RoadVitals

2009 Pontiac Torrent

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
17
Latest Sep 21, 2023
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Pontiac Torrent, most frequently naming the airbags, steering and driver assistance categories. 969 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags626.1%
  • Steering313.0%
  • Driver assistance313.0%
  • Body & structure313.0%
  • Fuel system28.7%
  • Electrical28.7%
  • Other / unspecified14.3%
  • Powertrain (other)14.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Sep 21, 2023

The contact owns a 2009 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present. Upon inspection, it was discovered that a crack was present on the top of the fuel tank causing fuel to leak onto the ground. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 198,000.

NHTSA ID
11545884
Incident
Sep 1, 2023
Mileage
198,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 24, 2022

Steering gone out while driving times 3 with 2 replacements and now in shop for 3rd replacement. Nearly hit a lady. Time before, I nearly went over an embankment. Steering column has been entirely replaced twice. The electric steering motor has also been replaced 2 to 3 times as well. Numerous times have lost the ability to steer when in a curve but then later corrected itself and continued driving. ABS light is on most of the time and yes it has been looked at numerous times. Stabilitrac light is on and again, yes, this has been looked at numerous times. Traction control light is also on again. Seat belt sensor light is on and has been for a long time. Now, I really cannot afford repairs once again for something that needs a recall. I have read hundreds of other people also making these same reports in NHTSA comments. Please, people are going to get killed if not already. Now, I also see that these steering columns are being sent back to the manufacturer and the same defective modules are being replaced and then sent back out to replace another vehicles defective part while charging the customer full price yet again. A repairman stated to me that the defective part was being replaced with another defective part and was really useless repairs. Will you please buy this lemon back from me. It has nearly costed me and my families life numerous times plus others. Please recall these parts. Please make it possible for me to get a different vehicle. This started in less than a year from the purchase of the new vehicle when we had the first steering column replaced. Would you want your spouse or child driving these vehicles?

NHTSA ID
11475529
Incident
Jul 24, 2022
Airbags
Filed Dec 16, 2019

SERVICE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON EVERY TIME CAR IS STARTED.ALSO INDICATOR LIGHT SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF.THERE IS NO WORKING PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AT THIS TIME.IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR OVER A YEAR.

NHTSA ID
11289333
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Mileage
85,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 1, 2018

DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DASH COVER CRACKING.

NHTSA ID
11099211
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Airbags
Filed Apr 3, 2018

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO THE LOCAL GM DEALER. THEY STATED THE "PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE" WAS SHORTING OUT. DEALER STATED THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT INFLATE WITH THE PROBLEM. DEALER STATED THE PONTIAC TORRENT HAD A RECALL ON THE 2006 THRU 2008 TORRENT FOR THE PROBLEM BUT NOT THE 2009. DEALER CHARGED $798.33 TO REPLACE THE MODULE. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
11083150
Incident
Mar 10, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. ALSO, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING AND A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AGAIN AFTER TWO MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO PINCHER WILLIAMS CHEVROLET/PONTIAC IN LONDON, KENTUCKY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ID
11082144
Incident
Mar 25, 2018
Mileage
71,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 18, 2016

UNLOCKS AND LOCKS BY ITSELF THE STAZABLE TRACK KEEPS COMING ON ITS LIKE ITS NOT GETTING AIR INTAKE WHEN I'M DRIVING IT NOT SHIFTING RITE SKPS GEARS

NHTSA ID
10926954
Incident
Nov 10, 2016
Steering
Filed Nov 18, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL EXPERIENCED STIFFNESS AND SHOOK WHEN TURNING. EVENTUALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT UPDATED 7/6/18*JB

NHTSA ID
10926810
Incident
Jan 2, 2012
Mileage
6,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

13598

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH

PIC5650M

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

PIT5074R

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Pontiac Torrent by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2014000
2009Viewing170037.3
20081250036.2
20072434046.8
20062400037.9

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.