Pontiac G6 gt convertible: On a road trip and poof a big cloud of smoke, and loss of power steering. We stopped as all the fluid drained from the power steering. Crawling under the car to see that the power steering lines were against the rear cat and muffler pipe. Why would anyone run a power steering rubber hose right against the cat like this? Pontiac had previously switched back to the hydraulic power steering after the disaster they had with the electric. When they did the redesign they put these long lines under and around the back side of the motor. These very long lines and metal tubing and part rubber hose (only the rubber hose part is right there against the cat). I could see the rubber hose and insulator burned and melted till it failed. I would have designed it with the rubber at both ends and the steel pipe (again insulated in the middle of the run by the muffler and cat).

Normally I would not have a problem replacing any of this. Found a hose online for the high pressure side and got some power steering hose from the auto parts to fix the low side. Total cost in parts for me under $100 (and a special tool) Dealer wanted to replace everything at over $2500 out of pocket. They only issue I had was the tight fit of the hoses into the steering rack behind the steering knuckle. I had to buy the flex jointed ratchet box wrench. It took time. Pontiac designed this to fail, no doubt in my mind. And made it almost impossible to get your hand in there to fix. I am sure my dealer would have put the car on the rack and taken the front end half off to get to it. hense the high dealer repair cost.

So car seems fine since me and my son purchased it a few months ago. We have put on maybe 2000 miles. We find a bad oil leak from valve cover and find on line this is a known flaw in the model and year of the G6. We didn't have any other real problems so we are not to worried. Then one night (THANK GOD ITS ME DRIVING AND NOT MY SON) The steering completely goes out and you can NOT turn this steering wheel it is like trying to turn a ton of bricks. I think It feels like I must have thrown a belt, or have a major leak in the power steering fluid system but upon inspection everything in the system belts/fluids all are ok. HMMMMMMMM so I GOOGLE the problem and see all over the internet that this is a known HUGE safety concern that GM/Pontiac is totally aware of and basically telling a lot of us that own these cars that unless your VIN # is on their list you're on your own. I call Pontiac division of GM the RUDE lady on the phone tells me GM will not pay for this due to age/miles. I explain so if my son was driving this car and runs into another oncoming car or a wall do you think that answer is acceptable as a parent. I explained your car is unsafe and dangerous and it lost power due to a defective steering sensor that your company is aware of. I would think your company would want to resolve it ASAP and do the right thing,. Look I'm not asking them to fix a worn out coolant hose or change my brakes, there are components that are designed into cars that should not put a driver in direct danger if they go out. This problem when it occurs leaves the driver driving a 2500 LBS car that he/she can no longer control while driving down the road. There is no warning. One sec you have steering and the car is safe and the next sec you're completely out of control. Pontiac told me I'm on my own. The vin does not match any recall even though the symptoms are exactly the same as everybody else in the world having the exact problem. I even asked if I pay for the diagnoses and confirm out of my own pocket would they then at least consider pay for the said repair. She said NO just like that. I asked her to note my concerns in her system on this VIN and I swear as un professional as she was being I wouldn't doubt she didn't even do that :-( I'm one very disappointed Pontiac/GM owner now. Needless to say I will go out of my way on the next car I purchase to not buy a GM/Chevy product. BTW this was my 12 GM car in my 30 Years of driving. Chances were great I would have probably bought 12 more over my lifetime. Now every friend and family member and anyone that will listen to me will hear my story. Think they may consider another car after the way GM was so quick to save a buck and could care less of my family's safety?

Mike D Valley Center Ca

Lets say I've been around the block a few times. I was born before 1960 and have owned over 30 vehicles, almost 50 if you count the motorcycles too. I've never had a power steering problem like the one with this Pontiac G6. Dealer said steering motor & torque sensor had high resistance when tested. I said I know, the power steering ain't working, that's why I'm here.

I had an old '67 Fairlane Convertible that had a water pump freeze up and caused belt failure. That effected 3 belts, air, alternator & steering. That was an easy fix for me to do. I actually owned a few old trucks from the '30s & 50's and all they ever needed was a few shims (non-power). But for a whole motor & sensor at $1200 . . . come on! That wasn't the 1st sensor problem for this car either. The oxygen sensor caused my catalytic to fail too. I wonder if the torque sensor caused the steering motor to fail too? Sounds pretty suspect & logical. Right?

What pisses me off the most is I read about the steering recall in my local news paper just 3 weeks later! I know I could have fixed it a lot cheaper if one of my sons up on the central coast of California wasn't bumming it for a few weeks. So it went to the local Chevy dealer up in Arroyo Grande. I've never lost a power steering motor ever until now. Most go longer than the engine itself. Why is recall limited to production between 4/18-6/30/06? It should cover all the damn units whenever they were assembled. Power steering units don't go out like this! Oh yeah, this one was assembled 12/06 according to sticker on door jamb.

My steering wheel began jerking around while stopped. Next, the power steering went completely out, although it works at times and then stops working while going around a curve. I have nearly driven into a guardrail, as well as almost driven into a ditch because it takes so much effort to get around curves sometimes. Last night I just about got pulled over but I guess the cop didn't see me run off the road. I look like a complete idiot trying to get out the parking deck at work. I'm just glad I haven't run into one of my coworkers or their cars. I think they are getting pretty worried. I knocked my own driveway reflector down and have also backed into a mailbox.

I drove a car for years that never had power steering in the first place and let me tell, you this is completely different. When they say you can still steer manually, that's BS. Yes you can drive and that's the worst part. This is so dangerous but it does not stop you from driving the car.

My mechanic said the problem is the electronic steering module. I called to order the part and was told that's a recall. Then when they ran my VIN# they said oh, yours isn't included. REALLY, well it needs to be. www.nhtsa.com clearly shows there is a recall for that part for my make and model. So mine was made in a different factory. It's obviously got the same problem. I have emailed GM and spent wasted time on the phone with Sharette, or whatever her name is. I I was loyal to American cars my whole life, but now I see why there is no more Pontiac and GM had to be bailed out.

I already bought the part now with my own money. Personal reimbursement will not make me happy because there will still be some dangerous vehicles on the road. Not everyone can afford this expensive repair and they are just haphazardly driving around everyday. This is completely unacceptable.

The power steering or lack thereof is an issue along with the clunking noise when you turn the wheel, After finding out that model years 2205-2006-2008-2009-2010 were on the power steering recall, I called GM to complain about the 2007...They told me to have it fixed and save the receipt IN CASE my model year was added..WTF..that's pathetic. The car is currently at the dealer in parts waiting for GM to discuss solutions to my model year..At least they are talking but I'm not holding my breath.

Update from Jan 21, 2015: What were the odds of this happening right after I wrote this. I guess it pays to complain. GM has negotiated with my dealer to have my 2007 Power Steering replaced. I'm very happy.

I am shocked that I had to have anything that was part of the steering replaced. The car scared me to death every time I drove it. I would sit at a light and the steering wheel would move by itself. When I was driving it would go one way and I would have to jerk it another. I kept a death grip on the wheel. I would not let anyone drive with me. I didn't want anyone to die. This is my only transportation to and from work. There should be a recall on this problem. I should not have to pay for this repair.