2006 Pontiac Torrent complaints

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAD MY HEATED SEATS ON AND I NOTICED IT WAS GETTING REALLY HOT, SO WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I STOPPED AND GOT OUT AND I NOTICED A HOLE IN MY SEAT WHERE IT HAD BURNED RIGHT THROUGH IT. SO IF I HAD NOT HAD A COAT ON IT WOULD HAVE BURNED ME. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAD THE HEATED SEATS ON. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE I FELT MY BACK GET HOT AND FELT BEHIND ME AND MY COAT HAD A HOLE BURNT THROUGH IT MY BACK WAS HOT AND A HOLE IN THE SEAT ALSO. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH ON A TRIP THE HEAT JUST STOPPED BLOWING. AS SINCE, THIS WEATHER HAS BEEN -20 AND -25 BELOW AND I HAVE NO DEFROST, HEAT. I WENT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ONLY TO FIND OUT THE HEAT/AIR/DOOR IS BROKE. COST OF REPAIRS 1200.00 TO 1,500.00 IT IS AN ALL DAY JOB. THE DASH AND ALL COMPONENTS WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND PUT BACK ON. NEEDLESS TO SAY WITH THIS WINTER BEING ONE OF THE COLDEST I UNDERSTAND AND CAN FEEL WHAT OTHERS ARE GOING THROUGH THAT HAS THIS SAME PROBLEM... AND I HAVE TO BUNDLE JUST TO GO TO WORK. I WORK AN HOUR AWAY AND AFTER FINDING THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM !!!! I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE MONEY GIVEN TO THE ONES THAT NEEDS THIS FIXED. *TR

THIS TORRENT STOPPED AT 65 MPH ON A TRIPLE LANE HIGHWAY WHEN I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE. A GOOD SAMARITAN WITH A TRUCK CAME UP BEHIND ME WITH HIS FLASHERS ON AND PUSHED ME TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT CRANK. AFTER WAITING A WHILE THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK AND STARTED RIGHT UP. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES NOW WHERE IT JUST STOPS BUT RESTARTS AFTER A FEW MINUTES. I UNDERSTAND A VEHICLE CAN BREAK AND NOT RUN. BUT A VEHICLE THAT IS RUNNING SHOULD NEVER BE SHUT DOWN BY THE COMPUTER WHEN IT IS CAPABLE OF RUNNING AND BE PUTTING A DRIVER IN DANGER. IF THIS VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF CORRECTING ITSELF IN A FEW MINUTES TO RUN AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN IT SHOULD RUN RIGHT THROUGH THE DANGEROUS SHUTDOWN. IT IS A DANGEROUS FLAW THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. RATHER THAN SHUT THE CAR DOWN IT COULD GO INTO A RUN MODE TO ALLOW THE DRIVE TO MAKE IT TO A SAFE LOCATION. PONTIAC KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. THIS VEHICLE IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON A HIGHWAY. *TR

ON NOVEMBER 15, 2013 I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UP UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER AND RAISED THE HOOD AND THE ELECTRICAL WIRES TO THE ELECTRICAL BOX WAS ON FIRE. I CUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND SAT FOR A MINUTE AND THE AUTOMATIC STARTER JUST KEPT STARTING THE CAR BY ITSELF. I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE IT TRIED TO START WITHOUT ME TURNING THE KEY OVER. I GOT BACK OUT THE VEHICLE AND IT CONTINUED TO AUTOMATICALLY START BY ITSELF UNTIL THE BATTERY RAN DEAD. ON NOVEMBER 18, 2013 I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND HE STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD BURNED UP. *TR

THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BURNT A HOLE THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND BURNT A HOLE IN MY WIFE'S COAT. THE HEATED SEAT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BURNT A HOLE THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND BURNT A HOLE IN MY COAT. BOTH HEATED SEATS BURNT HOLES THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY AND THERE ARE CURRENTLY EXPOSED WIRES. IT RUINED OUR COATS AS WELL. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT RESULTING IN EXTREME VIBRATION AND NOISE. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT OUT RESULTING IN EXTREME VIBRATION AND NOISE. *TR

I AM TOTALLY OUTRAGED FINDING OUT THAT GM PLACED A NON SAFE PART ON THIS TRUCK THAT I BOUGHT BRAND NEW. IT WILL COST $1000.00 EVEN AFTER KEEPING THIS TRUCK MAINTENANCE FREE, TROUBLE FREE FROM REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DELIVER THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM. I AM VERY UPSET THAT THIS PART WAS NOT RECALLED AS THE PART COSTS BETWEEN $22-100.00 WHILE THE LABOR BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS WILL COST UP TO $1000.00 AT THE DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND GET REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS WITH. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH ALL OF THE CONSUMERS ON HERE: THE ACTUATOR THAT OPERATES THE HEATER BLEND DOOR - OVEREXTENDS AND BREAKS THE HEATER BLEND DOOR. THIS CAUSES THE HEATER TO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE ACTUATORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE HEATER DOORS ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY BREAK DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. IF THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK THE WINDOWS WON'T DEFROST SO THIS IS A VISIBILITY HAZARD. I ALSO LISTED IT AS AN ELECTRICAL AND UNKNOWN HAZARD. *TR

HEATER DOESN'T WORK. ONLY BLOWS COOL AIR. SAFETY ISSUE IN WINTER. DEFROST DOESN'T WORK. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH HEAT BLEND DOOR. $50 PART. QUOTE FOR REPAIR $900.

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

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE USED ON 12/06/2006 WITH 9,968 MILES. REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE ($5,000) ON 03/27/2009 DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET (WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY). MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 84,625. IN APPROXIMATELY 2009 THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN SPONTANEOUSLY. MY DOG HAD HER HEAD OUT OF THE WINDOW AND IT SPONTANEOUSLY CLOSED ON HER HEAD, RESTRICTING HER AIRWAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS RIPPED APART AND WIRING WAS REPLACED. THE WINDOW WORKED CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND THEN IN 2011, THE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING ENTIRELY. HAVE HAD 3 WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED (ONE TWICE). IN JANUARY/FEBRUARY OF 2013, THE IGNITION SWITCH AND FUSE CENTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THE FUSE CENTER/PANEL WAS ON "NATIONAL BACK ORDER" WITH NO KNOWN AVAILABLE DATE. THEY REPAIRED IT. TOTAL COST PAID FOR THAT REPAIR WAS OVER $335.87. MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 171827 ON APRIL 12TH THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING AS I WAS DRIVING. THE FAN STILL BLOWS BUT ONLY COLD AIR. THE HOSES FROM THE COOLANT TANK HEAT UP WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. ACCORDING TO SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED THE ENTIRE DASH WILL NEED TO BE DISMANTLED TO FIX THE BLEND DOOR/ACTUATOR. KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER SEAT WIRES MELTED THROUGH THE SEAT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A THIRD DEGREE BURN ON HER LOWER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. *TR

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

I STARTED MY TORRENT JUST LIKE ANY MORNING, THE HEATER RAN FOR MAYBE 10 MINUTES THEN JUST STOPPED. IT WILL NOT BLOW OUT ANY KIND OF AIR (HOT OR COLD). BEING WINTER, COLD AND FROSTY, THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. WITH NO DEFROSTER IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE, AND ITS VERY COLD. IT COSTS AROUND 1200 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED. EVEN IF IT IS FIXED I AS TOLD THE WAY THAT THEY MADE THE TORRENT THAT IT WILL JUST BREAK AGAIN. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF CASH JUST LAYING AROUND. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BUT GM IS TO CHEAP. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING. I DRIVE ALONG WAYS AND ITS DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE. *TR

TOTAL OF 4 OCCURRENCES. AFTER ACCELERATING, ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME LODGED IN ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE OPERATOR REMOVED PRESSURE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. UNINTENDED, UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION CONTINUED DURING ATTEMPTED BRAKING. CONTINUED BRAKING WAS ONLY MARGINALLY EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING VEHICLE SPEED. OPERATOR WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY REDUCE SPEED THROUGH CONTINUOUS BRAKING ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO DELIVER POWER IN OPPOSITION. ULTIMATELY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASED FROM THE FLOOR MAT AND THE DRIVER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. PRIOR TO THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, AFTER-MARKET FLOOR MATS HAD BEEN INSTALLED FOR LESS THAN 1MONTH AND WERE SUSPECTED TO BE DEFECTIVE AS THEY HAVE NARROW, DEEP "WELLS" THAT CROSS THE MAT SIDE TO SIDE IN THE REGION BELOW THE PEDALS RATHER THAN ALONG THE LENGTH. BY INSPECTION, IT WAS EASILY DETERMINED THAT THE HEEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL EASILY BECAME ENTRAPPED IN THOSE WELLS. FOLLOWING THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE FLOOR MATS WERE REPLACED WITH ONES WITHOUT THE DEEP HORIZONTAL WELLS. HOWEVER, 3 ADDITIONAL SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITH THOSE MATS. THE DURATION OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS MUCH LESS BECAUSE THE OPERATOR KNEW TO "KICK" THE PEDAL LOOSE. *TR

MY 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER, INCLUDING THE DEFROSTER. I LIVE IN AN AREA WITH A LOT OF SNOW, ICE AND EXTREME COLD AND OFTEN TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN THE WINTER THE WINDSHIELD BUILDS TOO MUCH FROST TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUT OF IT. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE (ABOUT $1000). AS I UNDERSTAND IT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT MY HEATING SYSTEM STARTED GETTING INTERMITTENT THE END OF WINTER LAST YEAR 2011 I DID RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER IN. THE MAIL FROM GM ABOUT THERE HEARING SYSTEM SWITCH BUT NOTHING ABOUT THERE HEATING SYSTEM SEEMS LIKE AFTER READING UP ON THIS ISSUE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS HAVING HEARING SYSTEM PROBLEMS I SPOKE TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT THEY SAID THAT IF ITS NOT BE SWITCH ITS NOT HERE PROBLEM FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT GM HAS MORE THAN JUST A SWITCH PROBLEM !!!! THE ECONOMY SUCKS ENOUGH I CAN'T SPEND 1000'S OF DOLLARS TRYING TO ELIMINATE A OBVIOUSLY EXISTING PROBLEM !! WHO IS THERE TO BAIL OUT WHO? *TR

THE UPPER TAILGATE SPOILER FLEW OFF. THIS IS NOT AN ADDED ACCESSORY.THIS IS A HEAVY BODY COMPONENT. THERE WAS NO IMPACT THAT CAUSED IT. FORTUNATELY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, NO ONE BEHIND ME WAS INJURED.I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS MISSING UNTIL I DISCOVERED IT DAYS LATER. I JUST WENT OUT ONE MORNING AND NOTICED IT WAS GONE. I HAVE READ ON LINE WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND I FEEL IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST ON THE CHEVY EQUINOX AND PERHAPS MORE VEHICLES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

BLENDER DOOR BROKEN, HVAC, HEATING & COOLING ONLY BLOWS COLD AIR, NO DEFROST!!! *TR

THE HEATER AND THE DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. I FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DURING THE WINTER TIME BECAUSE THE DEFROST DOES NOT WORK. EVERYONE ONLINE SAYS THE REPAIR IS AROUND $1200.00 BECAUSE OF HOW HARD IT IS TO GET TO THE PART. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE FUEL LINE. THE FUEL LINES WERE MADE WITH DEFECTIVE PLASTIC THAT WAS NOT HEAT RESISTANT, CAUSING THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE TO CRACK AND LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP AND LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V459000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: FUELPUMP). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT WORKING AND FAN ONLY BLOWS WARM AIR. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE TEMPERATURE AIR DOOR WAS BROKEN. IT LOOKS LIKE THE ACTUATOR THAT MOVES THE DOOR OVEREXTENDS AND BREAKS THE DOOR. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A VISIBILITY PROBLEM SINCE THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK. *TR

I PARKED OUR CAR IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND WHEN I WENT TO GET IN IT ON SUNDAY MORNING THE WHOLE INSIDE WITH COVERED IN YELLOW DUST. THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WAS OPEN BUT THE DASH WAS INTACT. I CALLED THE POLICE DEPT AND ALONG WITH THE HAZ MAT TEAM FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THEY DETERMINED THAT IS WAS THE AIR BAG AND SOMEHOW IT EXPLODED AND RIPPED OPEN WITHIN THE DASH CAUSING ALL THE DUST THAT WAS INSIDE OF IT TO COME OUT THROUGH THE VENTS AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. MY ENTIRE CAR ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK WINDOWS IS COVERED BY THIS POWDER. ALSO WHEN THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER LOOKED AT IT HE STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS NOT SHOWING THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG! THIS IS THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HORRIFIC! MY AUTO INSURANCE IS NOT GOING TO COVER IT AS IT IS MECHANICAL AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT DO ANYTHING AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM PONTIAC. *TR UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ UPDATED 09/10/2012 *JS

THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE ACTUATOR THAT MOVES THE FLAP IN THE HEATER/AC CASE. THIS CAUSES THE HEAT NOT TO BE RELEASED INTO THE CAR, JUST COLD AIR. THIS ISSUE IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT GM NEEDS TO SEE THIS ISSUE AS A FAULT OF THE PART. THE REPAIR FOR THIS UNIT REQUIRES COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE DASH BOARD. I HAVE GOTTEN QUOTES FROM 900-1500 TO REPAIR THIS PART AND THEY DO NOT SAY THAT ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG FUEL SMELL AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED, I THINK THE FUEL CAP IS NOT GOOD ANYMORE AND I BOUGHT A NEW ONE, BUT I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SMELL, I WAS CHECKING IN THE INTERNET IF SOMEBODY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND WITCH WAS MY SURPRISE, THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME CAR YEAR 2006 AND 2007 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM THAT MORE OF THE PEOPLE REPORT WHEN THEY WENT TO THE GMC,PONTIAC AND BUICK DEALER OR REPAIR SHOP, THEY FOUND THE FUEL LINE HAD CRACKED AT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL WAS SPRAYING FROM THE FRACTURE. *TR

HAVING TO REPLAY A ACUTOR THAT IS NO MORE THAN 145.00 IN MY VEHICLE THAT WILL COST ME A TOTAL OF 1200.00 IS NOT FAIR TO THE BUYER AND IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT G M SHOULD TAKE CARE OF. I WILL NOT BUY AND OTHER TORRENT AGAIN FROM G M OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE.THANK YOU. *JS

THE ACTUATOR THAT OPERATES THE HEATER BLEND DOOR - OVEREXTENDS AND BREAKS THE HEATER BLEND DOOR. THIS CAUSES THE HEATER TO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE ACTUATORS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THE HEATER DOORS ARE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE THEY BREAK DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. IF THE HEAT DOESN'T WORK THE WINDOWS WON'T DEFROST SO THIS IS A VISIBILITY HAZARD. I ALSO LISTED IT AS AN ELECTRICAL AND UNKNOWN HAZARD. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT ON THE INTERNET FOR THE 2006 PONTIAC TORRENTS & CHEVY EQUINOX'S AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND MOST OF THEM ARE AROUND THE 50,000 MILE MARK. GM WILL NOT PAY FOR IT IF IT IS PAST THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SAY THERE ISN'T A RECALL FOR THIS. THESE 2 PARTS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE IF YOU CAN'T DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS. IT IS APPROXIMATELY $900-$1200 TO FIX BECAUSE THEY NEED TO TAKE APART THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD TO GET AT THE ACTUATOR AND THE BLEND DOOR. GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THIS AND FIX THIS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN DRIVE SAFELY AND BE ABLE TO SEE OUT THEIR WINDOWS. *TR

ON 2 OCCASIONS MY CAR DIED ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE IM DRIVING WITH MY NEWBORN. FIRST TIME I GOT GAS. HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD CAR DIES.THEY SAY ITS FUEL PUMP. SPENT 3 DAYS AT SHOP ON THIRD DAY WITH NO WORK DONE CAR STARTS RUNS FINE FOR 2 WEEKS WITH MULTIPLE GAS FILL UPS IN BETWEEN. THREE DAYS AGO I GET GAS DRIVE 1/2 BLOCK PARK CAR, HALF HOUR LATER GET IN CAR START DRIVING, TRY TO PUT WINDOWS DOWN BUT THEY WONT COME DOWN. IM NOW 1/2 MILE INTO MY DRIVE ON BUSY ROAD WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR AND I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING SLAMMED INTO BY A SEMI. I SPENT AN HOUR IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER IN MY CAR WITH MY BABY WITH NO WAY TO PUT WINDOWS DOWN. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK. BY THE TIME THE TOW GOT THERE MY CAR STARTED. I HAD IT TOWED ANYWAY FOR FEAR OF HAVING THIS HAPPEN AGAIN. TOW IT TO A DEALERSHIP NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. SO THIS IS TWICE NOW THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR WHEN I HAD MY CHILD BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA AND I JUST FELT I NEEDED SOMETHING NEWER AND MORE RELIABLE BUT APPARENTLY I SHOULD HAVE STUCK WITH MY TOYOTA IT NEVER IN THE TIME I HAD IT BROKE DOWN AND IT HAD 192,000 MILES ON IT. IF THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. DOES IT SERIOUSLY HAVE TO BE A FATAL ACCIDENT BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT JUST ABOUT HAPPENED 3 DAYS AGO TO AN INFANT AND MYSELF. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANOR. *TR

VEHICLE BEGAN HAVING HARD STARTING PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL NOT START THOUGH IT KEEPS CRANKING OVER AND OVER OR KNOCKS VERY BADLY THEN SPUTTERS OUT. THIS CAN GO ON 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS. IT IS INTERMITTENT BUT SEEMS TO OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING, IS SHUT OFF, AND RESTARTING IS ATTEMPTED AFTER 15-30 MINUTES. USUALLY IF IT SITS FOR SEVERAL HOURS OR OVERNIGHT IT STARTS ON THE FIRST TRY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT KNOWN WHAT IT IS BUT BELIEVES IT IS MOST LIKELY A FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENT. *TR

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

I OWN A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY AND THE HEAT JUST WENT OUT. THIS CAUSED A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE DEFROST STOPPED WORKING AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE WINTER FOR GOING ON THREE YEARS NOW ITS JUST NOT SAFE. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THIS SAME EXACT THING IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT FORCE GM TO CONDUCT A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *KB

WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN DOOR AND BODY ON DRIVERS DOOR SUSPECTED DUE TO MULTIPLE COMPONENTS RELATED TO DOOR NOT WORKING. FIRST FAILURE WAS THOUGHT TO BE DOOR SWITCH NEEDED REPLACING AS DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN ON CHIME WOULD NOT SOUND WHEN LOCKING DOOR AND RADIO WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AFTER DOOR CLOSED. 5 MONTHS LATER THE POWER WINDOW FAILS TO OPERATE. (FORTUNATELY IN THE UP POSITION) EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED ON VEHICLE, WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN DOOR AND BODY NOT COVERED. RESEARCH SHOWS MULTIPLE OTHER CASES OF PROBLEM BEING IDENTIFIED HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F1C2EEA THE WIRING HARNESS IS EITHER TOO SHORT OR INSTALLED CORRECTLY. I WISH TO BE SURE THAT A REPLACEMENT HARNESS DOES NOT EXHIBIT THE SAME PROBLEM AS IT WILL LEAD TO A RATHER TOASTY EXPERIENCE CALLED A FIRE IF NOT REMEDIED. *TR

I WENT THROUGH A CAR WASH AND WATER POURED OUT OF THE READING LIGHTS AND ALSO ON TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORS. MY TORRENT WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I PUT IT INTO DRIVE. EVENTUALLY, AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES, IT WOULD GO FORWARD A LITTLE BIT IF I PUT THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HELD IT FOR ABOUT ONE MINUTE. EVERY TIME I STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT, THE TORRENT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS - UNTIL I HELD THE PEDAL DOWN FOR A LONG TIME AND THEN IT WOULD CREEP FORWARD SLOWLY. I CANNOT GO THROUGH CAR WASHES ANY LONGER. THE AIR CONDITIONER AND HEAT WORK INTERMITTENTLY - SOMETIMES JUST FINE, SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL - DEPENDS ON THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE IT SEEMS. I DO NOT GET ANY WARM AIR WHEN THE DEFROST IS ON.

THE BLEND DOOR FOR HEATER IS BROKEN AND ONLY COLD AIR IS ALLOWED TO FLOW THROUGH. THIS HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED TO BREAK IN MANY TORRENTS. THE DOOR IS DESIGNED TO ONLY MOVE 60 DEGREES BUT THE ACTUATOR IS DESIGNED TO MOVE 180 DEGREES CAUSING THE DOOR TO BREAK. WHEN I CALLED TO TALK TO SEVERAL BODY SHOPS TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE, THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS HAPPENS IN MANY TORRENTS AND GM WILL NOT RECALL THE PART AND IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO GET IT FIXED WHICH COULD COST ME BETWEEN $1000 AND $1500 FOR LABOR AND PARTS. *TR

THE HEAT IN MY TRUCK STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC CONNECTION SHAFT ON THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. *KB

THE HEATER HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE DOOR ROD HAS EITHER BROKEN OR THE MOTOR HAS GONE BAD. MORE THAN 200 COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MALFUNCTION IN THIS PARTICULAR MODEL VEHICLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED UNDER THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103 - WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS - PASSENGER CARS, MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES, TRUCKS, AND BUSES (EFFECTIVE 1-1-88). THIS STANDARD SPECIFIES REQUIREMENTS FOR WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS. THIS IS NOT RANDOM IN ANY WAY. I THINK WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD BAND TOGETHER AND FORM A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAIN THE MAKER OF THIS VEHICLE. I WILL BE IN CONTACT!!! *TR

APRIL 15TH, 2010 OUR IGNITION WOULDN'T KICK OVER. IT WOULD TAKE MORE THAN THREE TIMES TO KICK OVER. I TRIED CONDITIONING THE SPARK PLUG AND IT DIDN'T HELP. (WE JUST LIVED WITH THE PROBLEM) JUNE 2011 WE HAD OUR FIRST ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE RADIO WAS THE FIRST TO GO IN MAY. THEN IN JULY OUR A/C STOPPED WORKING, AND ALL WE HAD LEFT WAS OUR HEAT. WE WERE ABLE TO FIX THE A/C, BUT IT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG. WE THEN LOST A/C AGAIN AND OUR RADIO STARTED WORKING IN AUGUST(2011). SHORTLY AFTER THE RADIO STARTED WORKING WE LOST HEAT. NOW WE HAVE ONLY THE RADIO THAT WORKS. WE CANNOT SEE ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE HEAT NOT WORKING. THE VISIBILITY IS COMPLETELY HORRIBLE! I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD COST US 1,500 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT! WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR TWO YEARS YET AND IT'S STATING TO BREAK DOWN! THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE!!! *TR

DEFROSTER IS INOPERABLE. TEMPERATURE DOESN'T CHANGE TO HEAT WHEN AIR BLEND DIAL IS TURNED. THE HEATER DOESN'T WORK EITHER. IN FREEZING CONDITIONS, THERE IS NO WAY TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD CLEAR DUE TO COLD AIR BLOWING. *TR

THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING AND COLD AIR BLOWS THROUGH THE VENTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR FRACTURED, CAUSING THE HEATING SYSTEM TO BLOW OUT COLD AIR WHEN THE HEATING FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED INADEQUATE VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY DUE TO THE DEFROSTER NOT PROPERLY CLEARING THE WINDOWS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,800.

HEATER BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN - CONFIRMED BY TWO MECHANICS. FROM READING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON (AND EXPENSIVE) PROBLEM IN THE 2006 TORRENT AND 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER QUOTED US $1100-$1200 TO REPAIR. READING ONLINE, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT REOCCUR. LIVING IN NY, WE CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT A WORKING HEATER AND DEFROSTER. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS APPARENTLY COMMON DEFECT. *TR

DURING THE SUMMER, THE AIR CONDITIONING ON OUR 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT STARTED ACTING UP. WE COULD ONLY RUN THE CAR'S AIR CONDITIONER FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START BLOWING OUT WARM AIR. WE FOUND THAT IF WE TURNED IT OFF FOR A WHILE, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, IT WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE LONGER, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. NOW THAT COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE HERE, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE HEATER IS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TORRENT. COST: $1200, AS IT WOULD BE A GOOD EIGHT HOUR JOB TO REPLACE THE NECESSARY PART. SINCE THE COST WAS SO HIGH, WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME VERDICT, BUT THE REPAIR COST WAS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS - $750, WHICH IS STILL A LOT FOR A PART THAT COSTS LESS THAN $100. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE JUST DISHED OUT $551 TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO A PORTABLE HEATER UNTIL WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. THE BLEND DOOR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER. OUR FAMILY OF FIVE (THE YOUNGEST BEING NINE YEARS OLD) HAS BEEN BUNDLING UP EVERY TIME WE GET INTO THE CAR, BUT ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLDER AND THE WINDOWS START FROSTING OVER. THIS PART, IN PARTICULAR, IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE WITHOUT DURING THE WINTER, DUE TO INADEQUATE VISIBILITY FROM WINDOWS THAT CANNOT BE DEFROSTED.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER'S BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AND ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW OUT OF THE VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DEFROSTER WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

THE HEAT WENT OUT IN MY 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC TORRENT. THE LABOR ALONE ON THIS PROBLEM IS $1200.00. THE PART ITSELF IS ONLY COSTING ME $35.00. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT GETS VERY COLD IN INDIANA FOR WINTER, AND WHEN YOU HAVE NO HEAT, AND ONLY COLD AIR BLOWING OUT IT REDUCES VISIBILITY TO ALMOST ZERO. WHY ISN'T GM RECALLING THIS PART? HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP AN HONEST BUSINESS RUNNING. PLEASE MAKE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THE COST. *TR

I HAD 2 WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED WITH 3 MONTHS OF ONE ANOTHER AND THEN THE HEATER DIED. JUST BLOWS COLD AIR - TOLD IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR AND WOULD COST $1200 TO FIX - WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. NO DEFROST EITHER - DEFINITE HAZARD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE AND GM IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. MY CAR HAS 78,000 MILES CURRENTLY - *TR

THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT, COLD AIR COMES OUT OF THE VENTS REGARDLESS OF THE SETTING. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN WHERE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO USE THE DEFROST AND THE HEATER. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST A MINIMUM OF $1200 DOLLARS TO FIX AND 8-10 HOURS OF LABOR, THE ACTUAL PART IS UNDER $100. THE DELAERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM ON THE TORRENTS AND THAT THEY HAVE FIXED MANY OF THEM. THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS GONE OVER THE MILEAGE ALLOTTED BY THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A FACTOR FOR THE HEATER AS THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN DOES NOT AFFECT THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING A PLASTIC PART AND PAYING FOR LABOR ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE TORRENT. ADDITIONALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES SINCE YOU NEED TO SEE OUT YOUR WINDSHIELD TO DRIVE. GM NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT BY HAVING A RECALL ON THIS PART! *TR

FAILURE OF THE HVAC BLEND DOOR (VERIFIED BY GM DEALERSHIP AFTER PAYING $135) HAS MADE DEFROSTING THE FORWARD WINDSHIELD IN COLD TEMPERATURES IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LIMITING OF VISIBILITY AND IN VIOLATION OF STANDARD 103 (HTTP://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/FMVSS/INDEX.HTML#SN103) FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. GM HAS ADMITTED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IN THAT A DEALER REPLACEMENT USES AN UPDATED HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH MORE ACCURATELY LIMITS THE ROTATIONAL TRAVEL. THE FAILURE OF THE HVAC BLEND DOOR OCCURS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL FAULTY DESIGNED HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR TRAVELS TOO FAR CAUSING STRUCTURAL STRESS ON THE BLEND DOOR WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BLEND DOOR. THIS RESULTS IN VENT AIR NOT PASSING OVER THE HEAT CORE, THEREFORE MAKING DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD NOT POSSIBLE IN COLD CONDITIONS. *TR