Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Pontiac Solstice owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I purchased a 2006 Pontiac Solstice from a Lexus dealership in 2020. No known issues were discussed when I purchased the vehicle. The ignition switch turned off while I was driving around a curve which caused engine to stall, and my steering wheel to locked up preventing me from turning. I crashed into a guardrail at 60 mph and my car spun, hitting the back as well. The car is totaled. My airbag did NOT deploy in the crash, resulting in worsened injuries. Thankfully no other cars were involved, but the faulty ignition switch put my safety at risk. The car is available for inspection, and is currently in the hands of my insurance agency who has inspected and totaled it. I did not drive much, and had not experienced this issue prior with my car.
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated that the "Service Air Bag" message was displayed. Additionally, the air bag light remained off while the front passenger's seat was occupied. Additionally, a beeping sound engaged, and the SRS warning light was illuminated while starting the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,126.
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the passenger's side seat sensor air bag warning light was not illuminated; however, the passenger's side seat was occupied. The contact was notified that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the inflatable restraint passenger presence module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,153.
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Solstice. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 192,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Passenger seat position sensor for the air bag system has failed. This sensor was inspected and supposedly "reinforced" under the GM Recall on this item in 2018, vehicle mileage 22390. It is now 2023, with the vehicle mileage at 25,131. The passenger seat in this vehicle is used very rarely by my wife, so in these 5 years perhaps 400 miles of usage on the component in failure. Contacting GM, they will do nothing regarding this problem from a recall or warranty standpoint. Doing the "fix" that GM should have done in 2018 on this seat is going to cost me $1095 per the dealership phone call this afternoon. So what exactly did NHTSA approve in this recall (reference 17036)? A fix that will not even survive usage for 400 or so miles on an airbag system component? I believe NHTSA needs to revisit this campaign and force GM to supply correct components to enable system performance. …
my car had a recall on it when I bought it for the air bag sensor in the pass seat. I took it in and they patched it...not fixed it but a patch... it has been sat in about 20 times since and now has the light on. I will not pay them to repatch or fix this as they should of fixed it properly the first time, if you OKed the use of a tape patch than you can pay for the proper fix. these should never of been patched. they should of been fixed. it will not go back to the dealer that did the patch as I got the car back with grease on many portions of the neer new like leather as well as the new like exterior of the car along with scratch,dent etc. so somebody needs to find the correct fix and have these cars fixed!! not a patch that last 20 times sat in. this is a low millage car and garage or carport kept, still looks about like a 2 month old car. …
I have an alarm on my car that states the air bag needs service. I utilized a code reader which indicated there is a failure with the passenger air bag system. I checked for recalls and found one ( NHTSA : 17V061). The vehicle is a 2006 Pontiac Soltice. I contacted three local GM dealers about making a repair. All stated they do not make repairs only on types of vehicles they sell. Thet do not repair Pontiacs. I contacted GM at [redacted]. The representative stated the recall had been completed, which I strongly dispute. I told the representative I have no knowledge of any such repair being performed. The representative generated a case number, case #[redacted]. She told me it would be up to me to find a dealer to make the repairs. I am totally dissatisfied with the response from GM and its dealers and would ask for any assistance you can provide.
The electric system appears to be unsafe, the ignition doesn't turn over and drains the battery every day. I'm also worried about the airbags and other recalls on this car. I contacted the dealer "Dave Kirk Automotive" in Crossville, TN weeks ago. They took the vin # and looked up the recalls. This was a month ago. They said they would get the parts and call me. No one at the dealer has contacted me again. They know there are serious recalls on this vehicle. I need help on this. I'm 74, the car only has 39000 miles on it. This needs to be fixed at once.
Service airbag indication. Passenger airbag light OFF. Previous recall completed in 2018 at 87k miles. Vehicle is at 104k miles and PPS sensor failed again. Previous completed recall for this issue is N17V061000. Failure is the same, dealer refuses to repair a second time. Issue is once again a safety issue with no airbag.
Daughters in 2006 Solstice. Drunk driver ran red light going 50 MPH and hit our daughters making a left turn. Severe impact on an angle (front/left side) with 2 foot intrusion into occupant compartment. Airbags did not deploy. Required prolonged extrication; serious injury with bayflight to hospital. 2006 Solstice is a GM recall vehicle for defective ignition switch.
Related 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.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018.
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect.
NHTSA investigations
Passenger Sensing System Sensor Mat
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting the opening of an investigation into the air bag system on model year 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky, the subject vehicles.The petitioner raised the issue of failure of the Passenger Sensing System for the front passenger seating position.On January 26, 2017, General Motors filed a defect information report recalling the…
Airbag complaints in other Solstice years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2006 Pontiac Solstice?
NHTSA has 178 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Pontiac Solstice, 73% of the model year's 243 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Pontiac Solstice airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-061 (occupant classification, Jan 26, 2017); NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Pontiac Solstice airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.