NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,386 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Pontiac Torrent electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Pontiac Torrent:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Pontiac Torrent Owner Comments

problem #14

Feb 042019

Torrent

  • 125,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Power window and locks stopped working. Wiring harness from drivers door to body had several broken wires. Harness is too short and wire is undersized for application and hard, cracked and broken. Other doors will likely malfunction.8

- Ponca City, OK, USA

problem #13

Dec 302018

Torrent

  • 122,000 miles
200 Pontiac Torrent..snow melted and the water leaked into the fuse box and imitated a fire.it shorted out the system caught fire I. which fire guard did not protect and the car was totally destroyed.it burned right thru the windshield into the inside of dash.firemen were called.vehicle is destroyed.vehicle was parked in driveway.we were woken at 1:00 a.M yo our vehivhle fully engulfed in flames.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

problem #12

Mar 122018

Torrent

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated that the electronic lever on the hatch failed to function properly; therefore, the hatch was unable to be opened because there was no manual function. On star was contacted. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer advised the contact to check the owner's manual. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

- Hopewell Junction, NY, USA

problem #11

Nov 272017

Torrent

  • 80,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Service traction control light first happened while driving during thanksgiving and has stayed on thru today Dec. 3 2017

- Moorhead, MN, USA

problem #10

Feb 182015

Torrent

  • 34,000 miles
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.

- Seffner, FL, USA

problem #9

Apr 142017

Torrent

  • 99,500 miles
....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!

- Dalton, NY, USA

problem #8

Feb 182014

Torrent

  • 20,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light is on and off even when my sister who is approx. 140lbs sitting in psgr seat. This was recalled for 2007 but should add 2008. This vehicle was only built as limited edition between 2007 and 2008. We had a rear end and front end collision and airbags did not deploy when car was total in back end. We were actually hit and pushed on top of the car in front of us to the middle of her roof. They repairs car at dealer and still air bag light and reset several times and still goes off and on whether someone sitting there or not. Dangerious..... the vehicle was stopped and impact was a pickup truck 1992 heavy duty hit us at approx. 60 mph. He never hit breaks and we kept going til I was stopped on the roof of the other vehicle. We are lucky to be alive. Sister after two years is still suffering perm injuries for life. I suffered and have a perm brace on foot from hitting break twice really hard. #1 is my car damaged in rear, #2 is the truck who hit us, #3 is that tire came out of the back of truck on impact....thru the window... proof of how hard we were hit with injures. They transported to hosp other driver, I thought I was ok but was in shock and only worried about other people. Next day was treated for injuries as well as sister treated and still on going.

- Seffner, FL, USA

problem #7

Oct 152015

Torrent

  • 85,000 miles
Diver's door power windows, power door lock and door open/closed sensor not working due to broken wires in between car and door. Looks like wires are too short and have broken.

- Sutherland Springs, TX, USA

problem #6

Jul 182013

Torrent

  • 99,900 miles
Lights on the dashboard are constantly coming on. Over the past 3 years, I constantly have problems with the "check engine"; "service stabilitrak"; and "service traction control" lights coming on. I live in pa and was driving to Mississippi when it first happened and needless to say I panicked. I called back home to my dealership and was told I should be okay until I got home, that I only needed to be concerned if the roads were wet. It was on the entire trip and by the time I got home and went to the dealership, it turned off. They could not tell me why. Now it comes on whenever it wants to and stays on for days. Then it goes off for a few days and then comes on again. No rhyme or reason as to what causes it. I'm concerned that it may be causing a bigger problem. Not happy that I have not been able to get any resolve to this.

- Bellefonte, PA, USA

problem #5

Feb 152015

Torrent 6-cyl

  • 71,000 miles
Ignition switch started getting stuck and key would not come out. Has gotten worse and a couple times engine would not shut off. Has drained the battery a couple times now requiring emergency roadside assistance.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #4

Apr 122015

Torrent

  • 85,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #3

Mar 042013

Torrent 6-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
The vehicle air bag sensor in passenger seat is faulty. Shows airbag off when passenger is in seat. The front/passenger door wire harness is too tight which end result is both windows do not work because the harness wires have snapped due to them being drawn so tight.... I have had to replace spark plugs/all wires as well as drive shaft all of a sudden was broken too. Both wheel hubs replaced on front of vehicle ~ service to stabilitrak numerous of times.... now I'm driving around with a tick in the motor with 120,000 miles on it..... this vehicle has turned out to be a nightmare!!!!! and of course the dealer only wants $498 to just hook up the tech 2 to let me know all that is wrong!!!!!!! wow.....I have taken great care with betsy including all scheduled maintenance to and for what I wish I knew.... just disappointed!!!

- Carlisle, OH, USA

problem #2

Apr 012014

Torrent

  • miles
2008 Pontiac Torrent. Consumer writes in regards to steering wheel and ignition switch freezing up, intermittently. The consumer stated there were times, when the key wouldn't come out of the ignition.

- Pasadena, CA, USA

problem #1

Jul 252012

Torrent

  • 49,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac Torrent AWD. The contact was traveling 45 mph when the seat belt and air bag warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed the computer needed to be reset. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 49,000.

- Gillett, WI, USA

Not what you are looking for?