Problems · NHTSA complaints

2008 Pontiac Torrent problems

Owners filed 125 complaints about the 2008 Pontiac Torrent with NHTSA between Jul 2008 and May 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (46).

Complaints
125
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags46
  2. Fuel/propulsion system25
  3. Electrical system15
  4. Electronic stability control (esc)15
  5. Engine11
  6. Structure9
  7. Power train8
  8. Steering8
  9. Vehicle speed control7
  10. Service brakes5
  11. Tires4
  12. Wheels3
  13. Traction control system3
  14. Seats3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20081
20090
20102
20111
20129
20138
201417
201523
201624
201713
201811
20198
20202
20212
20220
20231
20240
20251
20262

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

46 reports5 crashes
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2026Air bagsODI 11735172

Fuel/propulsion system

25 reports1 crash
“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?”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2026Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11725433

Electrical system

15 reports2 crashes1 fire
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 10, 2019Electrical systemODI 11176054

Electronic stability control (esc)

15 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2019Wheels, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11269958

Engine

11 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 10, 2019Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11254526

Structure

9 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 3, 2025StructureODI 11640482
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.