Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
70–25K
1225–50K
2850–75K
2675–100K
18100–150K
8150K+
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
98,000 miles · Sep 10, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion System
VEHICLE WITH AROUND 100K. TRACTION CONTROL HAS BEEN DISABLED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS FOR NO REASON. GOES OFF SPORADICALLY. NOW VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING FOR NO REASON. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF HEADGASKET. OIL IS CLEAN, OVERFLOW IS FULL, NO LEAKS TO BE SEEN. OVERHEATS MOSTLY WHEN STANDING IDLE. VEHICLE IS A HEA…
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VEHICLE WITH AROUND 100K. TRACTION CONTROL HAS BEEN DISABLED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS FOR NO REASON. GOES OFF SPORADICALLY. NOW VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING FOR NO REASON. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF HEADGASKET. OIL IS CLEAN, OVERFLOW IS FULL, NO LEAKS TO BE SEEN. OVERHEATS MOSTLY WHEN STANDING IDLE. VEHICLE IS A HEADACHE. HOW ARE THERE NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE WHEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE ARE STATING THE SAME ISSUES? VEHICLE IS DRIVING NORMALLY BESIDES THAT. MOST OF OUR DRIVING IS IN TOWN / HIGHWAY DRIVING (LESS THAN 20MILES DISTANCE). WE'VE ONLY PUT 10K ON THE VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING 2 YEARS AGO.
NHTSA ODI #11254526
5 miles · Aug 23, 2019
Air Bags
MY VEHICLE HAS A SERVICE AIR BAG CODE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AN OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS RIDING IN THE SEAT, CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS IS HAPPENING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND TURNING. I OWN OTHER PONTAICS THAT HAD THE RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO REPAIR AN PROBLEM THAT IS …
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MY VEHICLE HAS A SERVICE AIR BAG CODE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AN OFF WHEN SOMEONE IS RIDING IN THE SEAT, CAR IS IN MOTION. THIS IS HAPPENING ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY. IT HAPPENS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND TURNING. I OWN OTHER PONTAICS THAT HAD THE RECALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE, WHY IS THERE NO RECALL TO REPAIR AN PROBLEM THAT IS GM MISTAKE. THIS IS UNSAFE FOR ANY FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. RECALL!
NHTSA ODI #11246039
104,000 miles · Mar 14, 2019
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT (WHO WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC) STATED THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) VALVE FAILED AND SHUT OFF THE ABS. ALSO, THE DISABLE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EGR VALVE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE SHUT OFF THE ABS. THE DEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER OF A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT (WHO WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC) STATED THAT THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) VALVE FAILED AND SHUT OFF THE ABS. ALSO, THE DISABLE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EGR VALVE FAILURE SHOULD NOT HAVE SHUT OFF THE ABS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #11186906
125,000 miles · Feb 10, 2019
Electrical System
POWER WINDOW AND LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. WIRING HARNESS FROM DRIVERS DOOR TO BODY HAD SEVERAL BROKEN WIRES. HARNESS IS TOO SHORT AND WIRE IS UNDERSIZED FOR APPLICATION AND HARD, CRACKED AND BROKEN. OTHER DOORS WILL LIKELY MALFUNCTION.8
NHTSA ODI #11176054
190 miles · Jan 10, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
NOTICED A STRONG GAS SMELL LOOKED UNDERNEATH CAR AND REALIZED THERE IS A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GAS POURING OUT . AS I HAVE READ ON OTHER YEAR MODELS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!
NHTSA ODI #11166385
122,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
Electrical SystemFire
200 PONTIAC TORRENT ..SNOW MELTED AND THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE FUSE BOX AND IMITATED A FIRE .IT SHORTED OUT THE SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE I. WHICH FIRE GUARD DID NOT PROTECT AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED .IT BURNED RIGHT THRU THE WINDSHIELD INTO THE INSIDE OF DASH .FIREMEN WERE CALLED .VEHICLE IS DESTROYED.VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN D…
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200 PONTIAC TORRENT ..SNOW MELTED AND THE WATER LEAKED INTO THE FUSE BOX AND IMITATED A FIRE .IT SHORTED OUT THE SYSTEM CAUGHT FIRE I. WHICH FIRE GUARD DID NOT PROTECT AND THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED .IT BURNED RIGHT THRU THE WINDSHIELD INTO THE INSIDE OF DASH .FIREMEN WERE CALLED .VEHICLE IS DESTROYED.VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY .WE WERE WOKEN AT 1:00 A.M YO OUR VEHIVHLE FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
NHTSA ODI #11164512
Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2018
Air Bags
MY CAR HAS THROWN A CODE FOR SERVICE AIR BAG AND WHEN IN MOTION WITH SOMEONE OVER SO MUCH WEIGHT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT AND IT'S JUST A BAG OR A WALLET THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RECALL FOR MY MODEL AND I'VE READ SEVERAL POSTS WITH THIS P…
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MY CAR HAS THROWN A CODE FOR SERVICE AIR BAG AND WHEN IN MOTION WITH SOMEONE OVER SO MUCH WEIGHT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF. SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT AND IT'S JUST A BAG OR A WALLET THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RECALL FOR MY MODEL AND I'VE READ SEVERAL POSTS WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS. $900 IS NO WHAT I HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY OWN CAR OR WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT.
NHTSA ODI #11154442
60,356 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Air Bags
MY VEHICLE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 9 TO 12 MONTHS, HOWEVER THE "SERVICE THEBAIR BAG" LIGHT IS ACTIVATED ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT ACTIVATION IS SPORATIC EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT OR NOT. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME MODEL FOR THE YEAR OF 2007FOR…
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MY VEHICLE AIR BAG WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 9 TO 12 MONTHS, HOWEVER THE "SERVICE THEBAIR BAG" LIGHT IS ACTIVATED ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE LIGHT ACTIVATION IS SPORATIC EVEN WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT OR NOT. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SAME MODEL FOR THE YEAR OF 2007FOR REPLACEMENT OF A FAULTY SENSOR. . THIS RECALL SHOULD COVER AT LEAST THE 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT AS THIS IS ALSO A POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS (SAFETY ISSUE) CONDITION OF THE AIR BAG MAY OR MAY NOT BE DEPLOYED.
NHTSA ODI #11150092
150,000 miles · Oct 16, 2018
Air Bags
:TAKATA RECALL " AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON. FIRST TIME JUST CAME ON DURING START UP.JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 WEEKS AGO.I WILL SUE GM IF IT CAUSED ACCIDENT. I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE STAYED AWAY FROM ANYTHING OTHER THAN HONDA OR TOYOTA
NHTSA ODI #11140730
150,000 miles · Sep 26, 2018
Structure
THE PAINT BEGAN FALLING OFF 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A POP, IT SLIDE RIGHT OFF MY TORRENT. IT CONTINUES TO PEEL DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES AND ALONG AND AROUND THE DOORS AND CARGO RACK. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS FALLING APART AND RUST HAS SET IN ON THE AREAS THAT HAVE LOST PAINT. I'M DISCOURAGED T…
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THE PAINT BEGAN FALLING OFF 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD A POP, IT SLIDE RIGHT OFF MY TORRENT. IT CONTINUES TO PEEL DOWN THE BACK WINDOWS ON BOTH SIDES AND ALONG AND AROUND THE DOORS AND CARGO RACK. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS FALLING APART AND RUST HAS SET IN ON THE AREAS THAT HAVE LOST PAINT. I'M DISCOURAGED TO THE POINT I DON'T EVEN CARE IF I CLEAN IT OR NOT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE TRASH! IF A CAR IS BEHIND ME, I WORRY THAT A CHUNK OF PAINT IS GOING TO HIT THEIR WINDSHIELD AND CASE A WRECK. THIS PAINT JOB WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY. I SUSPECT THE ADHISIVE WASN'T APPLIED PROPERLY.
NHTSA ODI #11131797
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.
2008 Pontiac Torrent Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year