YearToAvoid

2008 Pontiac Torrent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#3 most-complained of 4 Torrent years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2008 Pontiac Torrent has 125 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 33 out of 100 — #3 highest of 4 Torrent model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is airbags (46 complaints, 37% of the total). Complaints report 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 10 injuries.

Complaints
125
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
10 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16.5 city / 24 hwy

Top 2008 Pontiac Torrent problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags46 (37%)
  2. Fuel System28 (22%)
  3. Brakes19 (15%)
  4. Engine17 (14%)
  5. Electrical System15 (12%)
  6. Structure & Body13 (10%)
  7. Steering8 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain8 (6%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (6%)
  10. Other6 (5%)
2008 Pontiac Torrent complaints: complaints filed per quarter202008 Q32012 Q42014 Q22015 Q42017 Q22018 Q42021 Q4
171 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2016 Q2 (20).

2008 Pontiac Torrent recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2008 Pontiac Torrent fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16.5 MPG
Highway
24 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other Torrent years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002006200720082009
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid100240018.5
2007Caution67243419.5
2008Good33125019
2009Good017019.5

All Pontiac Torrent years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Pontiac Torrent a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2008 Pontiac Torrent ranks #3 of 4 among Torrent model years (Complaint Index 33/100, verdict: Good). It has 125 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Pontiac Torrent?
The most reported problem areas are airbags (46 complaints), fuel system (28 complaints), and brakes (19 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 80,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Pontiac Torrent have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2008 Pontiac Torrent in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Pontiac Torrent?
EPA rates the 2008 Pontiac Torrent at 19 MPG combined (16.5 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,400. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.