2006 Pontiac Torrent Steering Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FRONT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ID

11105309

Incident

Jun 28, 2018

Mileage

93,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,152.

NHTSA ID

11061264

Incident

Dec 8, 2017

Mileage

194,152 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS - POWER ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER BEING DRIVEN/PARKED/STARTED AND DRIVEN. WAS THEN PARKED/WAITED AND IT WORKED AGAIN(?) - OTHERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE WHILE UNDERWAY. CONSIDER THIS NOTICE AS DATE-STAMPED FOR FUTURE LEGAL USE. PLEASE ADVISE ON NEXT STEPS/OPTIONS. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2006/PONTIAC/TORRENT/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX

NHTSA ID

11020086

Incident

Aug 27, 2017

Mileage

20 mi

WHEN CAR IS RUNNING, OR EVEN IN MOTION I AM ABLE TO PULL THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO TURN YOUR STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND SO ON TO EVEN GET THE RADIO TO COME ON AT INITIAL START UP. TURNING THE KEY OFF AND ON AND HOPEFULLY NOT LOCK UP THE COLUMN TO THE POINT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY ON. THE SCARY THING IS BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND NOT IN THE OFF POSITION. THE COLD HOT SWITCH ON THE PANEL HAS TO BE TURNED VERY SLOWLY OR IT WILL NOT TURN TO AIR CONDITIONING. IF YOU DO IT TO QUICKLY, IT ACTS AS IF IT IS STILL IN THE RED POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALREADY REPLACED THIS ISSUE WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 2010 USED 2ND OWNERS WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES ON IT NOW. HAD ISSUES WITH THE RADIO SINCE PURCHASE DATE, THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, BUT CONTINUED TO GET WORST TO THE POINT OF JUST PULLING THE KEYS OUT WHILE RUNNING. THE SPEED CONTROL ALSO SHUTS OFF AND DOES NOT MAINTAIN WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT HOLDS FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND JUST SHUTS OFF. THE SPEED CONTAIN ICON STILL SHOWS ON BUT IT LOSES POWER AND DOES NOT WORK. YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF AND ON SPEED CONTROL CONSTANTLY. SO LETS SAY ITS NOT USED SO MUCH ANYMORE.

NHTSA ID

10836230

Incident

Dec 23, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH OR ABOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SUSPENSION BEGAN TO VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID

10811182

Incident

May 15, 2006

Mileage

113,000 mi

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS FAILING (IMPELLER IN EPS PUMP) SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE STEERING JERKS ON IRREGULAR BASIS. SOUNDS LIKE CHUNKS OF METAL MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP. HAPPENS WHEN YOU ACCELARTE OR TURN THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ID

10778294

Incident

Sep 25, 2015

Mileage

85,000 mi

WHEN BACKING OUT IN THE MORNING SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE PIECES OF METAL FLOWING THROUGH STEERING COLUMN AND WHEN EXCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING GEER BOX IS ABOUT TO LET LOOSE I CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS WITH SIMILAR MODELS AND CHASIS DESIGNS IT DOES NOT MATTER THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE OR WEATHER TYPE IT SEEMS LIKE IT STARTED IN JANUARY AND IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE

NHTSA ID

10726403

Incident

Jun 21, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10691529

Incident

Feb 18, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

GOT TO WORK AND WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE THE STEERING FROZE AND ACTED LIKE MANUAL STEERING. FOUND OUT IT HAS THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR THAT MOST OF THE GM'S FROM 2005 - 2010 WERE RECALLED AND FIXED AT NO COST BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT THE TORRENT ON THAT LIST EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS WITNESSED FROM THE COMPLAINTS ON THE GM SITE OF STEERING FREEZING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WAY TO TURN OR CONTROL THE VEHICLES. THEY STILL DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND ONE PERSONS TORRENT ROLLED OVER FROM THE STEERING FREEZING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. I WANT TO KNOW WHY GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE PONTIAC TORRENT? OURS WILL COST US $1300 PLUS LABOR TO FIX IT AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE COME TO THIS GOING BAD BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT USED. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR PUTTING PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN DANGER FROM THIS KNOWN ISSUE BY GM AND THEY SHOULD BE SUED FOR ENDANGERING OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES BY NOT RECALLING AND FIXING IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632570

Incident

Sep 11, 2014

AS I WAS DRIVING IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, I HEARD A SQUEAL OR WINDING SOUND THEN I SAW A PUFF OF SMOKE COME OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL - IGNITION AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10622291

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

107,520 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING I SAW SMOKE COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY TRUCK. THEN AGAIN AS I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10618601

Incident

Jul 16, 2014

Mileage

105,615 mi

MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING, EITHER WHEN I'M MAKING AN ATTEMPT TO TURN OR WHEN I FIRST TURN ON THE CAR AND GO IN REVERSE AND TURN THE WHEEL AND IT LOCKS UP CAUSING THE INABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, BUT THE MOST RECENT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING AS FAR BACK AS 2009. IT COMES AND GOES. I TOOK IT TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND PAID $1,800 TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IN MARCH 2014 AND IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10616982

Incident

Jul 26, 2014

Mileage

126,032 mi

WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT NOTICE SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN. SMOKED STOOPED WHILE DRIVING BUT OCCURRED AGAIN AS I INSPECTED WHILE BEING PARKED. STOPPED AFTER TURNING OFF IGNITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10614770

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

105,789 mi

WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO EXIT, THE KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF. I HAVE TO WIGGLE KEY IN ORDER TO RELEASE FROM IGNITION. TURNING STEERING WHEEL DOES NOTHING TO HELP THE SITUATION. I AM WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLY BREAKING KEY WHILE TRYING TO RELEASE IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593081

Incident

Dec 3, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER; WHO ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE AND CONTROL MODULE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER, KEY AND RECODED THE LOCK CYLINDER. AFTER THE REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION, THE KEY WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MODULAR ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10567038

Incident

Nov 20, 2013

Mileage

78,000 mi

DRIVING APPROX. 45 MPH DOWN 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE. ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST ALL STEERING & BRAKING CONTROL. ABLE TO COAST TO A DITCH ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE VEHICLE TO OFF POSITION IN IGNITION SWITCH THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE. AFTER 3-4 CRANKING ATTEMPTS, CAR STARTED. WENT STRAIGHT TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SECOND OCCASION- DRIVING APPROX. 25 MPH DOWN 2 LANE ROAD. BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN LEFT- ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST ALL STEERING & BRAKING CONTROL. ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE VEHICLE TO OFF POSITION IN IGNITION SWITCH THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE. CAR STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WENT TO NEAREST SERVICE STORE AND ONCE AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG BECAUSE THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON. TAKES MULTIPLE CRANKING ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS. NO PATTERN TO WHEN. COULD BE IN THE AM, PM, MIDDLE OF THE DAY, HOT, COLD, WARM, RAINING, SNOWING, SUNNY, CLOUDY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566625

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AUTO PARK. DRIVING HOME AND GETTING ON THE BYPASS GOING APPX 65 MPH IT WAS VERY HARD TO STEER. THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS SAYING IT IS LIKE DRIVING A CAR WITH NO POWER STEERING. I TOOK IT TO 3 PLACES AND ALL SAID IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED. MY HUSBAND TOOK IT ON VACATION IN JUNE 2012 AND WILL NEVER DRIVE IT AGAIN BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE... HE WILL NOT LET OUR SON DRIVE IT BECAUSE HE FEELS IT IS UNSAFE. I AM FINALLY SEEING OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. WHAT CAN BE DONE. IT HAS 90,000 MILES NOW. I HAVE 3 BOYS AND DRIVE A LOT. I NEED THIS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512797

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

A FEW DAYS AGO MY TORRENT WHICH IS A 2006 MODEL, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED LOCKING UP. IT HAPPENS WHEN I START THE TRUCK UP AND I PUT IT IN ANY GEAR. THE WHEEL ITSELF WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL. LAST NIGHT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COMPLETELY STAYED STRAIGHT AND WOULD NOT MOVE. YESTERDAY IT LOCKED UP IN THE PARKING LOT BEFORE I WENT TO LEAVE THE WHEEL AGAIN WOULD NOT MOVE. I THEN PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL WHERE THE WHEEL WAS MOVING LIKE NORMAL. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK. ITS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND IM A SINGLE MOM WITH A SMALL CHILD AND I DONT FEEL SAFE PUTTING MY CHILD IN THE TRUCK AND DRVING HIM AROUND WITH THE FEAR OF IT LOCKING UP AND THEN POSSIBLY HITTING SOMETHING AND HURTING US OR SOMEONE ELSE DUE TO A MALFUCTION. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507384

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

117,000 mi

FIRST WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT AT 16K MILES TO THE RIGHT FRONT. THEN THE LEFT FRONT WENT OUT WITH ALMOST 36K MILES. FIRST TWO REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN AT 55K MILES STARTED HAVING WHEEL SENSOR FAULTS. DEALER FIXED. WIRE WORN THROUGH AGAIN, SAME FAULT AT 72K MILES. FIXED OURSELVES WITH BETTER TAPE ON WIRE. NEXT THE LEFT WHEEL BEARING/HUB WENT BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 78K MILES. 3RD WHEEL BEARING FOR THAT SIDE. CONTACT GM AND NO HELP WITH CASE THERE, SO REPLACED WITH PART FROM AUTOZONE TO SAVE MONEY. AT 83K MILES RIGHT WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD. THIS ONE HAD TWO BOLTS STUCK. HAD TO WAIT AROUND 2 WEEKS FOR BOLTS. PAID A SHOP TO TORCH OFF BOLTS AND REPLACE BEARING.3RD WHEEL BEARING FOR THAT SIDE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL! BEARING SHOULD LAST OVER 100K. I KEPT THE REPLACEMENTS THAT WENT BAD IF THEY COULD HELP FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE ROOT CAUSE. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH MY CAR TO CAUSE THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447089

Incident

May 17, 2008

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON MY SON'S 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2006. 2 MONTHS AGO WE SPENT $1500 IN THE HEAT AND AIR ISSUE. OK NO BIG DEAL. HAD TO DO IT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD, I HAVE TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP ON HIM AND HE CAN BE IN ANY SITUATION, MORNING TRAFFIC, QUIET ROAD, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NO WAY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE SLOWS DOWN, IN ANY KIND OF TRAFFIC WHICH LEADS TO GOD KNOWS WHAT KIND OF SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE FIXED FOR HIM AT NO COST. STEERING WHEELS SHOULD NOT LOCK UP FOR NO REASON. I EXPECT TO HEAR BACK ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CAN FIX THE WEAR AND TEAR OF ANY VEHICLE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE THREATENING ISSUES, THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN A CASE STUDY AND A SOLUTION FOUND AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10437278

Incident

Nov 14, 2011

Mileage

107,000 mi

I HAD BEEN TO A TOWN THAT WAS APPROX 30 MILES FROM MY HOME TO TAKE CARE OF SOME ERRANDS. I RETURNED BACK TO MY HOMETOWN AND STOPPED BY A STORE TO GRAB A COUPLE OF THINGS BEFORE HEADING TO WORK. I THEN RETURNED TO MY CAR AND PROCEEDED TO CRANK IT AND DRIVE OFF BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO TAKE OFF I COULD NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL BUT MAYBE AN INCH OR TWO. I CALLED MY DAD TO COME AND CHECK IT BECAUSE HE IS A MECHANIC AND HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. AFTER IT BEING SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES HE CRANK IT UP AND THE STEERING WHEEL THEN WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED BUT I WORK NIGHTS SO I DO NOT NEED TO BE STRANDED IN A DARK PARKING LOT. I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR A YEAR. I BOUGHT IT USED BUT IT HAS NOT GIVEN ME ANY PROBLEMS UNTIL NOW. IT HAS AROUND 40,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362354

Incident

Oct 25, 2010

Mileage

40,000 mi

2006 PONTIAC TORRENT ELECTRONIC STEERING ISSUES. CAR WAS STARTED PUT INTO REVERSE BUT THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND STEERING WAS BACK. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THIS PAST YEAR. ALSO WHEN MAKING TIGHT TURNS STEERING IS HARD TO TURN BACK THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. FEEL SOMETHING IS FAILING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10354778

Incident

Aug 28, 2010

Mileage

45,000 mi

01-01-2009 STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH MY PONTIAC TORRENT 2006 VEHICLE MAKING LOTS OF NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING CLUNKING POPPING NOISE, DEALERSHIP CLAIMS MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10351315

Incident

Jan 1, 2009

Mileage

69,000 mi

THE POWER STEERING IS GOING OUT INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS NO WARNING,NO LIGHT,NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332752

Incident

May 28, 2010

Mileage

57,878 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHEN THE CONTACT ARRIVED AT HIS RESIDENCE, HE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING FAILED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,786 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID

10269704

Incident

Apr 24, 2009

Mileage

34,786 mi