YearToAvoid

2006 Pontiac GTO Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 2 GTO years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2006 Pontiac GTO has 216 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 2 GTO model years. The most reported problem area is suspension, wheels & tires (200 complaints, 93% of the total). Complaints report 3 crashes and 1 injury.

Complaints
216
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
17
14.5 city / 21 hwy

Top 2006 Pontiac GTO problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires200 (93%)
  2. Electrical System6 (3%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain4 (2%)
  4. Engine3 (1%)
  5. Other3 (1%)
  6. Steering3 (1%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (1%)
  8. Airbags1 (0%)
  9. Brakes1 (0%)
2006 Pontiac GTO complaints: complaints filed per quarter1212006 Q22007 Q22008 Q22009 Q22010 Q22011 Q22014 Q4
223 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2006 Q2 to 2016 Q2; peak 2006 Q3 (121).

2006 Pontiac GTO recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2006 Pontiac GTO fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14.5 MPG
Highway
21 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,725
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2006 compared with other GTO years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005No verdict0154017
2006No verdict100216017

All Pontiac GTO years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2006 Pontiac GTO a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2006 Pontiac GTO ranks worst among GTO model years (Complaint Index 100/100). It has 216 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Pontiac GTO?
The most reported problem areas are suspension, wheels & tires (200 complaints), electrical system (6 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (4 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 1,000 miles.
Does the 2006 Pontiac GTO have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2006 Pontiac GTO in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2006 Pontiac GTO?
EPA rates the 2006 Pontiac GTO at 17 MPG combined (14.5 city / 21 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,725. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.