Mileage: 10,000

20200905AIR BAGS

WENT FOR DQ, WIFE PURCHASED OUR ICE CREAM. UPON HER RETURN TO THE CAR AND SITTING DOWN, THE DASH PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STATED SYSTEM WAS "OFF" WITH HER SITTING IN THE SEAT ENGINE RUNNING. THIS CONDITION CONTINUED ON THE DRIVE HOME. NO SIR FAILURE LIGHT INDICATED. WHEN AT HOME, VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND SHE EXISTED. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND SHE GO BACK IN THE CAR AND SAT IN THE SEAT. INDICATOR LIGHT STATED SYSTEM WAS "ON". SO WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT SOMETIMES SENSES A PASSENGER, AND SOMETIMES NOT. SHE WEIGHS OVER 140 LBS., SO THIS SHOULD NOT BE PART OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 2018 FOR THE SEAT SENSOR RECALL FIX - - WHATEVER THEY DID. BELIEVE IT MIGHT BE ONLY A "REINFORCEMENT". CAR IS PRESENTLY AT JUST OVER 24,000 MILES. VERY, VERY LIMITED PASSENGER SEAT USAGE. THE ONLY "OTHER" ELECTRICAL CHANGE IN THIS JOURNEY WAS AT DQ AND DRIVE HOME THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS SET TO PARKING LAMPS. WHEN PULLING INTO THE GARAGE I RESET THIS SWI

Mileage: 24,332

20200423AIR BAGS

AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED BY GM DEALER AND SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, HAS DONE THIS SINCE BEING REPLACED NO MATTER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

20200423SEATS

AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED BY GM DEALER AND SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, HAS DONE THIS SINCE BEING REPLACED NO MATTER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.

Compare 2006PONTIACSOLSTICE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE have?
The 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE has 288 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 3 fires, 12 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE?
Yes, the 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE?
The most-complained component for the 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE is AIR BAGS with 171 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT.
Is the 2006 PONTIAC SOLSTICE 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.