Pontiac Torrent Complaints (2006)

240 consumer complaints on file.

#10439299December 11, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING AND COLD AIR BLOWS THROUGH THE VENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438158December 2, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR FRACTURED, CAUSING THE HEATING SYSTEM TO BLOW OUT COLD AIR WHEN THE HEATING FUNCTION WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED INADEQUATE VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY DUE TO THE DEFROSTER NOT PROPERLY CLEARING THE WINDOWS. A PRIVATE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437387November 27, 2011
VISIBILITY
HEATER BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN - CONFIRMED BY TWO MECHANICS. FROM READING ONLINE, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON (AND EXPENSIVE) PROBLEM IN THE 2006 TORRENT AND 2006 CHEVY EQUINOX DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE DEALER QUOTED US $1100-$1200 TO REPAIR. READING ONLINE, I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT REOCCUR. LIVING IN NY, WE CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT A WORKING HEATER AND DEFROSTER. WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT GM HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS APPARENTLY COMMON DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437305November 26, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DURING THE SUMMER, THE AIR CONDITIONING ON OUR 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT STARTED ACTING UP. WE COULD ONLY RUN THE CAR'S AIR CONDITIONER FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD START BLOWING OUT WARM AIR. WE FOUND THAT IF WE TURNED IT OFF FOR A WHILE, THEN TURNED IT BACK ON, IT WOULD WORK FOR A WHILE LONGER, THEN WE WOULD HAVE TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. NOW THAT COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE HERE, WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE HEATER IS BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. WE TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TORRENT. COST: $1200, AS IT WOULD BE A GOOD EIGHT HOUR JOB TO REPLACE THE NECESSARY PART. SINCE THE COST WAS SO HIGH, WE TOOK IT TO ANOTHER PLACE AND WAS GIVEN THE SAME VERDICT, BUT THE REPAIR COST WAS SUBSTANTIALLY LESS - $750, WHICH IS STILL A LOT FOR A PART THAT COSTS LESS THAN $100. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED RIGHT NOW BECAUSE WE JUST DISHED OUT $551 TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, SO WE ARE LOOKING INTO A PORTABLE HEATER UNTIL WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE. THE BLEND DOOR SHOULD BE RECALLED AND TAKEN CARE OF BY THE MANUFACTURER. OUR FAMILY OF FIVE (THE YOUNGEST BEING NINE YEARS OLD) HAS BEEN BUNDLING UP EVERY TIME WE GET INTO THE CAR, BUT ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS COLDER AND THE WINDOWS START FROSTING OVER. THIS PART, IN PARTICULAR, IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO BE WITHOUT DURING THE WINTER, DUE TO INADEQUATE VISIBILITY FROM WINDOWS THAT CANNOT BE DEFROSTED. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437278November 25, 2011
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON MY SON'S 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN 2006. 2 MONTHS AGO WE SPENT $1500 IN THE HEAT AND AIR ISSUE. OK NO BIG DEAL. HAD TO DO IT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFETY OF MY CHILD, I HAVE TO SUBMIT A COMPLAINT. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP ON HIM AND HE CAN BE IN ANY SITUATION, MORNING TRAFFIC, QUIET ROAD, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NO WAY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. HE SLOWS DOWN, IN ANY KIND OF TRAFFIC WHICH LEADS TO GOD KNOWS WHAT KIND OF SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE FIXED FOR HIM AT NO COST. STEERING WHEELS SHOULD NOT LOCK UP FOR NO REASON. I EXPECT TO HEAR BACK ON THIS ISSUE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I CAN FIX THE WEAR AND TEAR OF ANY VEHICLE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO LIFE THREATENING ISSUES, THERE HAS TO HAVE BEEN A CASE STUDY AND A SOLUTION FOUND AND I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436666November 21, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER'S BLOWER MOTOR MALFUNCTIONED AND ONLY COLD AIR WOULD BLOW OUT OF THE VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT DEFROSTER WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLEND DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436243November 17, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE HEAT WENT OUT IN MY 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR. I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE PONTIAC TORRENT. THE LABOR ALONE ON THIS PROBLEM IS $1200.00. THE PART ITSELF IS ONLY COSTING ME $35.00. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT GETS VERY COLD IN INDIANA FOR WINTER, AND WHEN YOU HAVE NO HEAT, AND ONLY COLD AIR BLOWING OUT IT REDUCES VISIBILITY TO ALMOST ZERO. WHY ISN'T GM RECALLING THIS PART? HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T FEEL THIS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO KEEP AN HONEST BUSINESS RUNNING. PLEASE MAKE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND REIMBURSE PEOPLE FOR THE COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436092November 16, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT, COLD AIR COMES OUT OF THE VENTS REGARDLESS OF THE SETTING. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN WHERE IT IS ESSENTIAL TO BE ABLE TO USE THE DEFROST AND THE HEATER. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST A MINIMUM OF $1200 DOLLARS TO FIX AND 8-10 HOURS OF LABOR, THE ACTUAL PART IS UNDER $100. THE DELAERSHIP EVEN SAID THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL PROBLEM ON THE TORRENTS AND THAT THEY HAVE FIXED MANY OF THEM. THE WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER IT ONCE THE VEHICLE HAS GONE OVER THE MILEAGE ALLOTTED BY THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER I DON'T FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A FACTOR FOR THE HEATER AS THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN DOES NOT AFFECT THE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM. I DON'T FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING A PLASTIC PART AND PAYING FOR LABOR ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT IN THE TORRENT. ADDITIONALLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUES SINCE YOU NEED TO SEE OUT YOUR WINDSHIELD TO DRIVE. GM NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT BY HAVING A RECALL ON THIS PART! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436050November 16, 2011
WHEELS, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I HAD 2 WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED WITH 3 MONTHS OF ONE ANOTHER AND THEN THE HEATER DIED. JUST BLOWS COLD AIR - TOLD IT WAS THE BLEND DOOR AND WOULD COST $1200 TO FIX - WHICH I DO NOT HAVE. NO DEFROST EITHER - DEFINITE HAZARD. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE AND GM IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. MY CAR HAS 78,000 MILES CURRENTLY - *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435985November 15, 2011
VISIBILITY
FAILURE OF THE HVAC BLEND DOOR (VERIFIED BY GM DEALERSHIP AFTER PAYING $135) HAS MADE DEFROSTING THE FORWARD WINDSHIELD IN COLD TEMPERATURES IMPOSSIBLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LIMITING OF VISIBILITY AND IN VIOLATION OF STANDARD 103 (HTTP://WWW.NHTSA.GOV/CARS/RULES/IMPORT/FMVSS/INDEX.HTML#SN103) FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. GM HAS ADMITTED A DESIGN FLAW IN THE HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IN THAT A DEALER REPLACEMENT USES AN UPDATED HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH MORE ACCURATELY LIMITS THE ROTATIONAL TRAVEL. THE FAILURE OF THE HVAC BLEND DOOR OCCURS BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL FAULTY DESIGNED HVAC BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR TRAVELS TOO FAR CAUSING STRUCTURAL STRESS ON THE BLEND DOOR WHICH EVENTUALLY LEADS TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE BLEND DOOR. THIS RESULTS IN VENT AIR NOT PASSING OVER THE HEAT CORE, THEREFORE MAKING DEFROSTING OF THE WINDSHIELD NOT POSSIBLE IN COLD CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435988November 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
I OWN A 06 PONTIAC TORRENT AND JUST RECENTLY THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER QUIT WORKING. AFTER HAVING IT FIXED AND PAYING 200 AND DRIVING IT 5 MILES, I WOKE UP THE NEXT DAY TO GO TO WORK TO HAVE NO HEAT OR DEFROST AGAIN TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AGAIN AND BE TOLD THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $600 TO BE FIXED. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TORRENT OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AS WELL AS CHEVROLET EQUINOX OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUE, WITH NO WAY TO CLEAR OUR WINDOWS OF FOG AND FROST IN THESE COLDER MONTHS. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES RESULTING FROM THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, I BELIEVE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435118November 10, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STARTED DRIVING AND THERE WAS NO HEAT; ONLY COLD AIR, IN COLORADO 27 DEGREE WEATHER. DISCOVERED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR BROKE, AND THERE ARE COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON THIS CAR. APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN DEFECT. THE PART COST $50. BUT THE REPAIR WILL COST $1500. THE ENTIRE DASH HAS TO BE REMOVED, AND HEATER BOX AND HOSES DISCONNECTED. PLEASE HELP GET THIS AS A RECALL! SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN COLD WEATHER IF DEFECT OCCURS!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435102November 9, 2011
VISIBILITY
THE ARM ON THE AIR TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR ON MY 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT THAT CONNECTS TO THE ACTUATOR HAS BROKEN. THIS ALLOWS NOTHING BUT COLD AIR INTO THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND VERY DIFFICULT TO CLEAR THE WINDOW. THERE SEEMS TO BE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS PERTAINING TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS CAUSES A EXTREMELY POTENTIAL HAZARD DUE TO FAULTY PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED, THIS VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE UNTIL IT IS FIXED DUE TO COLDER WEATHER. I HAVE PARKED THIS VEHICLE AND I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433923November 2, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY
I OWN A 06 PONTIAC TORRENT AND JUST RECENTLY THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER QUIT WORKING. AFTER HAVING IT DIAGNOSED I WAS TOLD THAT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR WAS BROKEN AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $1000 TO BE FIXED. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF TORRENT OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, AS WELL AS CHEVROLET EQUINOX OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS VISIBILITY ISSUE, WITH NO WAY TO CLEAR OUR WINDOWS OF FOG AND FROST IN THESE COLDER MONTHS. ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY DEATHS OR INJURIES RESULTING FROM THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW, I BELIEVE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. PLEASE HELP!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434499October 31, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO HEAT IN VEHICLE. ONLY BLOWING COLD AIR. HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AT ALL. IT FROSTS UP AND OBSTRUCTS MY VIEW WHILE I'M DRIVING MY CAR. SO FAR EVERYTHING I'VE HAD DONE HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. HAD THERMOSTAT REPLACED, HEATER CORE CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES, COOLANT FLUSHED. STILL NO HEAT. SEVERAL DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENTS WERE DONE ON MY VEHICLE AND ALL THREE CAME UP WITH SAME DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BLEND BOX AND IT WOULD COST $1000 OR MORE TO BE REPAIRED. IT CAN NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT THE HEATER WORKING BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I REALIZE THE GOVERNMENT NOW OWNS GM BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED OR MAYBE A CLASS ACTION SUIT OF SOME KIND NEEDS TO BE FILED THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433136October 28, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
ALL THE BLOWERS ARE WORKING BUT NO HEAT WILL COME OUT. CONTINUES TO BLOW COLD AIR NO MATTER WHAT CONTROL IS SELECTED. LOOKS LIKE THE BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN, WHICH IS CAUSING IT TO NOT FLIP OVER TO THE HEAT SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433164October 28, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE MOTOR ACTUATOR FOR THE AIR BLEND DOOR OVER-ROTATES, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE AIR BLEND DOOR TO FAIL. THE RESULT IS THE CAR NO LONGER HAS ANY HEAT AND THE WINDOWS CAN NO LONGER BE DEFROSTED. THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2006 PONTIAC TORRENTS AND CHEVY EQUINOX (THE INTERNET IS FULL OF COMPLAINTS). GM HAS REFUSED TO CONDUCT A RECALL OR TSB DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF LABOR REQUIRED TO TEAR THE DASH APART TO FIX (7-8 HOURS). THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME, WHICH WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF ALL DEFROSTING CAPABILITY OF THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433167October 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
AIR BLEND DOOR HAS DEFECT WHERE MOTOR ACTUATOR OVER-ROTATES AND BREAKS DOOR. VEHICLE IS LEFT WITH NO HEAT FOR VEHICLE OR DEFROSTER. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY IN COLD WEATHER. INTERNET SEARCH INDICATES THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM FOR 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT AND CHEVY EQUINOX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425642September 15, 2011
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC TORRENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEATER WAS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE BLENDER DOOR FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THE BLENDER DOOR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000. UPDATED 10/27/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425446September 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
NO HEAT; TEMPERATURE CONTROL DOES NOT CHANGE FROM COLD TO HOT. BELIEVE TEMPERATURE BLEND DOOR TO BE THE PROBLEM, AS THIS SEEMS TO BE WHAT THE DEALERS (CHECKED WITH 3 LOCAL GM DEALERS) ALL POINT TO AS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. THIS WILL AFFECT VISIBILITY (NO OR POOR DEFROSTING) AS WELL AS COMFORT, BOTH OF WHICH ARE SAFETY HAZARDS WHEN FACING THE COMING WISCONSIN WINTER. STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED, AS IT INVOLVES A RELATIVELY LOW COST PART BUT EXTENSIVE LABOR TO DISMANTLE THE DASHBOARD AND REPLACE IT. ESTIMATES HAVE RANGED FROM $800 TO $1200 FOR THE JOB. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ON THIS, AS IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY AND FINANCIAL CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER PONTIAC TORRENT AND CHEVROLET EQUINOX OWNERS. THANK YOU. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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