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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

Service Brakes complaints

14 reports
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130,000 miles · Sep 17, 2019
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY POWERS DOWN COMPLETELY LOOSING STEERING, BRAKING, ACCELERATION, EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND LIGHTS, NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW OR LOCATION. NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE SPORADIC COMPLETE SHUT DOWN AND DOESN'T START BACK IMMEDIATELY AND SOMETIMES MINUTES TO HOURS BEFORE IT WILL. NOT SAFE IN THE HIGHWAY OR SIDE ROADS …

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THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY POWERS DOWN COMPLETELY LOOSING STEERING, BRAKING, ACCELERATION, EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND LIGHTS, NO MATTER HOW FAST OR SLOW OR LOCATION. NO RHYME OR REASON TO THE SPORADIC COMPLETE SHUT DOWN AND DOESN'T START BACK IMMEDIATELY AND SOMETIMES MINUTES TO HOURS BEFORE IT WILL. NOT SAFE IN THE HIGHWAY OR SIDE ROADS OR ANYWHERE. THERE IS A FAULT WITH THE PROGRAMMING IN THE ECU AND GM IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN REPAIR IT. VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY PURCHASED AND I SPENT JUST AS MUCH AS THE PURCHASE SINCE REPLACING PARTS! IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IF YOU GOOGLE SEARCH THE YEAR MAKE AND MODEL WITH DYING WHEN DRIVING OR SIMILAR IT'S CLEARLY SOMETHING WITH MOST OF THESE VEHICLES UNFORTUNATELY! SCARY AND UNSAFE FOR EVERYONE ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY AFTER DARK WHEN IT HAPPENS WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING TO ALERT OTHERS, PLEASE HELP THIS VEHICLE WILL DIE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEED OR LOW SPEED WHEN BRAKING OR ACCELERATING OR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT! I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED AND IT STILL HAPPENS AND THE REPAIR SHOP NOW IS STILL WAITING FOR GM TO REWRITE OR CHANGE THE PROGRAMMING TO HOPEFULLY FIX THE ISSUES BUT THIS IS UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS AND CAN BE DEADLY

NHTSA ODI #11256248

130,000 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING MY BRAKES MAKE A GRINDING NOISE AND THE ABS AND TC CONTROL LIGHTS TURN ON THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES

NHTSA ODI #11202858

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2017
Service Brakes

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. THE ENTIRE YEAR I HAVE HAD THIS CRAPPY VEHICLE IT HAS DONE THIS. EVERY TIME I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS IT PULSATES BACK AT ME AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAID IT WAS THE ABS SENSOR IN THE WHEEL HUB. SO I REPLACE…

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I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. THE ENTIRE YEAR I HAVE HAD THIS CRAPPY VEHICLE IT HAS DONE THIS. EVERY TIME I APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BREAKS IT PULSATES BACK AT ME AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND THEY ALL SAID IT WAS THE ABS SENSOR IN THE WHEEL HUB. SO I REPLACED THE WHEEL HUBS AND THAT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. IT STILL PULSATES AND GRINDS EVERY TIME I STOP. THE BREAK LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATE AFTER THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND VERY DANGEROUS. I LIVE IN WISCONSIN AND WITH THE SNOW AND ICE THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE A KIDS WHO I DRIVE AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE!! GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS!

NHTSA ODI #11033042

94,500 miles · Mar 13, 2017
Service Brakes

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ENGAGE AT ABOUT 6MPH AT EVERY STOP, REGARDLESS OF ROAD CONDITIONS. NO WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD.

NHTSA ODI #10965767

105,888 miles · Jan 12, 2017
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,888.

NHTSA ODI #10944665

95,000 miles · Nov 24, 2016
Service Brakes

ABS ENGAGES AT LOW SPEED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT EVERY STOP. THIS INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. IT DOES THIS ON ALL ROAD CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10927764

102,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL ISSUES HAVE PLAGUED US WITH THIS CAR! THE KEYS SLIDE OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. AT RANDOM TIMES, THE ENGINE WILL REV, BUT THE CAR WILL BARELY MOVE UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STOPS. EVEN THEN IT WILL TURN ON AND THE ENGINE WILL RUN, BUT IT WON'T MOVE. AT OTHER TIMES, THE ELECTRICAL SHUTS DOWN AND…

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A NUMBER OF UNUSUAL ISSUES HAVE PLAGUED US WITH THIS CAR! THE KEYS SLIDE OUT OF THE IGNITION WHILE CAR IS STILL RUNNING. AT RANDOM TIMES, THE ENGINE WILL REV, BUT THE CAR WILL BARELY MOVE UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STOPS. EVEN THEN IT WILL TURN ON AND THE ENGINE WILL RUN, BUT IT WON'T MOVE. AT OTHER TIMES, THE ELECTRICAL SHUTS DOWN AND THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL, NO LIGHTS OR SOUNDS. WE'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY (A VERY EXPENSIVE ONE AT THAT) TWICE, AS WHATEVER IS HAPPENING DRAINS IT. THE CAR THROWS CODES THAT MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS INSPECTION. THESE INCLUDE: E-VAP, THROTTLE BODY, ASSORTED SENSORS, BREAK PEDAL, GAS CAP, HEAT/AC MOTOR, AND SO ON. WE HAVE REPLACED AND/OR REPAIRED EVERYTHING ON THE CODE LIST AND STILL, IT WON'T CLEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS, AND TREAD LIGHT REMAIN ON NO MATTER WHAT WE DO. WE WERE ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE COMPUTER CLEARED THE CODES TO "READY", BUT IT'S NOT WORKING. RECENTLY, WHITE WISPS OF SMOKE WERE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, ALONG WITH A BURNING SMELL. THE CAR JUST DIED AND REFUSED TO START. WE HAD TO REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. THESE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE OCCURRING WITH NORMAL MAINTENANCE AND DRIVING. WE'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS THAT THEY ARE DANGEROUS ISSUES, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE WHILE DRIVING, AND FAILURES THAT CAUSE WRECKS. THEY CANNOT EXPLAIN WHY THEY ARE OCCURRING, ESPECIALLY AFTER REPAIR. ONE PERSON SAID WE PROBABLY MADE SOME REPAIRS THAT WERE UNNECESSARY, BUT WE NEEDED THE CAR TO PASS REQUIRED INSPECTION. WE ARE SINKING TOO MUCH MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE TO KEEP IT RUNNING AND CANNOT AFFORD A NEW PAYMENT AS THIS ONE IS PURCHASED IN FULL. WE ARE DISABLED, NEEDING DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND DAILY ERRANDS. WHY AREN'T THERE RECALLS? THIS MODEL IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FORUMS FOR THESE FAULTY CODES & ISSUES! INCREDIBLY IRRESPONSIBLE OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10924191

130,000 miles · Mar 20, 2015
Electrical SystemService BrakesFire

1. KEY LOCKS IN IGNITION 2. ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKES WARNING LIGHT , AIRBAG AND STAY ON. . BRAKES LOCK UP ,TIRES ROLL WONT STOP, PULSATION THEN BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR. THE LIGHTS STAY ON NO GM MECHANIC CAN REPAIR. 3. CLICKING, TAPPING AND BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER DASH AND STEERING COLUMN. 4 .WHEN IT R…

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1. KEY LOCKS IN IGNITION 2. ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKES WARNING LIGHT , AIRBAG AND STAY ON. . BRAKES LOCK UP ,TIRES ROLL WONT STOP, PULSATION THEN BRAKE PEDAL TO FLOOR. THE LIGHTS STAY ON NO GM MECHANIC CAN REPAIR. 3. CLICKING, TAPPING AND BURNING SMELL COMING FROM UNDER DASH AND STEERING COLUMN. 4 .WHEN IT RAINS PUDDLES ON PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER ON FLOOR OF CAR LIKE THE DOORS ARE NOT LINED UP WITH CAR. 5. HIGH BEAM LIGHTS COME ON BY THEMSELVES CANT TURN OFF DRAIN BATTERY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. 6. STEERING LOCKS IN TURN. BACKEND OF VEHICLE NOT BALANCED RIDES SIDEWAYS.AT HIGH SPEED. IM SURE SOMEONE HAS LOST A LIFE IN THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES IF A STUDY WA S DONE PROFESSIONALLY FROM 2006 TO 2015 . THESE DEFECTS WOULD BE THE CAUSE . I PAID 20,000 FOR THIS VEHICLE NO ONE CAN REPAIR .THAT'S WHY PRODUCTION WAS DISCONTINUED TO PREVENT LAWSUITS. VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BOUGHT BACK FROM CONSUMERS AND PUT OUT OF CIRCULATION ITS DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10695530

53,441 miles · Nov 10, 2014
Electrical SystemService Brakes

ON 09/26/11, I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ABS AND TC LIGHT COMING ON IN THE CAR. I ALSO REPORTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TURNING OVER THE CAR AS THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND STALL AT TIMES. IN REGARDS TO THE ABS ISSUE I REPORTED A HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND FEELING A VIBRATION O…

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ON 09/26/11, I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ABS AND TC LIGHT COMING ON IN THE CAR. I ALSO REPORTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TURNING OVER THE CAR AS THE CAR WOULD HESITATE AND STALL AT TIMES. IN REGARDS TO THE ABS ISSUE I REPORTED A HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND FEELING A VIBRATION ON THE BREAK PEDAL WHEN THE KNOCKING SOUND OCCURRED. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE ABS HUB AND SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THE CAR WAS STILL SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE MEANTIME. THE COST TO REPLACE THE HUB WAS ESTIMATED AROUND $437 PLUS TAX. SINCE I WAS ALSO HAVING IGNITION STARTING PROBLEMS DURING THIS TIME, I DECIDED TO PAY FOR A CLEANING INDUCTION SERVICE RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER TO HELP WITH THE IGNITION STARTING ISSUE IN THE AMOUNT OF $413.56. I WAS LATER INFORMED THE CLEANING OF THE UPPER INTAKE, VALVE, AND COMBUSTION AREA HAD NO REAL EFFECT ON MY VEHICLE STARTING BECAUSE ON 09/04/12 I REPORTED HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION. THE DEALER THEN DIAGNOSED THE REAL ISSUE, WHICH WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THIS HAS LEFT THE ABS ISSUES STILL OCCURRING IN THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT OTHER PONTIAC TORRENTS HAVING THE SAME ABS AND TC ISSUES. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR REAL DEVASTATING EVENTS ON THE ROADWAYS AS THE ABS HUB AND SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO LOCK UP WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE. I WANT THIS CAR RECALLED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH AND ABS / TC ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653879

130,000 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Service Brakes

SINCE APRIL 2014 I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS, ROTORS & CALIPERS ON MY VEHICLE. THEY ARE NOW SHOT AGAIN & I'M LIVID!! I'VE TALKED TO OTHERS WHO HAVE OWNED A PONTIAC & APPARENTLY THIS SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. BEEN TOLD IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM KEEPING CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE PADS & NOT RELEASING. I'M A SINGLE MOM…

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SINCE APRIL 2014 I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE PADS, ROTORS & CALIPERS ON MY VEHICLE. THEY ARE NOW SHOT AGAIN & I'M LIVID!! I'VE TALKED TO OTHERS WHO HAVE OWNED A PONTIAC & APPARENTLY THIS SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. BEEN TOLD IT HAS TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM KEEPING CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE PADS & NOT RELEASING. I'M A SINGLE MOM AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. I NEED MY CAR FOR WORK, HAULING MY CHILD AROUND TO SCHOOL, ETC & IT'S NOT VERY REASSURING WHEN I SEE ON THE NEWS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 21 DEATHS DUE TO GM VEHICLES. HAVING BRAKE ISSUES WITH A CAR SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638243

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.