2008 Pontiac Torrent complaints

ASIDE FROM IGNITION KEY BEING STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH IS STILL THAT WAY, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. ON HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70MPH. ALSO, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SHOWS IT BEING OFF. *TR

DRIVING AND HAD TO STOP FAST. WHEN SAFE TO CONTINUE DRIVING, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE SES LIGHT WAS ON. HAD SEVERAL TROUBLE CODES INCLUDING P0700. WAS DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC TO BE THE 3-5 CLUTCH WAVE PLATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE SERVICE STABILITYTRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION AND THE WARNING LAMPS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,500.

I NOTICED EVERY TIME SOMEONE WOULD SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SERVICE BAG MESSAGE WOULD APPEAR THE OFF BUTTON WOULD NOT SWITCH TO ON. I CHECKED TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND NOTICED THE 2007 PONTIAC TORRENT HAD A RECALL FOR THE SAME ISSUE I AM HAVING WITH MY 2008. I TRIED REACHING OUT TO GM WHICH I KNOW WILL TURN OUT AS A FAIL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE ON THEIR 2008 GM VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND THE 2007 WAS RECALLED. I WAS QUOTED AROUND $900 TO FIX FROM THE DEALER AFTER I WAS ADVISED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF GM TO GET IT TESTED BY THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD FURTHER ASSIST ME IF POSSIBLE. *TR

I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES VERY EARLY ON DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR (I THINK ABOUT 35K MILES) SO THAT IS THE FIRST ISSUE. AFTER CHANGING MY TIRES, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL SEEMS TO FAIL. I WILL BE AT A DEAD STOP AND GO TO ACCELERATE WHEN MY TIRES SLIP AND THE TRACTION FLASHES. I HAD MY TIRES LOOKED AT AND THEY WERE DEEMED TO BE FINE. NOW THAT IT IS SNOWING, IT WAS AT ITS WORST TODAY. IT WAS FISHTAILING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON SNOW/ICY ROADS AND THE TIRES WON'T GRIP THE ROAD AT ALL FOR THE FIRST 400 FEET OR SO EVERY SINGLE TIME I GO FROM A STOP. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND I SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE. I FELT MORE COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY PONTIAC VIBE OR GRAND AM IN SNOW THAN THIS AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE TRACTION CONTROL!! NOBODY IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, BUT I SEE OTHER REPORTS. THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL!!! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.

THERE IS A VERY STRONG FUEL SMELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I HAVE A FULL TANK OR ALMOST EMPTY TANK OF GAS. THERE IS NO VISIBLE LEAKS ANYWHERE. I AM A MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME. *TR

THE FIRST NIGHT I NOTICED THE "SERVICE STABILITRAK" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. THE NEXT NIGHT MY BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED AND I HAD TO BUY ANOTHER ONE. THEN, THE DASHBOARD SAID "SERVICE STABILITRAK" SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON OR IT SAID "SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL." FROM WHAT I'M GATHERING ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO MY "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" LIGHT COMING ON AND MY SPEED WILL BE LIMITED TO SOMETHING LIKE 10-20 MPH AND I'M AFRAID BECAUSE I ALREADY WORK OVERNIGHT AND AWAY FROM HOME. I ONLY HAVE A LITTLE OVER 56K MILES ON THE TRUCK AND I GOT IT A YEAR AGO WITH 24K MILES ON IT. IF THE PROBLEM IS THIS COMMON, WHY IS THE VEHICLE NOT RECALLED? THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES $80 TO EVEN PUT THE CAR ON THE COMPUTER TO SEE THE PROBLEM... *TR

THIS VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN STATE THAT HAS EXTREME HEAT. AS THE TEMPERATURES BEGAN TO INCREASE THIS YEAR, THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT WORK REMOTELY. THEY WILL WORK IN THE COOL OF THE MORNING OR THE EVENING BUT WHEN THE SUN AND THE HEAT BEAT DOWN ON THE CAR THE LOCKS STOP WORKING. *JB

MY CAR SMELLS LIKE GAS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THERE IS NO VISIBLE LEAK AND THE SMELL IS GETTING WORSE. THERE ARE NO CODES COMING UP ON DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING. *TR

THE SERVICE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF, WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT, SOME TIME IT WORK AND OTHER TIME IT DOES NOT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY FOUND NO CODES OF THIS IN THE COMPUTER WHICH I CAN PROVIDE PROOF OF THIS WITH SERVICE RECORDS. I THINK THERE ARE MANY CAR OUT THERE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITRAK WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR CORRECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS AND PERFORMED A BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSH. IN ADDITION, THE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED, THE BRAKE PRESSURE MODULATOR VALVE WAS REPLACED AND THE STEERING POSITIONING SENSOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REMEDIES FAILED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

USING AUTOMATIC START FEATURE CAUSED HEATING ELEMENT IN DRIVER SEAT TO OVER HEAT AND BURN THROUGH SEAT. COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE IN VEHICLE BUT VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND TAKEN TO THE GM DEALERSHIP WHO REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE, MANUFACTURE DEFECT WHICH THEIR SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE BUT WANTS THE CONSUMER TO ABSORB COST FOR DEFECT. *TR

IN MAY OF 2012, I NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL COMING FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF MY VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A BAD FUEL CAP, SO I REPLACED IT. THAT DID NOT HELP. SINCE I WAS PLANNING A TRIP ACROSS COUNTRY I HAD A MECHANIC FRIEND CHECK IT OUT. HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT TELL WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I HAVE A FULL TANK OR IF IT IS ALMOST ON EMPTY, THE SMELL IS THE SAME. IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS NOW AND I STILL HAVE THAT HORRIBLE SMELL. I TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM GIVE ME SOME ADVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE DROPPED TO SEE IT THEY CAN TELL WHERE IT IS COMING FROM. THERE IS A SMALL LEAK COMING FROM SOMEWHERE. THIS IS MY ONLY WAY OF TRANSPORTATION AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP FOR THEM TO KEEP FOR AN UNDETERMINED ABOUT OF TIME. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO!!! IS THERE A DANGER OF AN EXPLOSION? IT IS AT THERE REAR OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TR

NOTED GAS SMELL AROUND THE BACK OF VEHICLE. REVIEWED FOR POSSIBLE GAS CAP ISSUE BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. FURTHER REVIEW FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFIED A SMALL GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. GAS TANK IS LOCATED NEXT TO EXHAUST PIPE THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE. TOOK VEHICLE TO NOTED DEALER AND THEY CONDUCTED A MORE DETAIL REVIEW OF PROBLEM THAT WAS IDENTIFIED GAS LEAK WAS COMING FROM TOP OF GAS TANK (FUEL PUMP AND LINES ISSUE) AND IF NOT NOTED OR ATTENDED TO COULD RESULT IN POSSIBLE IGNITION OF GAS TANK, EXPLOSION AND POSSIBLE LOST OF PASSENGER LIFE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY KIND OF ACTIVITY THAT WOULD ENHANCE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. CLEARLY A VEHICLE DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO AVOID POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUES. A RECALL SHOULD BE REVIEWED. THIS ISSUE SHOULD WARRANT COMPLETE WARRANTY COVERAGE BY VEHICLE AT NO EXPENSE TO OWNER. NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE BUT A DEFECTIVE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR IS FAULTY. IT WILL NOT STAY ACTIVE WHEN THERE IS A PERSON SEATING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. EVERYTIME I TURN ON THE CAR THE CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE SEALS OF THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT AWD. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH WHEN THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW SET OF BRIDGESTONE TIRES IN FEBRUARY 2010 THAT WERE RATED AT 80,000 MILES. I HAD THEM ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I JUST WENT IN FOR ANOTHER TIRE ROTATION WHICH DISCOUNT TIRE REFUSED TO PERFORM DUE TO THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF MY TIRES. I ONLY GOT 36,982 MILES OUT OF THE BRIDGESTONE TIRES, WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO BE RATED AT 80,000 MILES. IN ADDITION TO THE FACT THAT I DID NOT GET EVEN CLOSE TO THE NUMBER OF MILES RATED ON THE TIRES, I FOUND OUT THAT BRIDGESTONE HAD CHANGED THE RATING ON THE TIRES TO 0 MILES. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT BRIDGESTONE DID NOT INFORM ME, AS THE CUSTOMER, OF THIS QUALITY/SAFETY CONCERN ON THE TIRES. INSTEAD I HAD TO HEAR OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE AT THE TIME OF ROTATION. LASTLY, THE FACT THAT BRIDGESTONE CHANGED THE RATING ON THE TIRES FROM 80,000 MILES TO 0 MILES IS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM THE BRIDGESTONE COMPANY THAT THERE IS A WEAR CONCERN WITH THESE TIRES. DISCOUNT TIRE INFORMED ME THAT BRIDGESTONE WOULD ONLY GIVE ME CREDIT FOR $37.00 TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF EACH NEW TIRE. A WEAR CONCERN SUCH AS THIS WOULD MAKE ME EXPECT A RECALL NOTICE AND NEW TIRES WOULD BE PROVIDED TO ME AT THE EXPENSE OF BRIDGESTONE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM APPALLED AT BRIDGESTONE'S CONDUCT. OBVIOUSLY BRIDGESTONE DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR TIRES. I HAVE DONE MY PART AND ROTATED THE TIRES ON THE SCHEDULE: ROTATED: SEPTEMBER 2010 AT 56,018, ROTATED:MARCH 2011 AT 64729, ROTATED: MAY 2011 AT 67,866, ROTATED: SEPTEMBER 2011 AT 74,296, NE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD METAL ON METAL CLANKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FOURTH TIME PERTAINING TO THE DRIVE SHAFT REPLACEMENT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE REPEATED FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

AFTER INFLATING A TIRE, THE VEHICLE'S VALVE STEM BROKE AT THE TPMS SENSOR RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ALL AIR IN THE TIRE. *TR

WITHIN 1 MONTH OF EACH OTHER 2 VALVE STEMS BROKE. TIRE WENT FROM BEING RIGHT ON TIRE PRESSURE TO NO TIRE PRESSURE IN SECONDS. VALVE STEM BROKE ONCE BY REMOVING VALVE STEM CAP AND THE OTHER ONE REMOVING TIRE PUMP NOZZLE. BOTH TIMES TIRES WENT COMPLETELY FLAT IN SECONDS. DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME ABOUT $325 TO REPLACE THESE TIRE STEMS. THIS LEAVES ME WITH 2 MORE IN QUESTION. MY FAMILY RIDES IN THIS VEHICLE WITH ME A LOT. NOTICED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND CONCERNS. THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY SUGGESTED THESE PROBABLY GOT BROKE AT A CAR WASH. THEY BOTH BROKE IN FRONT OF MY FACE TRYING TO ADD AIR. SOMEONE WILL DIE BECAUSE OF THESE TIRES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THERE WAS A BURNING INSULATION SMELL AND WHEN TURNING ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER THEY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT THEN DROVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND CHECKED THE FUSE WHICH WAS BURNED OUT. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED AGAIN AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE MOTOR BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED . THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47000. UPDATED 01/27/11*JB

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND IN A NORMAL MANNER. AS I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AT FIRST THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AS IF THE BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED. THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING AT THE SAME SPEED. AS I CONTINUED TO PUSH DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR DID SLOW DOWN, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT FEEL NORMAL. THE PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WERE MOVING THROUGH SOME SORT OF THICK LIQUID. THE INCIDENT LASTED A FEW SECONDS. I HAD TO MAKE THE TURN AT A SPEED THAT WAS TOO HIGH. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. SINCE THEN, THE BRAKES HAVE BEHAVED NORMALLY. I HAD THE DEALER CHECK MY BRAKES. THEY FOUND NOTHING AND CHARGED ME FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE, THEY CLAIM, THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED GM IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT. AT GM'S INSTRUCTIONS, MY BRAKES WERE CHECKED AGAIN AND AGAIN NOTHING WAS FOUND. TODAY, A GM REPRESENTATIVE DROVE THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING. THE APPROACH HAS BEEN TO TRY TO REPRODUCE THE ERROR. SINCE THE BRAKES NOW WORK, THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG TO CAUSE THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE COMPANY HAS DONE ALL THEY INTEND TO DO AND I AM LEFT DRIVING A CAR UNDER WARRANTY THAT HAS SOME KIND OF BRAKE DEFECT. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE NEXT TIME IT OCCURS, I CAN AVOID AN ACCIDENT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THE FAILURE. NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT TO HAPPEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE INDICATOR DISPLAYS A "PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF" WARNING EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE FRONT SEAT. AFTER A FEW MINUTES OR MORE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. DURING THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE KEPT FOR A FEW DAYS AND MUST BE BROUGHT IN WHILE THE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,300. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF UPDATED 09/19/08. *JB