AI DamagePontiac Torrent: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Pontiac Torrent across 4 model years: 625 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 18% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 16% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 16% of all complaints
- 5 Electronic stability control 13% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 7 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 115 complaints (18% of all), 16 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 106 complaints (17% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 98 complaints (16% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 97 complaints (16% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electronic stability control: 79 complaints (13% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2006–2009
- 3.6 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2008–2009
- automatic, 5-speed 2006–2009
- automatic, 6-speed 2008–2009
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 625 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 115 | 16 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 106 | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 97 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 79 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 68 | 5 | 0 |
| Engine | 49 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 40 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 38 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 28 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 27 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 18 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact was seated at the front passenger side and the air bag did not deploy but the front driver side air bag did deploy. The contact stated the driver had a laceration on his right arm and she had lacerations on the top right forehead, lip, and right nostril.
The contact stated the vehicle was previously rear ended in october of 2019, the airbags did not deploy upon impact. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the windshield glazes as she was unable to see clearly.
On 11/5/17 my 2007 pontiac steering locked and I was in a major car crash. The steering locked as I tried to leave a gas station after giving a stranded person a jump. I turned car off and back on and it was fine.
Takaya recall and more ..airbags never deployed in accident. Key won't come out of ignition when heated up, door locks with remote failure, hatchback doesn't close properly, wiper blade on back goes on while not engaged or closing hatchback. Nhts called me for pictures and sent in never heard from them again.
My air bag did not deploy in a front end and rear end collison where I was hit at a dead stop and the truck was going 60 mph. Car was repaired by geico repair shop in tampa, fl. The air bags still don't work and the light still off and on whether someone is sitting there or not.
The accident was significant enough for the car to be totaled; however, the air bags did not deploy for her nor the passenger. They both sustained some injuries to the head due to the air bags not deploying. My concern is to report the defect. There is no recall for my vin.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.