Engine complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
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?
I heard a slight clattering coming from under the hood one afternoon on my way to town. I pulled over the side of the road, called on star to ask them to run a diagnostic.the on star adviser said to take it to the dealership, they think there is a problem with the power train.I took it to the dealership. After checking out the car they said half of the motor was not getting oil pumped to it, it has a dual overhead cam. They said it had been going on for some time and they don't know why the oil wouldn't get through to both parts of the motor. It had some sort of "clog" in it, but could not specify where. I was told to replace the motor or they could break it down and find the problem but it would be more expensive to do it this way. I ended up paying $7098 for a new motor. …
The car drove perfectly until I would come to an complete stop. Once at a complete stop while in drive or in park, the temperature gauge went up to the red line, indicating that the engine is over heating. The words on the dash also would say engine hot. This would result in me having to pull over ever few minutes to let the car cool off and in some instances the car would shut off on its own. I literally only had the car for 4 days after purchasing, however this issue started the exact day I purchased it. I bought the car with it already having 155K miles driven. The mechanic has tried putting in a new thermostat and water pump, at this point he feels it needs a new engine.
While driving approx. 70 MPH on interstate I-75 a light came on the dash that stated stabilitrak is off and engine speed will be reduced at which time the car jerked to a sudden slow down almost causing an accident with the car behind me. Car was shut off and restarted then seemed to run fine again until today 1-14 in which it did the same thing again. This is very dangerous, as I thought this May be a "safe" car for my child to drive. This is not the case. In looking on the internet, it seems that several if not hundreds of people are having this same issue. Why hasn't it been recalled? Does she have to be in an accident before something can be done???
The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the power steering failed to operate as designed, the brakes seized, and the vehicle lost motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact poured water onto the onboard computer, located on top of the engine to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic installed a new onboard computer however, the new onboard computer failed to operate without the service code required. The dealer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be serviced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,500. The VIN was unavailable.
The vehicle randomly powers down completely loosing steering, braking, acceleration, emergency flashers and lights, no matter how fast or slow or location. No rhyme or reason to the sporadic complete shut down and doesn't start back immediately and sometimes minutes to hours before it will. Not safe in the highway or side roads or anywhere. There is a fault with the programming in the ECU and GM is the only one who can repair it. Vehicle was recently purchased and I spent just as much as the purchase since replacing parts! It should be recalled before someone gets killed if you google search the year make and model with dying when driving or similar it's clearly something with most of these vehicles unfortunately! …
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Torrent years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (50), 2007 (13) and 2008 (13) model years. Engine complaints make up 21% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Torrent engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Pontiac Torrent model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Pontiac Torrent engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 15% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cooling system (8 mentions), followed by the engine (2).
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.