2008 Pontiac Torrent Owner Complaints

My sons who is a new driver and has a 2008 Pontiac torrent recently has had the passenger air bag light come on saying passenger airbag off when someone is sitting in the seat so I brought it in and was told that it could possibly be fixed but it’s not a guarantee that it will fix the problem and it will cost over $2500 for a maybe it’ll fix it and they had also indicated that if he was to get in a crash, the airbags will not go off because of this

NHTSA ID

11735172

Incident

May 1, 2026

Electrical problems have been occurring. My lights keep getting dim, then bright. Check engine light is on, the truck is making a loud noise, overheating, battery draining fast. Please note that the battery is new, starter is new, water pump is new , I got new engine fans, radiator and the truck is still running hot, battery dies over night. I need some help this is my only vehicle and I've spent thousands of dollars trying to get this truck right over the years. Are there any affordable warranty plans available for assistance?

NHTSA ID

11725433

Incident

Mar 11, 2020

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle was vibrating excessively. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the rear sub frame had an excessive amount of rust. The vehicle was not repaired due to the rear wheel assembly detaching from the excessive amount of rust. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle remained at the residence and had not been driven since the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

NHTSA ID

11640482

Incident

Mar 11, 2024

Mileage

165,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated while the front passenger seat was not occupied. The vehicle was diagnosed and a failure code for the passenger presence system (PPS) was retrieved. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not yet taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11505419

Incident

Jan 3, 2022

Mileage

125,000 mi

Service air bag light continually goes on and of randomly, at times does not recognize when someone is sitting in the passenger seat. This is a serious problem because when air bag light is on it disables the air bags which won’t deploy in a crash. I found that they recall the 2007 models for this exact problem, Now is the time to recall the 2008 for the exact same problem. This is a dealer only part which they gave me an estimate to fix of $900 if I could get a aftermarket part I would replace myself. Come on Gm recall this ongoing serious safety hazard!!!!

NHTSA ID

11441849

Incident

Nov 28, 2021

The contact's friend owed a 2008 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while the owner was driving at an unknown speed when he fell asleep and rear-ended a semi-truck. 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 they both sought medical attention and she was needing cosmetic surgery for her nose. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated she the insurance deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11440620

Incident

Nov 11, 2021

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON

NHTSA ID

11366679

Incident

Oct 26, 2020

THE VEHICLES AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS INTERMITTENT ON SHOWING THE AIRBAG LIGHT (SERVICE AIRBAG SOON). ALSO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES FROM ON TO OFF PERIODICALLY AND NOW LATER ON MONTHS LATER THE SYSTEM ALWAYS STAYS ON OFF EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE ON THEIR 2007 MODEL TORRENTS AND THEY HAVE A TSB FOR A RECALL ON THIS. HOWEVER MY 2008 TORRENT DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL? THIS IS UNSAFE, TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON TO PAY TO FIX, AND A PROBLEM GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX FOR USING FAULTY SRS COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

11349766

Incident

Jul 17, 2020

Mileage

125,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN, IT FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON THEIR OWN. THE SERVICE STABILTRAK LIGHT BLINKS, STABILITRAK OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF FLASH. IT FEELS AS IF THE WHEELS DO NOT SLOW AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE MAKES AN AWFUL NOISE.

NHTSA ID

11269958

Incident

Oct 21, 2019

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A VERY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILSON COUNTY MOTORS (903 SOUTH HARDEN DR, LEBANON, TN), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11256332

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

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 ID

11254526

Incident

Aug 20, 2019

Mileage

98,000 mi

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 ID

11246039

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

5 mi

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 ID

11186906

Incident

Mar 12, 2019

Mileage

104,000 mi

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 ID

11176054

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

125,000 mi

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 ID

11166385

Incident

Jan 10, 2019

Mileage

190 mi

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 ID

11164512

Incident

Dec 30, 2018

Mileage

122,000 mi

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 ID

11154442

Incident

Oct 9, 2018

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 ID

11150092

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

60,356 mi

: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 ID

11140730

Incident

Oct 15, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

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 ID

11131797

Incident

Jan 1, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR DOESN'T WORK. IT DOESN'T RECONIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CHILD AND AN ADULT. THIS HAPPENS WHEATHER MOVING OR SITTING STILL. THIS HAS BEEN MESSED UP FOR A LONG TIME. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE ITS PARKED, OR ON ANY TYPE STREET. I'VE HAD IT CHECKED AND THE REPAIR MAN SAID HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ID

11131791

Incident

Nov 20, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITY, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS KEPT RANDOMLY FLASHING. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AND TRAVELING ON BUMPY ROADS, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO THE POINT OF POTENTIALLY STALLING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES CONTINUED. ALSO, THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, AT TIMES, DURING THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAD NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

11121229

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE CABIN. THE FAILURE STARTED APPROXIMATELY 21 DAYS AGO WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11120463

Incident

Aug 16, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

PAINT IS "FLAKING" OFF THE AREA ABOVE REAR PASSENGER DOOR, JUST BELOW THE ROOF. NOTICED THIS PROBLEM JUNE 30, 2018.

NHTSA ID

11111828

Incident

Jun 30, 2018

WHEN FILLING UP CAR WITH GAS, GAS WAS PROFUSELY LEAKING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP 6 MONTHS PRIOR. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE FUEL NECK AND PONTIAC IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND HAS A NEW 'KIT' THAT CAN BE INSTALLED ON CARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. OUT OF POCKET REPAIR COST IS $670.

NHTSA ID

11084320

Incident

Apr 9, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi