THE STABILITY LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON. NOW ADDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. LITTLE LOSS OF POWER. SEEMS LIKE A COMMON THING WITH THIS CAR.
2008 Pontiac Torrent
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Torrent years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
99 reports with mileage · 26 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
125 reportsTHE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION WHEN AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT.
LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND WARNING BELL COMES ON STAYS ON , EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHECK MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE OIL PRESSURE IS FINE. ALSO PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND THE BACK HATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE AND I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THE BACK WITH A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER TO UNLOCK IT! ONLY GOT TO ACTUALLY USE THE BACK END…
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LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND WARNING BELL COMES ON STAYS ON , EVERYTHING HAS BEEN CHECK MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE OIL PRESSURE IS FINE. ALSO PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK AND THE BACK HATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE AND I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THE BACK WITH A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER TO UNLOCK IT! ONLY GOT TO ACTUALLY USE THE BACK END TWICE WHEN WE GOT THIS CAR BEFORE IT DID THIS. I REALLY HATE THIS CAR BUT NEED THIS STUFF FIXED!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE THEN FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE HOOD BEARINGS HAD MELT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 3 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS. THE VEHICLE THEN FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE HOOD BEARINGS HAD MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE HOOD BEARINGS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FIRE OR FIRE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SITTON BUICK GMC 2640 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607 WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO SITTON BUICK GMC WHERE THE DEALER WAS AGAIN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO SITTON BUICK GMC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC MODULATOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO SITTON BUICK GMC WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IT FIRST STARTED WITH MY CAR SLOWING DOWN, DIDN'T MATTER HOW HARD YOU PRESS THE GAS IT WILL NOT MOVE. THEN AFTER LETTING IT SET OF A MINUTE/COOLDOWN, IT WILL RIDE FOR A FEW MILES THEN COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I NOTICE A HOT SMELL COMING FROM U…
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"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. IT FIRST STARTED WITH MY CAR SLOWING DOWN, DIDN'T MATTER HOW HARD YOU PRESS THE GAS IT WILL NOT MOVE. THEN AFTER LETTING IT SET OF A MINUTE/COOLDOWN, IT WILL RIDE FOR A FEW MILES THEN COMPLETE STOP WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING. I NOTICE A HOT SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND STABILITRACK STATE THAT IT NEEDS SERVICE. WHEN I DRIVE IT THE BRAKES STOP THE CAR ON ITS OWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO GMC AND IT COST ME $1700 FOR THEM TO FIX BRAKE PRESSURE MODULE, BRAKE ELECTRIC CONTROL PANEL, I REPLACED HUB BEARINGS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. SINCE THOSE THINGS WERE REPLACED, I CAN DRIVE A LITTLE LONGER WITHOUT THE HUB BEARINGS. I TOOK MY CAR TO GMC 3 TIMES. AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THEY SAID THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, HOW WHEN IT WAS NEVER USED.
TAMARA RECALL. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WHEN THE FRONT SEAT IS USED AS SOON AS THE PERSON MOVES THEIR BUTT AROUND AND ALSO MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY GOING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. THE 2007 PONTIAC TORRENT GOT A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS AND SO SHOULD THE 2008'S THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE IF AN ACCID…
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TAMARA RECALL. MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WHEN THE FRONT SEAT IS USED AS SOON AS THE PERSON MOVES THEIR BUTT AROUND AND ALSO MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY GOING ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. THE 2007 PONTIAC TORRENT GOT A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS AND SO SHOULD THE 2008'S THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE IF AN ACCIDENT WAS TO HAPPEN.. I ALSO HAVE CHILDREN OF MINE THAT RIDE IN MY CAR EVERYDAY AND WOULD LIKE THEM SAFE IF SOMETHING WAS TO HAPPEN
TAKAYA RECALL AND MORE ..AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED IN ACCIDENT. KEY WON'T COME OUT OF IGNITION WHEN HEATED UP, DOOR LOCKS WITH REMOTE FAILURE, HATCHBACK DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY, WIPER BLADE ON BACK GOES ON WHILE NOT ENGAGED OR CLOSING HATCHBACK. NHTS CALLED ME FOR PICTURES AND SENT IN NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN.
....OWNED SINCE NEW, 2008, 99,500 MILES, INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL, OCCURRING AT TIMES SINCE NEW, PAST FEW YEARS MORE SO..2 ISSUES MIGHT BE RELATED..#1; AT TIMES DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, AIR BAG SYSTEM NOT ACTIVATED AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING AWAY..#2; STARTER WILL NOT "CRANK" WITH KEY OR REMOTE, HAVE CYCLED KEY NUMEROUS TIMES, SHIFTED…
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....OWNED SINCE NEW, 2008, 99,500 MILES, INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL, OCCURRING AT TIMES SINCE NEW, PAST FEW YEARS MORE SO..2 ISSUES MIGHT BE RELATED..#1; AT TIMES DASH LIGHTS, RADIO, AIR BAG SYSTEM NOT ACTIVATED AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING AWAY..#2; STARTER WILL NOT "CRANK" WITH KEY OR REMOTE, HAVE CYCLED KEY NUMEROUS TIMES, SHIFTED IN AND OUT OF PARK, OPENED AND CLOSED HOOD, AFTER THOSE ATTEMPTS, STARTER WOULD "CRANK" AND START VEHICLE, RECENTLY WITH "NO CRANK" SYMPTOM, LEFT KEY ON AND WENT TO SHIFT I/O PARK, HIT "BRAKE PEDAL" AND W/OUT TOUCHING "KEY" (STILL IN ON POSITION) VEHICLE "CRANKED" AND STARTED! DEFINITELY AN ELECTRICAL SAFETY ISSUE, CONTACTED MFG. THEY REFERRED ME TO A DEALER! CHECKED WEB BLOGS AND NOTICED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS RELATING TO MINE WHICH INCL. DEALER NON REPAIRS ISSUES (BATTERY OK, NEW STARTER).....THANKS VJD!
I WANTED TO ADD TO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. WE KEEP GETTING NOTIFICATION THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF $900. AT FIRST THE LIGHT JUST KEPT SWITCHING ON AND OFF WHENEVER THE PASSENGER WOULD SHIFT IN THE SEAT BUT NOW IT SAYS THAT IT'S NOT ACTIVATED ALL THE TIME AND WE BELIEV…
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I WANTED TO ADD TO ALL THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. WE KEEP GETTING NOTIFICATION THAT IT NEEDS TO BE SERVICED WHICH COSTS UPWARDS OF $900. AT FIRST THE LIGHT JUST KEPT SWITCHING ON AND OFF WHENEVER THE PASSENGER WOULD SHIFT IN THE SEAT BUT NOW IT SAYS THAT IT'S NOT ACTIVATED ALL THE TIME AND WE BELIEVE IT'S A FAULTY SENSOR. THE 2007 MODEL WAS RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE AND THE 2008 SHOULD BE AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR SURE AND WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS ACROSS THE BOARD BY OWNERS OF THIS CAR IT SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS PUT THEIR CUSTOMERS IN DANGER.
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHT IS ON MOST OF THE TIME WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $800-$900 TO FIX. (ON TOP OF MY $92.00 JUST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT). MANY SAME MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM…
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HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. LIGHT IS ON MOST OF THE TIME WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $800-$900 TO FIX. (ON TOP OF MY $92.00 JUST TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT). MANY SAME MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON, AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK. GREAT SAFETY ISSUE!!! SHOULD BE RECALLED.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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