Head-to-head reliability
Pontiac G6 vs FORD F 150
How the Pontiac G6 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Pontiac G6 vs FORD F 150: The G6 averages 980 complaints per year, with steering failures a major concern, while the F-150 averages 1,131, mainly for transmission issues. The G6 has 6 deaths reported, the F-150 1. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Pontiac G6 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Pontiac G6
The Pontiac G6, a midsize sedan, shows a heavy concentration of steering complaints, with owners describing sudden loss of power steering assist and even locked steering wheels, often linked to the electric power steering system. Electrical issues are also prominent, frequently causing warning lights, headlight failures, and cascading problems that affect other systems. Brake-related complaints often tie back to electrical faults, such as brake lights not working. With 980 complaints per year on average and multiple recalls, the G6 presents a significant reliability concern for potential buyers.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150, a full-size pickup, has a high volume of powertrain complaints, particularly regarding its 10-speed automatic transmission, with owners reporting hard shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power. Electrical system issues are also common, including camera and pre-collision assist malfunctions. While the F-150 has a higher average annual complaint count (1,131), its longer production run and larger sales volume contribute to the numbers. The transmission problems are a notable worry, but the F-150's overall pattern suggests a mix of drivetrain and electronic gremlins rather than a single dominant failure.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Pontiac G6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5,880 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 31 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 242 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 980.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 153 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 6 | 1 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Pontiac G6
- 01STEERING3,104
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM990
- 03EXTERIOR LIGHTING962
- 04SERVICE BRAKES727
- 05AIR BAGS409
Owners report sudden loss of power steering assist, often accompanied by a warning light, and in some cases the steering wheel locks up, making it hard to turn, especially at low speeds. The power steering angle sensor is a known failure point, causing intermittent assist loss and shaking.
Electrical faults are widespread, leading to brake lights not working, warning indicators illuminating (like service traction and stability control), and headlight failures that persist even after bulb replacement. Owners describe a chain of events where electrical issues trigger steering and dashboard problems.
Headlights and brake lights fail repeatedly, often due to wiring issues rather than bulb burnout. This poses a safety risk, as drivers may be left without working lights at night, and brake light failures can lead to rear-end collisions.
Brake-related complaints often stem from electrical problems, such as brake lights not functioning, but there are also reports of sudden steering seizure that led to crashes, with air bags failing to deploy in some instances.
“WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED AND RUNNING THE POWER STEERING CONTROL ESC WILL BE ON ON THE DASH AND LOCK UP THE STEERING WHEEL AND I CAN'T TURN OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. WHEN THIS OCCURRED I USED TO BE ABLE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON AND IT WOULD BE OFF.…”
“The power steering angle sensor malfunctioned/stopped working properly at approx. 197,000 miles. The part was taken out and replaced by a local GM dealership. With the sensor malfunctioning, we experienced intermittent loss of power steering as well as shakin…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard and delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. These issues can be intermittent but are concerning for safety and drivability.
Electrical problems manifest as warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, appearing on the dash. These issues may require dealer intervention and can affect driver-assistance features.
Headlight-related recalls and complaints indicate potential issues with headlight performance, which could reduce visibility at night. Owners may need to address these to ensure safe driving.
Engine-related complaints are less frequent but still present, with recalls addressing engine issues. Owners should be aware of potential engine problems that could affect reliability.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Pontiac G6 — 31 recalls
The defect: 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 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January…
The risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position,…
The defect: Dorman Products, Inc. (Dorman) is recalling certain replacement intermediate steering shafts sold under the Dorman, OE Solutions, and Solutions brand names, part numbers 425-167, 2425167, and 7-3074, for installation on 2004-2012 Chevrolet Malibu, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6, and 2007-2009 Saturn Aura veh…
The risk: A joint bearing that fails prematurely may cause separation of the u-joint resulting in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dorman will notify owners, and dealers will refund the purchase price or replace the steering shafts, free of charge. The recall began in September 2014. Owners may contact Dorman customer service at 1-800-523-2492.
The defect: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission. On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.
The risk: If the tabs were to fracture and separate, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. The driver would be able to move the shifter to 'PARK' and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may no…
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer over the cable end or replace the shift cable as necessary. This service will be performed free of charge. Notification to owners began on on November 9, 2012. Owners were instruct…
The defect: 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 5, 2007, 2005-2010 Pontiac G6 vehicles manufactured May 26, 2004, through January…
The risk: Any of the above failure conditions increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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 harness connector, and will relearn the brake pedal home position,…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Pontiac G6 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Pontiac G6 has fewer complaints per year (980) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131), but the G6's issues are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like steering and electrical systems. The F-150's transmission problems are serious but may be more isolated to specific model years. In practice, the G6 may pose a higher risk of sudden loss of control, while the F-150's issues are more about drivetrain harshness and electronic glitches.
Key differences
- The G6 has a dominant steering failure mode (loss of assist, lock-up) that can lead to crashes, while the F-150's main issue is transmission harshness and occasional power loss.
- Electrical problems in the G6 often cascade into other systems (brake lights, stability control), whereas F-150 electrical issues are more isolated to driver-assist features.
- The G6 has a higher proportion of crash-related complaints (242 vs 328 over different time spans) relative to its complaint volume, suggesting a higher safety risk.
- The F-150 has more recalls (145) but over a longer period, indicating ongoing manufacturer attention, while the G6's recalls (31) are fewer but may not address all issues.
- Test the power steering at low speeds and while stationary; listen for unusual noises and check for warning lights. Have a mechanic inspect the power steering angle sensor and wiring.
- Check all exterior lights, especially headlights and brake lights, for proper operation. Look for signs of wiring issues or previous repairs.
- During a test drive, accelerate and decelerate through all gears, paying attention to any hard shifts, jerks, or clunks. Ask for transmission service records.
- Start the truck and see if any warning messages appear for camera or pre-collision assist. If they do, have the system diagnosed.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and previous accident damage.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic, focusing on the steering system for the G6 and the transmission for the F-150.
- Test drive both vehicles in stop-and-go traffic and at highway speeds to feel for any drivability issues.
- Check the NHTSA website for the specific model year's recall list and ensure all recalls have been performed.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and any steering repairs on the G6.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Pontiac G6 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Pontiac G6 vs FORD F 150
- Pontiac G6 total complaints
- 5,880
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Pontiac G6 total recalls
- 31
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Pontiac G6 avg complaints/year
- 980.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Pontiac G6
- Pontiac G6 top complaint area
- STEERING
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN