2008 Pontiac Torrent Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2008 Pontiac Torrent most often write about the passenger air bag warning light, which comes on and off with or without someone in the front seat, and about a fuel smell around the rear of the vehicle traced to the fuel pump or tank area. Complaints also cover intermittent electrical faults, Stabilitrak and traction-control warnings, and power steering assist dropping out, typically in the 50,000-130,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag light on/off (seat sensor)

   • 41 complaints (33%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (31 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2008–2026

   Owners describe the passenger air bag status light or the service air bag message repeatedly turning on and off, sometimes with a passenger seated and sometimes with the seat empty. Several say the seat sensor or passenger presence module was diagnosed as the cause; some were quoted repair costs of several hundred to around $900, and some dealers reported no stored codes or could not reproduce the condition. Many owners note that an earlier model year was recalled for a similar symptom and ask why this year was not included. Reported from very low mileage up past 150,000 miles, with many complaints between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles.

   What to check: With the engine running, sit in the front passenger seat and confirm the air bag status shows ON, then shift position and watch whether it flickers; ask whether the passenger presence sensor has ever been diagnosed or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The service passenger air bag light came on and off, when a passenger is in the seat, some time it work and other time it does not. When I took it to the dealer they found no codes of this in the computer which I can provide proof of this with service records. I think there are many car out there with the same issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10506022, filed 2013-04, 60,000 miles

   “My air bag light on passenger side is not at all working. Off when someone is sitting in the seat. Now my electrical system makes all lights on my dash to come on. Traction control, check engine light, air bag, and so on and so on. Took car to service center and they said nothing was wrong..”

   NHTSA complaint #10889026, filed 2016-07, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leak at rear of vehicle

   • 23 complaints (18%)
   • median 76,446 mi at 8.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $900 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2019

   Complaints describe a strong gasoline smell inside the cabin and around the rear of the vehicle, often with no obviously visible leak, and sometimes fuel running from the bottom of the car while filling up. Shops commonly diagnosed the fuel pump assembly, the fuel pump module, or a cracked fuel neck or tank area and replaced those parts. Some owners report the repair was not covered by any warranty or campaign for their vehicle. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 130,000 miles, and the smell is often noticed while parked, idling, or refueling.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Smell the area around the rear wheel arches and under the back of the car after it has been sitting, look for staining or dampness at the top of the tank, and ask whether the fuel pump module or filler neck has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a very strong fuel smell from under the vehicle it does not matter if I have a full tank or almost empty tank of gas. There is no visible leaks anywhere. I am a mother of two small children and this is very concerning to me.”

   NHTSA complaint #10551679, filed 2013-11, 63,901 miles

   “When filling up car with gas, gas was profusely leaking from the bottom of the car. Took it to a mechanic who replaced the fuel pump 6 months prior. Was told that there was a defect in the fuel neck and Pontiac is aware of the issue, and has a new 'kit' that can be installed on cars to fix the problem. However, I was told it was not covered by any warranty. Out of pocket repair cost is $670.”

   NHTSA complaint #11084320, filed 2018-04, 130,000 miles
3. 3
   Electronic stability control

   Stabilitrak and traction control warnings

   • 21 complaints (17%)
   • median 89,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2019

   Complaints describe service Stabilitrak, Stabilitrak off, and traction-control lights appearing on the dash, sometimes together with the brake light and reduced power. Some owners say the vehicle slowed or felt like the brakes were applying on their own, or that the wheels did not slow evenly. Dealers are reported to have replaced brake pads, flushed the brake system, updated software, and replaced the brake pressure modulator valve and steering position sensor, with the light returning in some cases. Spread from about 30,000 to 140,000 miles, and in some reports the light followed a dead or jumped battery.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and on full lock, watch for the Stabilitrak or traction lights, and ask for any stored ABS or stability control codes to be read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2015-04, 85,000 miles

   “The first night I noticed the service stabilitrak light on the dashboard. The next night my battery completely died and I had to buy another one. Then, the dashboard said service stabilitrak sometimes and sometimes the brake light came on or it said service traction control. From what I'm gathering online this is a common problem that will eventually lead to my reduced engine power light coming on and my speed will be limited to something like 10-20 MPH and I'm afraid because I already work overnight and away from home. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10547628, filed 2013-10, 56,242 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Intermittent electrical faults and hard starting

   Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners report dash lights, radio, and warning lamps that do not come on after start-up, and occasional no-crank conditions where the starter only engages after repeated key cycles or shifting in and out of park. Others describe power windows and door locks that quit working, with shops finding broken or chafed wires in the harness between the driver door and the body. A few complaints describe the ignition switch sticking so the key will not release or the engine will not shut off. Described from low mileage up past 120,000 miles, in some cases occurring intermittently over many years of ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test every window and door lock from the driver's switches, start the car several times to check for no-crank, and confirm the key releases cleanly from the ignition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Left side windows and locks will not open with key or remote periodically. Air bag light off when sitting and comes on when no one on pasngr side. Car was rear ended and front ended but ferrman stated they fixed properly. Door locks and windows worked fine before that and air bag has been a problem but stating I have to pay for all repairs. I feel that there are enough air bag recalls to add the 2008 to the list of 2007 ones. This vehicle is a limited edition. Only two yrs made. Parts are very expensive and hard to get now. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10861033, filed 2016-04, 20,000 miles

   “Key does not always release from ignition switch. Must play with button :fast pushes on shift gear changer until clicking are heard and key releases. The car only has 30,000 miles. Told cost would be at least 350.00 to fix. Tire sensors have already gone out too.”

   NHTSA complaint #10903530, filed 2016-09, 28,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering assist drops out

   • 6 complaints (5%)
   • median 89,629 mi at 7.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2016

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes after starting the car and sometimes while driving, with no warning light in some cases. Several report the assist returning on its own after a few days, while others had the power steering control module replaced. Difficulty is usually greatest at low speeds or when parking. Reported from around 60,000 to 113,000 miles, with some failures noticed immediately after start-up.

   What to check: During a test drive, turn the wheel fully at parking speeds and check that assist is steady; ask whether the power steering control module or motor has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2016-04, 60,000 miles

   “Timing chain july 2013 repair transmission january 2014 repair transmission line/seals 2014 may 2014 steering may 2014 power steering does not work at low speeds and is in and out at highway speeds. Very difficult to drive at low speeds.”

   NHTSA complaint #10595914, filed 2014-06, 94,258 miles

Buying note. Check the passenger air bag status and power steering assist on a test drive, and inspect the rear fuel tank area for leaks or a fuel smell. Ask for service records on the fuel pump, steering module, and any stability-control repairs, since these are the areas owners most often write about.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.