The wiring harness between the body and the driver's door (and front passenger door) is too short, and subsequently stretches and frays and breaks the wires, resulting in failure of various door components including power door lock, power window, side mirror control, radio off when exiting vehicle after driving, door chime when key in ignition, door automatically locking when vehicle in drive position (safety hazard), door unlocking when in park position (exit vehicle safety hazard) and door stereo speakers. Since this is the least likely culprit when troubleshooting, it should become the first item when any door component fails on this vehicle. The passenger door has an identical issue, however, since the typical frequency of use of this door is much less, the issue occurs less frequently. There are numerous instances of this from hundreds of Pontiac Torrent owners, with pictures, on the internet. This is how the problem solution is commonly found, the last thing one would think is bad wiring. Many owners of this vehicle had challenged GM to repair or recall, to no avail. GM social media bloggers often chimed in to contact GM, but when owners did so, nothing really happened regarding helping out owners with the issue nor the cost of repair. Many owners actually paid for or bought completely new wiring harnesses, which are very expensive for the part as well as expensive the in-door installation. Others spliced their own wires to effect a solution. This issue is on a 2006 Pontiac Torrent, however, it is possible that all years of that vehicle 2006-2009 as well as the similar Chevrolet equinox 2005-2009 are all effected, since they all share many common components.

- Milford, MI, USA

I have had multiple problems with my ignition and it stripping twice within a year. I have also had to change the ignition fuse multiple times within the last three months. The most recent incident happened this morning while driving at about 45 mph my truck completely shut off. I was lucky to have a bystander get out of their vehicle and push my truck to the side of the road. In the middle of the person moving my vehicle, it automatically started back up. I'm not too sure how or why this has happened. There are no visible warning signals. This happened to me last week as well. Once I start the truck up it runs fine and then just shuts off and after a couple of minutes, it starts back up automatically. This is an extremely dangerous defect. I really hope GM or Pontiac looks into this issue... there are multiple complaints with the same issues that I have been having. I believe this is sad that as many complaints that have been issued about this vehicle, that there is not yet a recall on it.

- Spring, TX, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate the vehicle would not move. The contact also indicated that on several occasions while driving at speeds above 45 mph the vehicle would suddenly stall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the defect. The contact also indicated that while operating the heater or air conditioner a mist was coming from the vents leaving a residue inside the cabin. The dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of failure. The contact also indicated that the drivers side heated seat was extremely hot to the touch and a electrical burning odor was present. The defrost malfunctioned which created a visibility hazard. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 85000.

- Lansing, MI, USA

When stopping vehicle and attempting to exit, the key gets stuck in ignition after turning vehicle off. I have to wiggle key in order to release from ignition. Turning steering wheel does nothing to help the situation. I am worried about possibly breaking key while trying to release it.

- Durham, NC, USA

Car will start fine and run between the 1 and 2 section of RPM gauge.after 10-15 min. Of operation car will die suddenly no sputtering and electronics seem to still work (radio, flashers, headlights, dash lights), must coast to side of road before being plowed into. Check engine light came on. Took into local mechanic said the catalytic converter code was on and that they "blew it out", light shut off Torrent ran fine for 1 day. Repeated process is of dying is now ongoing, car will either die or stall (feels like a downshift), then blow out a cloud of black smoke and keep running if engine does not die, also RPM's reduce to the 0 - 1 section of gauge rather then the normal 1-2 section like when I bought it. 2 mechanics could not find the problem after checking 2 sensor's, fuel pump and fuse box. Problem still not resolved....

- Glendale Heights, IL, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated that while entering a garage, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after approximately 5 minutes and the vehicle operated normally. The failure recurred on another occasion when the contact was entering a driveway with the illumination of the check engine warning light. Additionally, the key would sporadically fail to enter the ignition switch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 81,900. Updated 4/28/14 the dealer stated the ECM needs to be replaced. No repairs have been made.

- Westminster , MD, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the steering wheel became inoperable. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized dealer; who advised that the power steering module and control module would need replacing. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, who replaced the ignition lock cylinder, key and recoded the lock cylinder. After the repairs to the ignition, the key would not immediately start the vehicle. This failure was recurring. The dealer then advised the contact to replace the steering column modular assembly. The vehicle was not further repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 78,000.

- Richmond, VA, USA

Driving approx. 45 mph down 4 lane highway in the left lane. Engine stopped and lost all steering & braking control. Able to coast to a ditch on side of the road. Turned the vehicle to off position in ignition switch then attempted to restart vehicle. After 3-4 cranking attempts, car started. Went straight to nearest dealership. Service department stated that there was nothing wrong because the check engine light was not on. Second occasion- driving approx. 25 mph down 2 lane road. Began to slow down to turn left- engine stopped and lost all steering & braking control. Able to coast to side of the road. Turned the vehicle to off position in ignition switch then attempted to restart vehicle. Car started after several attempts. Went to nearest service store and once again was told that nothing appeared to be wrong because there were no lights on. Takes multiple cranking attempts to start the vehicle on a daily basis. No pattern to when. Could be in the am, pm, middle of the day, hot, cold, warm, raining, snowing, sunny, cloudy.

- Rock Hill, SC, USA

While driving 55mph on a trip the heat just stopped blowing. As since, this weather has been -20 and -25 below and I have no defrost, heat. I went to a certified mechanic only to find out the heat/air/door is broke. Cost of repairs $1200 to $1,500 it is an all day job. The dash and all components will have to be removed and put back on. Needless to say with this winter being one of the coldest I understand and can feel what others are going through that has this same problem... and I have to bundle just to go to work. I work an hour away and after finding this is a huge problem !!!! I think that there should be money given to the ones that needs this fixed.

- Whitley, KY, USA

On November 15, 2013 I was driving my vehicle and smoke started coming from up under the hood. I pulled over and raised the hood and the electrical wires to the electrical box was on fire. I cut off the vehicle and sat for a minute and the automatic starter just kept starting the car by itself. I got in the vehicle and tried to start the vehicle with the key in the ignition and when I stepped on the brake it tried to start without me turning the key over. I got back out the vehicle and it continued to automatically start by itself until the battery ran dead. On November 18, 2013 I had a mechanic look at the vehicle and he stated that the electrical system had burned up.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

I am totally outraged finding out that GM placed a non safe part on this truck that I bought brand new. It will cost $1000 even after keeping this truck maintenance free, trouble free from regular maintenance at the deliver that I purchased it from. I am very upset that this part was not recalled as the part costs between $22-100.00 while the labor because of where it is will cost up to $1000 at the dealer I purchased it from and get regular maintenance check ups with. I totally agree with all of the consumers on here: The actuator that operates the heater blend door - overextends and breaks the heater blend door. This causes the heater to not work at all. The actuators are defective and the heater doors are defective because they break due to a manufacturers defect. If the heat doesn't work the windows won't defrost so this is a visibility hazard. I also listed it as an electrical and unknown hazard.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

Purchased vehicle used on 12/06/2006 with 9,968 miles. Replaced entire engine ($5,000) on 03/27/2009 due to issues with the cylinder head gasket (was told the vehicle was no longer under warranty). Mileage at that time was 84,625. In approximately 2009 the passenger side window started going up and down spontaneously. My dog had her head out of the window and it spontaneously closed on her head, restricting her airway. The passenger side door was ripped apart and wiring was replaced. The window worked correctly for about 2 years and then in 2011, the window stopped working entirely. Have had 3 wheel bearings replaced (one twice). In January/February of 2013, the ignition switch and fuse center had to be replaced. Mechanics advised that the fuse center/panel was on "national back order" with no known available date. They repaired it. Total cost paid for that repair was over $335.87. Mileage at that time was 171827 on April 12th the heater stopped working as I was driving. The fan still blows but only cold air. The hoses from the coolant tank heat up when the car is running. Known problem with this make/model. According to similar complaints filed the entire dash will need to be dismantled to fix the blend door/actuator. Known defective part.

- Eau Claire, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Pontiac Torrent. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the driver seat wires melted through the seat without warning. The contact sustained a third degree burn on her lower back. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 126,000.

- Center Rutland, VT, USA

I started my Torrent just like any morning, the heater ran for maybe 10 minutes then just stopped. It will not blow out any kind of air (hot or cold). Being winter, cold and frosty, this is a severe safety issue. With no defroster it is very hard to see, and its very cold. It costs around 1200 dollars to get it fixed. Even if it is fixed I as told the way that they made the Torrent that it will just break again. I do not have that kind of cash just laying around. It should be recalled but GM is to cheap. This is not the first time I have heard of this happening. I drive along ways and its dangerous not being able to see.

- Cananadaigua, NY, USA

The heater and the defroster stopped working. I found that there are a lot of people experiencing this problem. This is a safety issue during the winter time because the defrost does not work. Everyone online says the repair is around $1200 because of how hard it is to get to the part. Please issue a recall!

- San Antonio, TX, USA

The actuator that operates the heater blend door - overextends and breaks the heater blend door. This causes the heater to not work at all. The actuators are defective and the heater doors are defective because they break due to a manufacturers defect. If the heat doesn't work the windows won't defrost so this is a visibility hazard. I also listed it as an electrical and unknown hazard. There are thousands of complaints out on the internet for the 2006 Pontiac Torrents & Chevy equinox's and all of them have the same problem and most of them are around the 50,000 mile mark. GM will not pay for it if it is past the warranty because they say there isn't a recall for this. These 2 parts should be recalled because it is a hazard to drive your vehicle if you can't defrost your windows. It is approximately $900-$1200 to fix because they need to take apart the entire dash board to get at the actuator and the blend door. GM should stand behind this and fix this so that people can drive safely and be able to see out their windows.

- Juneau, WI, USA

On 2 occasions my car died on me in the middle of the road while im driving with my newborn. First time I got gas. Half mile down the road car dies.they say its fuel pump. Spent 3 days at shop on third day with no work done car starts runs fine for 2 weeks with multiple gas fill ups in between. Three days ago I get gas drive 1/2 block park car, half hour later get in car start driving, try to put windows down but they wont come down. Im now 1/2 mile into my drive on busy road with my baby in the car and I barely made it off the road before being slammed into by a semi. I spent an hour in 80 degree weather in my car with my baby with no way to put windows down. I called a tow truck. By the time the tow got there my car started. I had it towed anyway for fear of having this happen again. Tow it to a dealership nothing wrong with it. So this is twice now they have found nothing. I bought this car when I had my child because I was driving a 92 Toyota and I just felt I needed something newer and more reliable but apparently I should have stuck with my Toyota it never in the time I had it broke down and it had 192,000 miles on it. If this isn't a safety issue I don't know what it is. Does it seriously have to be a fatal accident before something is done about this because it just about happened 3 days ago to an infant and myself. Please address this issue in a timely manor.

- Harmony, PA, USA

Wiring harness between door and body on drivers door suspected due to multiple components related to door not working. First failure was thought to be door switch needed replacing as dome light would not turn on chime would not sound when locking door and radio would continue to play after door closed. 5 months later the power window fails to operate. (fortunately in the up position) extended warranty purchased on vehicle, wiring harness between door and body not covered. Research shows multiple other cases of problem being identified townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F1C2eea the wiring harness is either too short or installed correctly. I wish to be sure that a replacement harness does not exhibit the same problem as it will lead to a rather toasty experience called a fire if not remedied.

- Lovettsville, VA, USA

I went through a car wash and water poured out of the reading lights and also on to the driver and passenger floors. My Torrent would not move when I put it into drive. Eventually, after about 30 minutes, it would go forward a little bit if I put the gas pedal to the floor and held it for about one minute. Every time I stopped at a stoplight, the Torrent would not move forward when I stepped on the gas - until I held the pedal down for a long time and then it would creep forward slowly. I cannot go through car washes any longer. The air conditioner and heat work intermittently - sometimes just fine, sometimes not at all - depends on the temperature outside it seems. I do not get any warm air when the defrost is on.

- Prescott, WI, USA

April 15th, 2010 our ignition wouldn't kick over. It would take more than three times to kick over. I tried conditioning the spark plug and it didn't help. (we just lived with the problem) June 2011 we had our first electrical problem with the car. The radio was the first to go in May. Then in July our A/C stopped working, and all we had left was our heat. We were able to fix the A/C, but it didn't last very long. We then lost A/C again and our radio started working in August(2011). Shortly after the radio started working we lost heat. Now we have only the radio that works. We cannot see anything because of the heat not working. The visibility is completely horrible! I have researched this issue and found that it would cost us 1,500 dollars to fix it. I can't afford that! we haven't had the car two years yet and it's stating to break down! this is a serious issue!!!

- Mountain Home Afb, ID, USA