70 of the
922 complaints filed about the Pontiac Torrent
are about the steering —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
My car says service stabilitrak and my traction control light is still on whether I hit the button or not I just spent a grand for it to be fixed and it I’m still having the same issue my brakes will lock up or my wheel locks up uncontrollably I have almost gotten into numerous accidents because of it.
NHTSA complaint #11581066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Steering gone out while driving times 3 with 2 replacements and now in shop for 3rd replacement. Nearly hit a lady. Time before, I nearly went over an embankment. Steering column has been entirely replaced twice. The electric steering motor has also been replaced 2 to 3 times as well. Numerous times have lost the ability to steer when in a curve but then later corrected itself and continued driving. ABS light is on most of the time and yes it has been looked at numerous times. Stabilitrac light is on and again, yes, this has been looked at numerous times. Traction control light is also on again. Seat belt sensor light is on and has been for a long time. Now, I really cannot afford repairs once again for something that needs a recall. I have read hundreds of other people also making these same reports in NHTSA comments. Please, people are going to get killed if not already. Now, I also see that these steering columns are being sent back to the manufacturer and the same defective modules are being replaced and then sent back out to replace another vehicles defective part while charging the customer full price yet again. A repairman stated to me that the defective part was being replaced with another defective part and was really useless repairs. Will you please buy this lemon back from me. It has nearly costed me and my families life numerous times plus others. Please recall these parts. Please make it possible for me to get a different vehicle. This started in less than a year from the purchase of the new vehicle when we had the first steering column replaced. Would you want your spouse or child driving these vehicles?
NHTSA complaint #11475529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. JUMPED BATTERY TO GET STARTED. STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. SHUT OFF AFTER LETTING RUN TO CHARGE BATTERY. SHUIT OFF. VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AND THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE LAST TIME THE POWER STEERING MOTOR CONTROL AND THE STABILITY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. ALL THIS WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. VEHICLE HAS 26000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #11406422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11105309 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING ABILITY SEIZED. ALSO, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN FLASHING AND A WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING APPROXIMATELY A HALF MILE DOWN THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TURNED INTO A PARKING LOT AND NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND WAITED APPROXIMATELY THREE HOURS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AGAIN AFTER TWO MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO PINCHER WILLIAMS CHEVROLET/PONTIAC IN LONDON, KENTUCKY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
NHTSA complaint #11082144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11061264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 11/5/17 MY 2007 PONTIAC STEERING LOCKED AND I WAS IN A MAJOR CAR CRASH. THE STEERING LOCKED AS I TRIED TO LEAVE A GAS STATION AFTER GIVING A STRANDED PERSON A JUMP. I TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WAS FINE. PROCEEDED HOME AND GOT ON THE HIGHWAY, AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 45 MINUTES THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN AS I WAS CHANGING LANES, I HIT THE BACK OF A TRUCK AND MY CAR LOST CONTROL. MY CAR WENT ACROSS LANES OF ON COMING TRAFFIC AND FLIPPED AND RAN OFF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11044629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #11020086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CAR IS CLICKING, THE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON, ABS LIGHT COMES ON, LIGHTS FLICKER AND THE CAR STALLS. WHEN DRIVING THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT OR LOCKS UP MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER. IT HAD BEEN CONTINUING UNTIL THE CAR HAS BEEN ON FOR 20 OR SO MINUTES BUT NOW IT'S GOING ON FOR LONGER. IT'S VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AROUND.
NHTSA complaint #10966297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL EXPERIENCED STIFFNESS AND SHOOK WHEN TURNING. EVENTUALLY, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME LOCKED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE POWER STEERING MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. APPROXIMATELY FOUR YEARS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 01/11/2017*CT UPDATED 7/6/18
NHTSA complaint #10926810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED TWO DAYS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000....UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST MOTOR AND STEERING CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10892120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN FULL OF PROBLEMS. FIRST IT WAS LOSING POWER WHEN TURNING CORNERS OR CHANGING LANES. HAD TO HAVE THAT FIXED.. NEXT POWER STEERING WENT OUT NOT LONG AFTER HAD THE POWER ISSUE FIXED. NEXT THE DRIVER DOOR WOULD NO LONGER LOCK. HAD THAT FIXED IN 2015. THEN IN 2015 STARTED NOTICING THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS JUST GOING ON AND OFF FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. AND THEY ALL MEET/EXCEED THE WEIGHT NEEDED TO ACTIVATE. NOW THE AIRBAG JUST STAYS OFF. NOW THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS SHOWING NOT ACTIVATED FOR THE DRIVER SIDE. AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHTS ARE BLINKING. ALSO NOW I AM BEING TOLD THE FUEL PUMP ALSO NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN THE CAR SMELL STRONG FUMES AT TIMES. ALSO EXPERIENCE SPUTTERING ONCE REACHES 40 MPH AND AGAIN AROUND 60. ALSO ANYTIME WE ARE ON AN INCLINE. AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN ON THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10875866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RETURNED TO VEHICLE AFTER SHOPPING AND POWER STEERING ASSIST NO LONGER WORKED. THIS CONTINUED FOR ALMOST A WEEK WHILE I DID MY RESEARCH ON ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEMS SO THAT I COULD PERFORM REPAIRS. STEERING ISSUED CLEARED ON ITS OWN.. CAR ONLY HAD LESS THAN 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10854909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10836230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10811182 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AUGUST 12 2015 THE CAR DOORS BEGAN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING ON THEIR OWN.THE SPEEDOMETER/TACHOMETER BEGAN ACTING CRAZILY ON THEIR OWN. A SHORT TIME AFTER, HAVING NOT HAD STEERING ISSUES BEFORE DRIVER WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL MALFUNCTIONED (IF SHE TURNED IT LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT NOT THE VEHICLE, IT KEPT GOING STRAIGHT). SHE LOWERED SPEED AND EVENTUALLY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED WORKING.WARNING LIGHTS ALL WHEEL DRIVE ABS SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. HUSBAND DROVE CAR THAT NIGHT BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY TOOK CAR TO CALKINS PONTIAC IN BURNHAM PA AUGUST 20TH.CALKINS HAD IT A FEW DAYS.INVOICES CAN BE SENT.CALKINS FOUND NOTHING BUT CODES STORED IN HISTORY U0073 U0131 B3006 U0102.THEY COULDN'T REINVENT THE PROBLEM.THEY TOOK CAR HOME HUSBAND WAS DRIVING IT WHEN THE SAME PROBLEMS REOCCURRED. CAR TOOK A HARD RIGHT TURN AS IF SOMEONE REACHED OVER AND YANKED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT. THE WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN BACK. IT LOCKED UP.BEFORE ALMOST HITTING GUARD RAIL THE WHEEL WENT BACK TO NORMAL. UP THE ROAD IT HAPPENED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES.THEY TOOK CAR TO CALKINS AGAIN ON 25TH.THEY PAID $490 THIS TIME TO REPLACE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. SEPT 11, 12TH, 17TH HOWEVER SAME PROBLEMS HAPPENED. AT THIS POINT THE CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN DUE TO SAFETY BUT OWNERS NEED TO USE VEHICLE. IT HAS ONLY 99,157 MILES ON IT. THE WEBSITE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM HAS MANY PAGES OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED BY DRIVERS.(WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/PONTIAC/TORRENT/2007/STEERING/STERRING.SHTML). THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY STEERING ISSUE. WHO CAN ASSIST TO HAVE THIS FIXED SO VEHICLE CAN BE USED? WE CAN'T TRADE IT IN AND RISK SOMEONE ELSE LOSING THEIR LIFE. OUR LAST RECENT VISIT TO CALKINS SHOWED THE SAME CODE HISTORY.ON 10/13 CALKINS SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US THE NEXT DAY BUT AS OF TODAY 10/20 THEY NEVER CONTACTED US.
NHTSA complaint #10783716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10778294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10726403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BATTERY DIED, AND AFTER GETTING A BOOST THE STABILITRACK LIGHT TRACK CAME ON. MY STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. TURNING WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. I RAN INTO A CURB WHILE TRYING TO TURN.
NHTSA complaint #10705193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.