FaultScore

Pontiac Torrent window and wiper problems

103 of the 922 complaints filed about the Pontiac Torrent are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.

103

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year

2006 Torrent 95 92.2%

Median failure at 67,250 miles

2007 Torrent 6 5.8%

Median failure at 59,142 miles

2008 Torrent 2 1.9%

Median failure at 58,000 miles

What owners said

2007 Pontiac Torrent at 146,000 miles Richmond, VA Crash 1 injured

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REAR ENDED IN OCTOBER OF 2019, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD GLAZES AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO SEE CLEARLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HALEY BUICK GMC MIDLOTHIAN (9831 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 23235) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000

NHTSA complaint #11319214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 65,000 miles North Attleboro, MA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATER FAILED TO PRODUCE HOT AIR AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO DEFROST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (LANCE BUICK GMC, 2 CHAUNCY ST, MANSFIELD, MA) WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILALBLE.

NHTSA complaint #11104279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 65,000 miles North Attleboro, MA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HEATER FAILED TO PRODUCE HOT AIR AND THE WINDOWS FAILED TO DEFROST. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (LANCE BUICK GMC, 2 CHAUNCY ST, MANSFIELD, MA) WERE BOTH NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILALBLE.

NHTSA complaint #11104279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 180,000 miles South ST Paul, MN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WHEN THE HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, COLD AIR BLEW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE KEMP BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (WALSER BUICK GMC OF BLOOMINGTON, 4601 AMERICAN BLVD WEST, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55437) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-3687100903. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.

NHTSA complaint #11055798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 65,000 miles Claremont, NH

VISIBILITY/WIPER

WHERE TO START AS IT WOULDN'T LET ME SELECT MORE THAN 3 OPTIONS. I BOUGHT MY TORRENT IN 06 WITH 65K MILES ON IT AND FIGURED THAT A 40K/ 4 YEAR WARRANTY WAS A GOOD IDEA. IT WAS!! IT ALL STARTED WHEN I TOOK IT TO A CAR WASH A WEEK AFTER BUYING IT, WELL I EXITED THE CAR WASH AND HAD NO THROTTLE WITH GAS PEDDLE, I WAS STUCK. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TUBES THAT ALLOW THE SUN ROOF TO DRAIN WERE CLOGGED AND WATER BACKED UP AND TRAVELED DOWN THE LEFT FRONT PILLAR AND FRIED THE THROTTLE SENSOR. REPLACED IT AND ON I WENT. THESE TUBES BLOCKED UP 3 MORE TIMES IN A FEW YEARS ONLY FRYING IT ONE OTHER TIME. WITHIN THE FIRST 3 YEARS WITH LESS THAN 80K MILES EVERY HUB HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT PASSENGER TWICE, AND FRONT DRIVERS 3 TIMES. 2 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AROUND 67K MILES THE DRIVE SHAFT BEARING NEEDED REPLACING. AROUND 76K MILES THE ENTIRE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AROUND 85K MILES THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FRONT A WORN BEARING THAT DESTROYED OTHER INTERNAL PARTS. AROUND 83K MILES THE FRONT LEFT BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE KNUCKLE MAY BE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AS CHIPS OF MATERIAL WERE SEEN TO BE FALLING OFF BEHIND THE HUB. JUST LAST WEEK AT ONLY 101K MILES THE FRONT LEFT HUB WAS BAD AGAIN!! THAT MAKES 5 TIMES ON THAT ALONE. VARIOUS OTHER ISSUES INCLUDE MULTIPLE ABS SENSORS FAILING PREMATURELY MORE THAN ONCE. I GET ANNUAL ALIGNMENTS, BRAND NEW TIRES ANUALLY, HAVE REPLACED STRUTS AND SPRINGS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE ENTIRE BOTTOM IS RUSTING OUT THE WORST HE'S EVER SEEN FOR A VEHICLE. THESE WERE ALL OEM PARTS BY THE CHEVY DEALER, NOT CHEAP AFTERMARKET INSTALLED IMPROPERLY BY SOME BACKWOODS MECHANIC. CAN I JUST POST THIS ONE LENGTHY COMPLAINT OR DO I NEED TO CREATE ONE FOR EVERY ISSUE?

NHTSA complaint #10970443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 99,522 miles Grand Rapids, MI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

HEATER SOMETIMES BLOWS ONLY COLD AIR, REGARDLES OF SETTINGS

NHTSA complaint #10965769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 175,000 miles Akron, OH

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN ACTIVATED IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA complaint #10957572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 97,365 miles Silverdale, WA

VISIBILITY/WIPER

HEATING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, SOMETIMES HEAT ONLY BLOWS COOL AIR, MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A DEFECT BUT ONLY ISSUED A LIMITED SPECIAL COVERAGE. THE SPECIAL COVERAGE EXPIRED IN FEB 2016, MY VEHICLE HEATING UNIT BROKE IN OCT 2016! THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS DEFECT! LISA OF HEATING UNIT CAUSES UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS WHEN WINDOWS CAN NOT DEFROST AS A RESULT OF DEFECT, ALSO OCCUPANTS FREEZE THEIR ASSES OFF IN THE WINTER! UNCONSCIONABLE THAT GM WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT!

NHTSA complaint #10927348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 173,000 miles Rock Hill, SC

VISIBILITY/WIPER

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAT AND DEFROSTER IN MY CAR. IT DOES NOT WORK, AND THUS CAUSES MAJOR VISIBILITY PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE WINDOWS CANNOT DEFROST. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, WHICH, IF LEFT UNREPAIRED, COULD CAUSE A WRECK. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GM DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BROKEN TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, SINCE IT IS QUITE COSTLY (ABOUT $1100) TO REPAIR. I FOUND THAT GM HAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THIS FREE OF CHARGE TO THE OWNERS BECAUSE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT (SPECIAL COVERAGE/POLICY ADJUSTMENT 11135). THE ACTUATOR HAD BEEN DESIGNED POORLY, USING PLASTIC INSTEAD OF METAL. THIS CAUSES THE PLASTIC TO BREAK WHEN THE ACTUATOR OVER-ROTATES. THIS PROBLEM VIOLATES THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 103, WHICH STATES THE STANDARDS OF HAVING A WORKING HEATER AND DEFOGGING/DEFROSTING SYSTEM. THIS PROBLEM IS MENTIONED IN 87 OF THE 198 COMPLAINTS FOR THE 06 PONTIAC TORRENT, AND HAS A TSB #10044379. WITH A SEVEN-YEAR COMPLAINT HISTORY, I WOULD EXPECT THE COMPANY TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I CONTACTED GM WITH THIS INFORMATION AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CONTACT ME IN 1 BUSINESS DAY. IT HAS BEEN OVER 5 DAYS NOW AND NO WORD FROM THEM. ALL I WANT IS FOR THIS TO BE FIXED/COVERED BY GM BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND IS VERY EXPENSIVE (I.E. I CANNOT AFFORD IT EVEN THOUGH IT'S HAZARDOUS). I WOULD LIKE TO DRIVE SAFELY AND WITH FULL VISIBILITY!

NHTSA complaint #10778599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 131,000 miles Berlin, CT

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY 2006 TORRENT HAS NO HEAT. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DO HAVE THE BROKEN TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR. I DID RECEIVE A LETTER ABOUT THIS FROM GM, BUT SINCE THEN MY CAR HAS BEEN FINE TILL THE OTHER DAY WHEN I NEEDED TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD. THE LETTER STATED THAT IF MY HEAT WORKS TO DO NOTHING. BUT MY CAR IS 11000 MILES PAST WHAT THEY STATE IN THE LETTER TO HAVE IT FIXED FOR FREE. THEY KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE DOORS, IT SHOULD BE COVERED ANYWAY BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM SEEM TO BREAK. THE $1000 DOLLAR LABOR CHARGE IS CRAZY.

NHTSA complaint #10777778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Pontiac Torrent at 74,000 miles Delton, MI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILED TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE MOTOR INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. MA 09/25 UPDATED 11/16/2017

NHTSA complaint #10733864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 120,000 miles Quarryville, PA

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

THE HEATER IS NOT BLOWING ANY HOT AIR AT ALL. THE KNOBS/SWITCHES ALL WORK AND IT FORCES AIR OUT BUT ITS VERY COLD AIR, AFTER READING THIS SITE AND OTHERS IT LOOKS LIKE THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. I SEEN THE SERVICE ALERT FOR IT BUT IT SAYS UP TO 100,000 MILES, MINE HAD MORE THAN THAT WHEN I PURCHASED IT, GM SHOULD AT LEAST PAY FOR IT NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES. I HAVE A TODDLER AND ITS WAY TO COLD TO BE RIDING IN THE CAR WITH NO HEAT. THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW!

NHTSA complaint #10663301 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 111,700 miles Crystal, MN

VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR HAS FAILED AND FELL OFF INSIDE OF MY CAB CAUSING MY HEAT TO FAIL INSIDE MY CAB FOR BOTH DEFROST AND HEAT. I LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT HEAT IN THE WINTER. THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN QUOTED ME 9+ HOURS OF LABOR TO REMOVE MY DASH, INSTALL THE NEW ACTUATOR AND RE-INSTALL MY DASH. IT WILL TAKE THREE DAYS TO REPAIR AND COST ME $1800 TO FIX. APPARENTLY, AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND MY LOCAL AUTO SHOP, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH PONTIAC TORRENTS AS I'VE ALSO READ DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE ON THIS SITE. HE SAID THERE MIGHT BE A RECALL ON THE PART, AND I SHOULD CHECK. HOWEVER, AFTER SEARCHING MY VIN, IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A RECALLED PART AT THIS TIME. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AS THIS IS SUCH A COSTLY REPAIR TO BE MADE FOR A FAULTY PART FROM GM. PLEASE HELP AS THIS IS NOT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE AN ISOLATED OCCURRENCE WITH PONTIAC TORRENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10654156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 95,620 miles Flatwoods, KY

VISIBILITY/WIPER

BLEND DOOR FOR HEAT BROKE ALLOWING ONLY COLD AIR. WAS UNABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD AND WARM INTERIOR. CONDITION LIMITS VISIBILITY. OTHER MODELS OF SAME YEAR HAVE BEEN RECALLED. ONLY FIX IS TO REMOVE THE DASH AND REPLACE BROKEN PART.

NHTSA complaint #10652381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Pontiac Torrent at 88,000 miles Sturgis, MI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

SINCE APRIL OF LAST YEAR, EVERYTIME IT RAINS MY CAR ENDS UP FLOODING. I HAVE HAD 2 CAR DEALERS LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAY IT IS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. NOT VERY HAPPY.

NHTSA complaint #10584754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 140,000 miles Crothersville, IN

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER UNIT MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #10567396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 158,000 miles Marianna, FL

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

DRIVING, TURNED THE DEFROST ON, ONLY COLD AIR CAME OUT, UNABLE TO DEFOG OR DEFROST WINDSHIELD. NO HEAT WHATSOEVER. BLOWS COLD AIR AT ALL TIMES. APPARENTLY SOME OF THE OTHER GM VEHICLES BASED ON THE SAME PLATFORM HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10566492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent Whitley, KY

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 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.

NHTSA complaint #10559041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Pontiac Torrent at 79,890 miles Detroit, MI

VISIBILITY/WIPER

OWN A 2007 PONTIAC TORRENT. MY HEATER BLOWS ONLY WARM AIR IN MY VEHICLE. THE BLOWER FAN AND ALL THE SWITCHES ARE FINE. WHEN I TURN THE TEMPERATURE KNOB TO HOT AIR, ONLY COLD AIR COMES OUT. I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC. MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS FINE AS WAS MY COOLANT LEVEL. THEY ADVISED THAT THE TEMPERATURE SHAFT IS BROKEN INSIDE THE HEATER BOX AND WOULD NEED TO BE FIXED BY REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH LABOR COST ALONE IS ABOVE 1000K. I CALLED GM TO ASK WHAT THEY WILL DO TO ASSIST WITH THE COST BUT SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL OR CLASS ACTION THEY WILL NOT HELP TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED HEATER DOOR.

NHTSA complaint #10553574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Pontiac Torrent at 80,000 miles Milwaukee, WI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10552085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Pontiac Torrent problems