Steering assistance concerns
6 mentions · 6.7% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
Matching rule
\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\bU.S. public vehicle records
Pontiac 6000 brakes problems
14 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.
Key facts
90 owner complaints analyzed
16 distinct recall campaigns
169,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1982 to 1991 model years. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Braking behavior evidence
14 of 90 complaints match this topic (15.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10318787 · 2010-03-11 (March 11, 2010)
1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 813002 · 1997-06-11 (June 11, 1997)
BRAKES: REAR BRAKES AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT WORK AFTER HAVING REAR BRAKES ,ROTORS , CALIPERS AND PARKING BRAKE CABLES REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 813002 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972873 · 1995-10-03 (October 3, 1995)
CALLER INVOLVED IN RECALLED NO. 87V093000, ON ABS BRAKES - HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR FAILURE, REPAIRED VEHICLE IN 1990, SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN 9/95. TT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES REPLACEMENT PARTS. *YH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121356 · 2005-05-18 (May 18, 2005)
FUEL TANK FUEL LINES AND BRAKE LINES ARE RUSTING. FUEL TANK IS SEEPING GASOLINE WHEN FULL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 702270 · 1999-01-16 (January 16, 1999)
SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF BRAKE PROBLEMS THAT INCLUDE REAR BRAKE LOCKING AND CAR GOING INTO SPINS ON SNOW AND ICE. I HAVE HAD THREE MASTER CYLINDERS REPLACED, I HAVE HAD REAR BRAKING SYSTEM INSPECTED AND SERVICED BY FIRESTONE. GOODYEAR, AUTOMOTIVE SPECIALISTS, CARX AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING PROBLEM FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME . OFTEN THE PROBLEM ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE WEATHER IS DAMP. ON JAN 13 MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND HIT THE BRAKE AND THE CAR WENT INTO A SPIN AND HIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 702270 at NHTSA ↗
Explore the data
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
90 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
2.2%Usable mileage2 / 90 records
81.1%Valid incident date73 / 90 records
100.0%Valid filing date90 / 90 records
81.1%Ordered incident and filing dates73 / 90 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 637.5% | 211.1%ODI 520192CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT CAUSED FAILURE OF RACK & PINION STEERING. | 321.4% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 212.5%ODI 972873CALLER INVOLVED IN RECALLED NO. 87V093000, ON ABS BRAKES - HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR FAILURE, REPAIRED VEHICLE IN 1990, SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN 9/95. TT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES REPLACEMENT PARTS. *YH | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 214.3%ODI 849439WHEN THE BRAKEIS WERE APPLIED THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND GAVE NO RESPNOSE, TO GET A RESPONSE , PEDAL HAS TO BE PUMPED HARD. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THE ANTI-SKID SYSTEM DEACTIVATED SO THAT THE REGULAR BRAKE WOULD WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 327.3%ODI 809223INTERMITTENTLY WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS THE PEDAL IS HARD AND THERE IS NO BRAKING ABILITY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER (4) TIMES IN (3) MONTHS SINCE 1990. NEW BRAKE PADS WERE PUT ON AT 28,000 MILES IN 1993 OR 1994. *AK | 116.7%ODI 525040BRAKE SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 15.6%ODI 973336THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE TOO SHORT AND DO NOT WORK WITH A NORMAL SIZED ADULT. TT BUCKLE ON DRIVER SIDE HAS COME APART. RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. *SLC | 214.3%ODI 971244THE BACKSEAT SEATBELT BEHIND THE DRIVER DOES NOT WORK AT ALL AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT DOES NOT LATCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT | 212.5% | 19.1% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 10318787 · 200,000 mi1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 316.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 19.1%ODI 533023VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO CONSUMER. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 212.5% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 16.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 978407TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY/REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK |
| Seats | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 966521DRIVERS SEAT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SEAT IN PLACE JUST BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 16.3%ODI 811971DRIVER SIDE SEAT TRACK AND ANCHORS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO FALL BACK. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 212.5%ODI 524388THE FRONT LEFT SEAT BRACKET BROKE, IT CRACKED ACROSS THE RIVET HOLE, CAUSING SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 266.7% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.1% | 16.3% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 16.3%ODI 740534THE LEFT AND RIGHT SUB-FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION BROKE (RUSTED OUT MAYBE) AT THE FRONT ,AROUND THE ISOLATORS. THIS DROPPED EVERYTHING DOWN ABOUT 6-8INCHES. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN DRIVEN ANYWHERE. I WAS A MILE OR TWO FROM A MECHANIC SHOP, SO I DROVE IT THERE. | 316.7%ODI 10061825THIS IS REFERRING TO A CURRENT RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED. YOUR CURRENT RECALL # IS 88V048000 UNDER THE NHTSA GUIDELINES. THIS RECALL INCLUDES CARS FOR ONE MONTH OF PRODUCTION FOR ONE YEAR. THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL YEARS OF THE CAR, 88 AND EARLIER. I AM A MEMBER OF A CLUB THAT HAS OVER 200 MEMBERS WITH THIS PROBLEM ON THERE CAR. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO CONTACT YOU PHONE, BUT HAS BEEN BUSY FROM 12 MIDNIGHT, TO 12 MIDNIGHT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I CAN PROVIDE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM. IN 1989 GM UPGRADED THEIR ENGINE CRADL… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | Too few reports for a range | 200,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10318787 · 200,000 mi1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE… |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1990: 1 complaints · 1991: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Steering:Rack And Pinion | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | Vehicle Speed Control | Power Train:Automatic Transmission | Seats | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | Structure:Frame And Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | — | 0 | 1ODI 973336THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE TOO SHORT AND DO NOT WORK WITH A NORMAL SIZED ADULT. TT BUCKLE ON DRIVER SIDE HAS COME APART. RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. *SLC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1ODI 973336THE REAR SEATBELTS ARE TOO SHORT AND DO NOT WORK WITH A NORMAL SIZED ADULT. TT BUCKLE ON DRIVER SIDE HAS COME APART. RACK AND PINION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND STILL DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT. *SLC | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
5 patterns with matching reports.
Stalling or loss of power
3 mentions · 3.3% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 958986
HAD TO REPLACE EIGHT COMPUTERS DUE TO ROUGH IDLE/STALLING. TT
ODI 846193
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR JUST STOPPING OR PARKING, VEHICLE STALLED/AND CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE IS AT DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND DEALER HAS STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. *AK
ODI 10076219
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Matching rule
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\bBrake response concerns
1 mentions · 1.1% of complaints
Median mileage: 200,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10318787 · 200,000 mi
1985 PONTIAC 6000 STE. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME TYPE OF ACCELERATION PROBLEM TOYOTA IS HAVING. IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME I WAS MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FROM AN ON-RAMP. THE THROTTLE STUCK FULL OPEN. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET WHILE GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE CAR BEFORE IMPACT BY PRESSING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND AT THE LAST MOMENT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE THROTTLE FUNCTIONED NORMALLY AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL. AFTER THIS EVENT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM REPEATED ITSE…
Matching rule
\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\bFuel smell or leak mentions
1 mentions · 1.1% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 984733
PLASTIC FUEL LINE HOSE DISLODGED FROM METAL FUEL LINE, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK
Matching rule
\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\bWarning lights and dashboard alerts
1 mentions · 1.1% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 959545
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITH HARD PEDAL PRIOR TO FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. TT
Matching rule
\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b