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2006 Pontiac G6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 G6.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2006 Pontiac G6 is a passenger car requiring 5 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, but its standout figure is the 1,909 owner complaints—the highest of any model year from 2003 to 2014—with steering as the top problem area and seven recalls on record. This places the 2006 G6 as the most problematic year in the model's reliability history, a critical data point for researchers examining long-term dependability.

Model year201020092008200720062005

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731175. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-60R16OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731175 alt 12731179
Engine air filter10366901
Spark plug12681663 alt 12681662
Battery88861746 alt 88865311
Front wiper blades15779416 alt 15779415
Serpentine belt12577771 alt 12634321
Thermostat24507563 alt 12591881

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase112.2 in
Curb weight3818 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 60.2 in

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity6.1

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts118 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts10 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsUpper: 18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts12 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-981
Spark Plug Gap0.042 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-101

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number75

Service checks

Pressure Test15, Pressure should not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature185-205 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-60.0
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-60
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 na ohms
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-95 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression100

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket26 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle85 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.023 in / 0.551 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.023 in / 0.551 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.906 in / 0.472 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174 ft. lbs., step 2: 12574 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
152 ft. lbs., step 2: 7252 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
2155
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
2140 degrees140 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
144 ft. lbs.44 ft. lbs
2140 degrees; Do not re-use old bolts.140 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Pontiac G6 sits at the apex of the model line’s federal complaint curve, recording 1,909 complaints—far surpassing 2005’s 679 and a level that subsequent years never matched, as reports trended steadily downward to 1,231 in 2007 and continued falling through 2010. Across the generation, activity was negligible in 2003–2004, surged dramatically in 2005–2006, and then receded; complaints and investigations declined every year after 2006, while recalls moderated from their seven-count high. Steering dominates the 2006 docket with 987 complaints, though the data does not specify the root cause, and the model year also generated 90 crash-related complaints and 11 fire complaints. Because 2006 represents the peak rather than a resolved point in the generation’s lifecycle, it carries the heaviest documented owner-reported burden. Buyers should view 2006 as the least favorable year in this arc and would be better served by the materially quieter 2007–2010 model years.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
755
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1,909
Owner complaints
90 involved a crash · 11 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’14

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,909 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering987
Exterior Lighting96
Fuel/Propulsion System65
Air Bags60
Electrical System51
Steering,Electrical System41
Power Train32
Service Brakes26

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 7 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

14V252000Electrical System:WiringReported 14/05/2014

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… 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…

14V153000Steering:Electric Power Assist SystemReported 31/03/2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 755 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5074R2025-05-30Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP5358D2025-02-19Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific G6. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 batteryVehicles taking 5 qtEngine oil filter 12731175Engine air filter 10366901Spark plug 12681663Battery 88861746

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 G6 take?

5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 G6 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.