Most common 2008 Pontiac Torrent problems
Share of the 125 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Torrent complaints by model year
Best Torrent years: 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2006, 2007. Compare all years →
What 2008 Pontiac Torrent owners say
Air bags all 46 →
The contact's friend owed a 2008 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while the owner was driving at an unknown speed when he fell asleep and rear-ended a semi-truck. The contact was seated at the front passenger side and the air bag did not deploy but the front driver side air bag did deploy. The contact stated the driver had a laceration on his right arm and she had lacerations on the top right forehead, lip, and right nostril. The contact stated they both sought medical attention and she was needing cosmetic surgery for her nose. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact stated she the insurance deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to an unknown location. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2008 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the air bag warning light illuminated while the front passenger seat was not occupied. The vehicle was diagnosed and a failure code for the passenger presence system (PPS) was retrieved. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not yet taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 28 →
Electrical problems have been occurring. My lights keep getting dim, then bright. Check engine light is on, the truck is making a loud noise, overheating, battery draining fast. Please note that the battery is new, starter is new, water pump is new , I got new engine fans, radiator and the truck is still running hot, battery dies over night. I need some help this is my only vehicle and I've spent thousands of dollars trying to get this truck right over the years. Are there any affordable warranty plans available for assistance?
My air bag did not deploy in a front end and rear end collison where I was hit at a dead stop and the truck was going 60 MPH. Car was repaired by geico repair shop in tampa, fl. The air bags still don't work and the light still off and on whether someone is sitting there or not. The dealer will repair for total of $900.00 or more. I recently smelled fuel strong in the car and outside. Took to dealer and I see others complaining too about this. No ne informed owners that there is a special warranty to repair part of the problem for free. The fuel pump was cracked with only 43K miles on vehicle. The vent solenoid was not covered yet it is stuck in the open position and defective but I had been charged extra 302.00 and would like to know why they didn't include in the recalls? Both of these items were found defective but only one was recalled privately. …
Stability & traction control
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. …
Service stabilitrac light came on every time the car was under hard or full throttle on dry pavement. Unit taken to the dealer under warranty and I was sent a bill to test the unit and told that unit needed a new mass air flow sensor. Took unit home, mass air flow tested out fine. I replaced the sensor one month later and the problem still exists to this date. I have tested every sensor related to the stabilitrac system on this unit and all are fine. General motors has an issue with this stabiltrac system but is failing to admit. Research on multiple GM products verifies a consistent issue across the board. This should be a safety recall as it shuts down many of the installed safety systems when the service stabiltrac light comes on and the stabilitrac goes inactive. I have worked on cars for over 35 years and keep up to date on how newer systems function. …
2008 Pontiac Torrent engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 24 / 19 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Pontiac Torrent a good car?
Based on 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Torrent rates better than average: 50% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Torrent at the same age. It is one of the best Torrent years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Pontiac Torrent?
The air bags — 46 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (28) and stability & traction control (16).
How many recalls does the 2008 Pontiac Torrent have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2008 Pontiac Torrent. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Torrent?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006 and 2007. See the full Pontiac Torrent years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Pontiac Torrent problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 19% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.