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2008 Pontiac Torrent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

99 reports with mileage · 26 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

125 reports
67,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP FOR A FEW MINUTES ONLY. JERKING (LACK OF ACCELERATION) CONTINUED UNTIL CALLED GM HO AND CONNECTED WITH MY DEALER UNDER "SPECIAL COVERAGE." HAD TO TAKE A MECHANIC ON THE ROAD AND DUPLICATE TO BE SURE I…

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CAR REFUSED TO ACCELERATE WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION. HAD TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR AND ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP FOR A FEW MINUTES ONLY. JERKING (LACK OF ACCELERATION) CONTINUED UNTIL CALLED GM HO AND CONNECTED WITH MY DEALER UNDER "SPECIAL COVERAGE." HAD TO TAKE A MECHANIC ON THE ROAD AND DUPLICATE TO BE SURE I WAS NOT DISMISSED AGAIN WITHOUT FIXING. GIVEN A HARD TIME ABOUT GETTING THE FULL SPECIAL COVERAGE TO COVER THE SPARK PLUG WIRES & SPARK PLUGS, BUT DEALER GAVE IN SINCE REPEATED VISITS FOR SAME PROBLEM. STILL AWAITING A "SPECIALIST" FROM GM TO CALL BACK REGARDING SPARK PLUGS BEING INCLUDED AND WHY I CANNOT VIEW THE ACTUAL "SPECIAL COVERAGE" DOCUMENT AS TO THIS PROBLEM POSSIBLY REPEATING ITSELF EVERY 6 MONTHS PER OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619227

60,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

REPORTED VERY SLUGGISH ACCELERATION "CHUGGING" BETWEEN 45-65 MPH FOR THE LAST YEAR. NO ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY "COULDN'T RECREATE IT" SO NOTHING DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10619220

94,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Air Bags

AIR BAG INDICATOR STAYS OFF EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER AND "SERVICE AIR BAG" COMES ON IN THE DRIVER INFO PANEL ON DASH. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT THE SENSOR WOULD FLASH BETWEEN ON AND OFF WITH A PASSENGER OCCUPYING THE SEAT AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE SENSOR NO LONGER COMES ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598480

89,000 miles · Jun 13, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemSuspension

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY. SHOWS AIRBAG OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. THE FRONT/PASSENGER DOOR WIRE HARNESS IS TOO TIGHT WHICH END RESULT IS BOTH WINDOWS DO NOT WORK BECAUSE THE HARNESS WIRES HAVE SNAPPED DUE TO THEM BEING DRAWN SO TIGHT.... I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS/ALL WIRES AS WELL AS …

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THE VEHICLE AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY. SHOWS AIRBAG OFF WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. THE FRONT/PASSENGER DOOR WIRE HARNESS IS TOO TIGHT WHICH END RESULT IS BOTH WINDOWS DO NOT WORK BECAUSE THE HARNESS WIRES HAVE SNAPPED DUE TO THEM BEING DRAWN SO TIGHT.... I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS/ALL WIRES AS WELL AS DRIVE SHAFT ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS BROKEN TOO. BOTH WHEEL HUBS REPLACED ON FRONT OF VEHICLE ~ SERVICE TO STABILITRAK NUMEROUS OF TIMES.... NOW I'M DRIVING AROUND WITH A TICK IN THE MOTOR WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT..... THIS VEHICLE HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A NIGHTMARE!!!!! AND OF COURSE THE DEALER ONLY WANTS $498.00 TO JUST HOOK UP THE TECH 2 TO LET ME KNOW ALL THAT IS WRONG!!!!!!! WOW.....I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE WITH BETSY INCLUDING ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE TO AND FOR WHAT I WISH I KNEW.... JUST DISAPPOINTED!!! *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598001

52,000 miles · Jun 4, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

HAVE SENT THIS LETTER TO THE CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS ON 6/3/14. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY. AS IT IS STATED, IN THIS SITUATION WHERE GAS AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXING IN THE ENGINE, DUE TO EITHER A SLOW LEAK OR A GASKET BLEW, THE TORRENT WAS NOT BUILT WITH A SENSOR TO TURN ON THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF A P…

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HAVE SENT THIS LETTER TO THE CEO OF GENERAL MOTORS ON 6/3/14. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A REPLY. AS IT IS STATED, IN THIS SITUATION WHERE GAS AND ANTIFREEZE WERE MIXING IN THE ENGINE, DUE TO EITHER A SLOW LEAK OR A GASKET BLEW, THE TORRENT WAS NOT BUILT WITH A SENSOR TO TURN ON THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF A POTENTIAL SERIOUS SITUATION-TOTAL MECHANICAL FAILURE-LEADING TO POTENTIAL FATAL INJURIES WHILE DRIVING-SUCH AS A FIRE, ACCIDENT, OR EVEN DEATH. [XXX] IN REFERENCE TO CLAIM NUMBER [XXX]. I HAVE CALLED AND SPOKEN TO DEAN AT CORPORATE ON 6/3/14 AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. 5/30/14, I CALL THE DEALERSHIP FIRST SPOKE TO A FEW PEOPLE AND LEFT MY INFORMATION, I RECEIVED NO PHONE CALL BACK UNTIL I CALLED CORPORATE ON 6/3/14 AND COMPLAINED. I FIND THIS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL ESPECIALLY KNOWING THE SITUATION WHERE LIVES WERE POTENTIAL AT RISK, AND OTHERS STILL ARE. THE MAJOR CONCERN WITH MY VEHICLE IS THAT OUT OF NOWHERE WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE FAILED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH ANY WARNING LIGHT TO NOTIFY THE DRIVER OF THIS SITUATION-THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. MY CAR IS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT WITH 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT HAS NOW INSPECTED THE CAR, CONCUR THAT THIS IS FROM MECHANICAL FAILURE. AS A MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN, TO THINK THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT WITH THEM IN THE CARE-POSSIBLY LEADING TO DEATHS?WELL YOU CAN IMAGINE MY CONCERN. AS I AM BLESSED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THE CAR JUST DIED, I DO NOT FEEL THIS IS A SAFE CAR, AND BEING A WOMAN IN YOUR POSITION I HOPE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND MY POSITION AND WILL DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). TR

NHTSA ODI #10596072

94,258 miles · Jun 3, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

TIMING CHAIN JULY 2013 REPAIR TRANSMISSION JANUARY 2014 REPAIR TRANSMISSION LINE/SEALS 2014 MAY 2014 STEERING MAY 2014 POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK AT LOW SPEEDS AND IS IN AND OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595914

63,000 miles · May 16, 2014
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG DO NOT WORK WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10588888

Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2014
Air Bags

WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY AS WELL AS WARNING ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. DON'T WANT TO PAY BIG BUCKS FOR THEM TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY MOST LIKELY KNEW ABOUT BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THEM. THE 2007 HAS HAD A RECALL ISSUED ON IT BUT NOT THE 2…

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WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF FREQUENTLY AS WELL AS WARNING ON THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. DON'T WANT TO PAY BIG BUCKS FOR THEM TO FIX A PROBLEM THEY MOST LIKELY KNEW ABOUT BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THEM. THE 2007 HAS HAD A RECALL ISSUED ON IT BUT NOT THE 2008 WHICH SOUNDS LIKE THE SAME PROBLEM, JUST NOT FIXED DUE TO THE NAMEPLATE GOING UNDER. GM REALLY NEEDS TO FIX THIS DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUES THIS CAUSES NOT TO MENTION PEOPLE CANT AFFORD TO SHELL OUT $1200.00 TO $1500.00 TO FIX THIS IN TODAYS ECONOMY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10584750

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2014
Electrical System

2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING WHEEL AND IGNITION SWITCH FREEZING UP, INTERMITTENTLY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WERE TIMES, WHEN THE KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA ODI #10578719

106,571 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Steering

POWER STEERING WENT COMPLETELY OUT...HARD TO STEER. HAD TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE. WITH THE RECALL ON OTHER PONTIAC MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I'M THINKING MAYBE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579209

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.