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2006 Pontiac Torrent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

209 reports with mileage · 31 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

63 reports
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80,000 miles · Mar 1, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

DRIVING APPROX. 45 MPH DOWN 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE. ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST ALL STEERING & BRAKING CONTROL. ABLE TO COAST TO A DITCH ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE VEHICLE TO OFF POSITION IN IGNITION SWITCH THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE. AFTER 3-4 CRANKING ATTEMPTS, CAR STARTED. WENT STRAIGHT TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP.…

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DRIVING APPROX. 45 MPH DOWN 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE. ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST ALL STEERING & BRAKING CONTROL. ABLE TO COAST TO A DITCH ON SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE VEHICLE TO OFF POSITION IN IGNITION SWITCH THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE. AFTER 3-4 CRANKING ATTEMPTS, CAR STARTED. WENT STRAIGHT TO NEAREST DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. SECOND OCCASION- DRIVING APPROX. 25 MPH DOWN 2 LANE ROAD. BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN LEFT- ENGINE STOPPED AND LOST ALL STEERING & BRAKING CONTROL. ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. TURNED THE VEHICLE TO OFF POSITION IN IGNITION SWITCH THEN ATTEMPTED TO RESTART VEHICLE. CAR STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. WENT TO NEAREST SERVICE STORE AND ONCE AGAIN WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING APPEARED TO BE WRONG BECAUSE THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON. TAKES MULTIPLE CRANKING ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS. NO PATTERN TO WHEN. COULD BE IN THE AM, PM, MIDDLE OF THE DAY, HOT, COLD, WARM, RAINING, SNOWING, SUNNY, CLOUDY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10566625

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility/wiper

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10559041

120,000 miles · Nov 26, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFire

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10553889

80,000 miles · Nov 13, 2013
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10552085

84,625 miles · Apr 14, 2013
Electrical SystemEngineVisibility/wiper

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. M…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10508170

126,000 miles · Apr 11, 2013
Electrical SystemSeatsFireInjury

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 W…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10505930

79,000 miles · Mar 7, 2013
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10502014

65,000 miles · Oct 1, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

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

NHTSA ODI #10478154

56,000 miles · Apr 26, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibility

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 HA…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10456546

95,000 miles · Mar 24, 2012
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10452857

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.