NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
29 reportsClear category filter93,000 miles · Jul 3, 2018
SteeringVehicle Speed ControlFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FRONT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. IN ADDITION, A BURNING ODOR WAS EMITTED THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FRONT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
NHTSA ODI #11105309
194,152 miles · Jan 8, 2018
SteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,152.
NHTSA ODI #11061264
20 miles · Aug 28, 2017
Steering
POWER STEERING FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS - POWER ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER BEING DRIVEN/PARKED/STARTED AND DRIVEN. WAS THEN PARKED/WAITED AND IT WORKED AGAIN(?) - OTHERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE WHILE UNDERWAY. CONSIDER THIS NOTICE AS DATE-STAMPED FOR FUTURE LEGAL USE. PLEASE ADVISE ON NEXT STEPS/OPTIONS. HTTP://WWW…
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POWER STEERING FAILURE WITHOUT PRIOR SYMPTOMS - POWER ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AFTER BEING DRIVEN/PARKED/STARTED AND DRIVEN. WAS THEN PARKED/WAITED AND IT WORKED AGAIN(?) - OTHERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE WHILE UNDERWAY. CONSIDER THIS NOTICE AS DATE-STAMPED FOR FUTURE LEGAL USE. PLEASE ADVISE ON NEXT STEPS/OPTIONS. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2006/PONTIAC/TORRENT/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX
NHTSA ODI #11020086
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2016
SteeringVehicle Speed Control
WHEN CAR IS RUNNING, OR EVEN IN MOTION I AM ABLE TO PULL THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO TURN YOUR STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND SO ON TO EVEN GET THE RADIO TO COME ON AT INITIAL START UP. TURNING THE KEY OFF AND ON AND HOPEFULLY NOT LOCK UP THE COLUMN TO THE POINT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY ON. THE SCARY THING IS B…
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WHEN CAR IS RUNNING, OR EVEN IN MOTION I AM ABLE TO PULL THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. YOU HAVE TO TURN YOUR STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH AND SO ON TO EVEN GET THE RADIO TO COME ON AT INITIAL START UP. TURNING THE KEY OFF AND ON AND HOPEFULLY NOT LOCK UP THE COLUMN TO THE POINT I AM UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY ON. THE SCARY THING IS BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING AND NOT IN THE OFF POSITION. THE COLD HOT SWITCH ON THE PANEL HAS TO BE TURNED VERY SLOWLY OR IT WILL NOT TURN TO AIR CONDITIONING. IF YOU DO IT TO QUICKLY, IT ACTS AS IF IT IS STILL IN THE RED POSITION. THE DEALERSHIP HAD ALREADY REPLACED THIS ISSUE WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 2010 USED 2ND OWNERS WITH ONLY 90,000 MILES ON IT NOW. HAD ISSUES WITH THE RADIO SINCE PURCHASE DATE, THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE, BUT CONTINUED TO GET WORST TO THE POINT OF JUST PULLING THE KEYS OUT WHILE RUNNING. THE SPEED CONTROL ALSO SHUTS OFF AND DOES NOT MAINTAIN WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT HOLDS FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES AND JUST SHUTS OFF. THE SPEED CONTAIN ICON STILL SHOWS ON BUT IT LOSES POWER AND DOES NOT WORK. YOU HAVE TO TURN OFF AND ON SPEED CONTROL CONSTANTLY. SO LETS SAY ITS NOT USED SO MUCH ANYMORE.
NHTSA ODI #10836230
113,000 miles · Dec 18, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH OR ABOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SUSPENSION BEGAN TO VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH OR ABOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT SUSPENSION BEGAN TO VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS INTENDED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS, DOOR LOCKS, AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
NHTSA ODI #10811182
85,000 miles · Sep 28, 2015
Steering
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS FAILING (IMPELLER IN EPS PUMP) SEVERAL OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THIS FAILURE STEERING JERKS ON IRREGULAR BASIS. SOUNDS LIKE CHUNKS OF METAL MOVING AROUND INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL PUMP. HAPPENS WHEN YOU ACCELARTE OR TURN THE WHEEL.
NHTSA ODI #10778294
84,000 miles · Jun 21, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringSuspension
WHEN BACKING OUT IN THE MORNING SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE PIECES OF METAL FLOWING THROUGH STEERING COLUMN AND WHEN EXCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING GEER BOX IS ABOUT TO LET LOOSE I CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS WITH SIMILAR MODELS AND CHASIS DESIGNS IT DOES NOT MATTER THE TEMPERATURE …
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WHEN BACKING OUT IN THE MORNING SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE PIECES OF METAL FLOWING THROUGH STEERING COLUMN AND WHEN EXCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING GEER BOX IS ABOUT TO LET LOOSE I CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS WITH SIMILAR MODELS AND CHASIS DESIGNS IT DOES NOT MATTER THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE OR WEATHER TYPE IT SEEMS LIKE IT STARTED IN JANUARY AND IT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE
NHTSA ODI #10726403
90,000 miles · Mar 2, 2015
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10691529
Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2014
Steering
GOT TO WORK AND WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE THE STEERING FROZE AND ACTED LIKE MANUAL STEERING. FOUND OUT IT HAS THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR THAT MOST OF THE GM'S FROM 2005 - 2010 WERE RECALLED AND FIXED AT NO COST BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT THE TORRENT ON THAT LIST EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS WITNESSED FRO…
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GOT TO WORK AND WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE THE STEERING FROZE AND ACTED LIKE MANUAL STEERING. FOUND OUT IT HAS THE DEFECTIVE ELECTRIC STEERING MOTOR THAT MOST OF THE GM'S FROM 2005 - 2010 WERE RECALLED AND FIXED AT NO COST BUT THEY DIDN'T PUT THE TORRENT ON THAT LIST EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS WITNESSED FROM THE COMPLAINTS ON THE GM SITE OF STEERING FREEZING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WAY TO TURN OR CONTROL THE VEHICLES. THEY STILL DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND ONE PERSONS TORRENT ROLLED OVER FROM THE STEERING FREEZING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN. I WANT TO KNOW WHY GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ON THE PONTIAC TORRENT? OURS WILL COST US $1300 PLUS LABOR TO FIX IT AND IT SHOULD NEVER HAVE COME TO THIS GOING BAD BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE WE PURCHASED IT USED. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR PUTTING PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN DANGER FROM THIS KNOWN ISSUE BY GM AND THEY SHOULD BE SUED FOR ENDANGERING OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES BY NOT RECALLING AND FIXING IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10632570
107,520 miles · Aug 14, 2014
Electrical SystemSteering
AS I WAS DRIVING IN A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, I HEARD A SQUEAL OR WINDING SOUND THEN I SAW A PUFF OF SMOKE COME OUT OF MY STEERING WHEEL - IGNITION AREA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10622291