2006 Pontiac Solstice Problems: 6 Known Issues
2006 model year · NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports · Updated November 2026
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2006 Pontiac Solstice has 6 documented known issues, with 2 rated critical. The most serious are Ignition switch can move out of "run," stalling the engine and Passenger airbag suppression (PPS) sensor mat fails, disabling passenger airbag. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $400. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
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All 6 Known Issues
NHTSA Recalls6 recalls
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.
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 ignition is not in the "Off" position.
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 on February 10, 2014 that they are recalling 619,122 model year 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt, and 2007 Pontiac G5 vehicles. On February 25, 2014, GM increased the recall to include an additional 748,024 model year 2006-2007 Chevrolet HHR and Pontiac Solstice vehicles and 2003-2007 Saturn Ion vehicles and 2007 Saturn Sky vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine. On March 27, 2014, GM notified the agency that the defective ignition switches may have been used as service replacement parts on other vehicles, and as a result GM will be recalling certain model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, Saturn Sky, and Pontiac G5 and Solstice, and 2008-2011 Chevrolet HHR vehicles. The part numbers for the service parts are 10392423 (a/k/a ACDelco D1461F), 10392737, 15857948, 15854953, 15896640, and 25846762. This expansion represents an additional 823,788 vehicles.
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 vehicles during repair and replacement of the original ignition switch. The weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the affected ignition switches to move out of the run position, turning off the engine and disabling the air bags.
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Pontiac Solstice problems?
According to Au7o's research across NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports, the 2006 Pontiac Solstice has 6 documented issues. Documented issues include: Ignition switch can move out of "run," stalling the engine, Passenger airbag suppression (PPS) sensor mat fails, disabling passenger airbag, No interior trunk release - trunk becomes impossible to open with a dead battery. Of these, 2 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Pontiac Solstice reliable?
The 2006 Pontiac Solstice has 6 known issues compiled from NHTSA recalls, manufacturer TSBs, and owner forum reports. 2 issues are rated critical: Ignition switch can move out of "run," stalling the engine and Passenger airbag suppression (PPS) sensor mat fails, disabling passenger airbag. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Pontiac Solstice problems?
Repair costs for known Pontiac Solstice issues range from $50 to $400, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice Ignition switch can move out of "run," stalling the engine?
NHTSA campaign 14V047 covers 2006-2007 Solstice vehicles whose switch can move out of run under key-ring weight or jarring and an expansion for certain 2008-2010 Solstice vehicles that may contain defective service-replacement switches. Moving out of run can shut off the engine a… Severity: high.
What is the 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice Passenger airbag suppression (PPS) sensor mat fails, disabling passenger airbag?
NHTSA campaign 17V061 and GM recall bulletin 17036 cover the passenger presence system (PPS) sensor mat in 2006-2010 Solstice models. Repeated occupant pressure can bend and damage the flexible sensor mat printed conductor, producing an open circuit; with an active PPS fault, the… Severity: high.
What is the 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice No interior trunk release - trunk becomes impossible to open with a dead battery?
The Solstice has no conventional mechanical/interior trunk (rear deck) release; it opens only electrically via the key fob or door-mounted button. If the battery dies, owners commonly find the trunk locked shut with jumper cables or the battery itself trapped inside. The fob butt… Severity: medium.
What is the 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice "Reduced Engine Power" limp mode from throttle body coking / TAC faults?
As the car ages, carbon "coking" builds up in the electronic throttle body, slowing the throttle plate response. The throttle actuator control (TAC) system detects a correlation fault between pedal and throttle and drops the car into Reduced Engine Power limp mode. A weak battery… Repairs typically run $100-$400. Severity: medium.
What is the 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice Convertible top water leaks into trunk and around rear window?
The folding soft top is finicky and a frequent source of leaks. Water enters the trunk through the holes in the rear deck that accept the top's buttress pins (the seals don't fully seal) and through a slit in the trunk-lid hose that hides the top's flip cable. Owners also report… Severity: low.
What is the 2006-2008 Pontiac Solstice Rear differential/driveline clunk and gear whine?
Early Solstices are widely reported to develop a driveline clunk on take-up and shifting at low speed, plus a gear whine from the rear differential that changes with throttle. The clunk is partly an inherent design characteristic, but axle clunk/chatter on turns is caused by stic… Repairs typically run $50-$150. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.