Pontiac Aztek Complaints
566 consumer complaints on file.
- #10243502September 26, 2008STEERING
2003 PONTIAC AZTEC, 75,000 MILES WITH NO SYMPTOMS BLEW TIE ROD CAUSING CAR TO SWERVE DUE TO LACK OF BRAKES AND STEERING AND FLIPPED INTO RAVINE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242500September 16, 2008STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK AND THERE'S A TICKING NOISE IN THE MOTOR AND THE OIL IS GOOD AND ALL THE OTHER FLUIDS ARE GOOD. MY A/C STOP WORKING AND THE BACK HATCH DOESN'T UNLOCK SOMETIMES AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY FOR ABOUT 15MINS OR LONGER FOR IT TO WORK , CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT . *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242318September 15, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I NOTICE THE SMELL OF GAS ON MY DRIVE WAY, AFTER A FEW DAYS I NOTICE IT WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED IT WOULD ONLY DO IT WHEN I PARKED FORWARD (SO THE CARS FRONT END WAS INCLINED) I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM THE CLAMP, I TIGHTEN THE CLAMED. DID NOT WORK. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND SAID IT WAS THE SEAL AROUND THE TANK BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT WITH A PATCH. WE NOTICED THIS ABOUT A FEW DAYS AGO AND ARE WAITING TO SEE IF A RECALL LETTER WE RECEIVED WAS THE ONE FOR THE GAS TANK. CROSS OUR FINGERS! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242118September 14, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FAILURE OF INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS INDICATED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND SHAKING OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT OF LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. REPLACEMENT COST WAS $1200. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242119September 14, 2008SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
RATTLING AND GRINDING SOUND WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OCCURRED OVER 1-MONTH PERIOD. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. COST OF REPLACEMENT WAS $600. *TR SIX MONTHS LATER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. COST OF REPLACEMENT WAS $600. MECHANIC STATED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10242123September 14, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE CODE WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. MECHANIC DE-ACTIVATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER 2 DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD CODE CHECKED. SAME ISSUE WITH FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. DEALER STATED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. DEALER CHECKED WITH MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. DEALER REMOVED CONNECTOR AT BODY PASS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DE-ACTIVATED. AFTER 1 WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS CONSISTENCY APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, ALL GAGE LIGHTS WILL FLASH FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN GO OUT. A/C STOPPED WORKING AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. STEERING WHEEL RADIO VOLUME BUTTON SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. HAVE ALREADY PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2007 WITH 57,000 MILES. SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADE-IN AS THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. HAVE SPENT HALF THE PURCHASE PRICE IN REPAIRS WITHIN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASE. AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET FOR AZTEK PROBLEMS, HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING SAME ISSUES I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF THESE ARE COMMON ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL, WHY IS THERE NO MANUFACTURER BULLETIN TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241906September 11, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR STARTED TO RUN HOT AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE, BUT THE FLUID WASN'T HOT. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, HOSES, A COOLING SENSOR, AND SOME OTHER THINGS. WHEN NONE OF THAT WORKED, WE TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP AND THEY TOLD US WE NEED HEAD GASKETS. WE HAVE A 2001 AZTEK AND WHEN WE GOT THE CAR IN 2004, THE GASKETS BLEW BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE JOB. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND GIVE US ALL SOME RELIABLE CARS AND TRUCKS! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10241672September 10, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AZTEK IS 5 YRS OLD 70,000 MILES. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STALLING AFTER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS (WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW!) COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM! 9/4/08 WAS DRIVING LATE FROM A GAME AND BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. HAD DIAGNOSTIC DONE - MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 6. TOOK IT TO DEALER - COSTING ME $4000 TO FIX! NEEDS 2 NEW HEADS!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10238706August 18, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND JUST THE GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE. LATER, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT THERE WERE BELL-LIKE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $3,000. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $7,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10237764August 11, 2008UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TIRE INFLATION INFORMATION THAT IS FOUND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HAS WORN AWAY THE STICKER IS INTACK BUT THE INFORMATION IS GONE. THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY FOUND IN THIS LOCATION TO REPLACE THIS STICKER WOULD COST $22.45 AND THE OTHER TIRE INFORMATION STICKER ISN'T AVAILABLE. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE LISTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ALSO TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF OVER INFLATION AND UNDERINFLATION OF TIRES AND REDUCE THE RISK OF A TIRE FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT STICKERS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10237585August 10, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH OUR REAR HATCH OPENING PROPERLY SINCE WE PURCHASED THIS AZTEC NEW IN 2000. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, THE PROBLEM DEVELOPED INTO NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH WITH THE KEY FOB, DASH RELEASE BUTTON AND THE MOST FRUSTRATING AS WELL AS DANGEROUS ASPECT IS IT WOULD NOT OPEN EVEN BY USING THE VEHICLE KEYS. IT HAS NOW INCREASED TO THE POINT THAT THE CARS ALARM SYSTEM WILL GO OFF ON ITS OWN, THE AIR CONDITIONER QUITS WORKING, THE REMOTE ENTRY DOOR SYSTEM BECOMES USELESS AND ENTIRE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK SYSTEM FAILS. SINCE ONLY THE TWO FRONT DOORS WILL OPEN WITH THE VEHICLE KEY AND WE ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS IN THE REAR, THIS HAS BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET, WE FOUND THAT IF WE PULLED THE FUSE THAT CONTROLLED THE VEHICLES COMPUTER MODULE, CALLED THE BCM, THE MODULE WOULD RESET ITSELF AND IT WOULD TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. ESTIMATES TO FIX THIS BY THE DEALER ARE UPWARDS OF $ 700.00 AND HE DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEMS. AN AC DELCO BRANDED BCM REPLACEMENT ON THE INTERNET CAN BE PURCHASE FOR LESS THAN $ 170.00. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS PRODUCT OR AT LEAST OFFER TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT A REASONABLE COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10237392August 7, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
MY TAILGATE BEGAN NOT OPENING AND THEN ALL OF MY ELECTRIC PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT, WINDOWS LOCKED UP, RADIO LOCKED, SECURITY LIGHT ON. I AM TOLD THAT THE WIRE HARNESS IN THE DASH WENT BAD AND THERE WAS A COST OF OVER $400 TO REPAIR THE WIRING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10236225July 29, 2008STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT BEGAN WITH MY REAR HATCH NOT WORKING ON MY 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. THEN THE IGNITION BEGAN STICKING AND CULMINATED WITH THE ALARM GOING OFF (WHILE DRIVING) AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. WHEN THIS OCCURS, ALL GAUGES ARE SHUT DOWN, THE DOORS ARE DISABLED, HEADLIGHTS (ALL LIGHTS) ARE DISABLED. I'VE LOOKED ONLINE AND TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT WILL COST BETWEEN $400-$500 TO REPAIR (GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM). THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE NON-FUNCTIONING LIGHTS, GAUGES AND DOORS/WINDOWS WOULD CERTAINLY BE A SAFETY ISSUE. I DO LIKE TO CAR, BUT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM -- ONE WHICH I CAN ILL AFFORD TO FIX RIGHT NOW. WE ARE JUST STRUGGLING TO KEEP A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10236258July 29, 2008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2001 PONTIAC AZTEK I HAVE REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT AT QUITE AND EXPENSE AND NOW THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4 L FROM GM AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN RECALLED OR FIXED TO THE CONSUMERS BEHALF?I HAVE READ THAT IT WAS BLAMED ON THE DEX-COOL COOLANT THAT GM USED FROM MID 90'5- PRESENT IF THAT'S THE CASE WHY ISN'T GM HELD RESPONSIBLE IF THEY KNOW THEIR COOLANT IS THE CAUSE OF GASKET BREAKDOWN? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10236121July 28, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ATTEMPTED TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CUPHOLDER AS INSTRUCTED. SHE COULD NOT DO SO ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND WENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE INSTEAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE LOCK AND WAS ON HER WAY BACK TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEN THE VEHICLE KNOCKED HER DOWN. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE VEHICLE MADE AN L AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSED. UPDATED 08/27/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/27/08. *JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10235692July 24, 2008ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK I CANNOT DRIVE, WE BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. 3 MOS. IN SHOP, TECHNICIAN CALLED PONTIAC, DEALERSHIPS, SEARCHED ONLINE TRYING TO ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. I STUMBLED ON WWW.EDMUNDS.COM, WAS STUNNED BY THE #'S OF AZTEKS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS LEADING TO FAILURE OF THE BCM-BACK HATCH WON'T OPEN-KEY NOR BUTTON. EVENTUALLY IT BEGINS WORKING AGAIN, BUT THE HATCH POPS OPEN RANDOMLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE DOOR LOCKS START TURNING ON AND OFF, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS WARM AIR, THE FAN WON'T WORK. ALL WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. ALSO, THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK, THE WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALTERNATELY FLASHES WITH A SECURITY WARNING, THE ODOMETER QUITS WORKING. WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR OFF, ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE BATTERY IS DRAINED. NONE OF THE DASHBOARD CONTROLS WORK, THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND DISENGAGE THE OTHER ELECTRONICS IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. TAKING IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS PRODUCES NO RESULTS, THERE IS NO READING FROM THE COMPUTER THAT WILL TELL A TECHNICIAN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. HAVING THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY ISSUE, A CHILD COULD OPEN THE BACK DOORS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE INABILITY TO LOCK THE CAR IS A SAFETY RISK TO ALL, THE BACK HATCH OPENING WHILE IN MOTION RANDOMLY IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE AZTEK IS TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH WITH A KEY REQUIRES POWER TO THAT PARTICULAR LOCK, IF THE LOCK ISN'T GETTING POWER FROM THE BATTERY, IT WILL NOT OPEN. I THINK THERE ARE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES THAT PONTIAC SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. YOU CAN READ THE NUMBER OF POSTS ON THE EDMUNDS.COM WEBSITE...THIS IS ONLY ONE SITE, I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY OTHERS. THERE IS A WINDSHIELD WIPER ISSUE, THEY WILL QUIT WORKING, GET TANGLED DURING A HEAVY SNOW OR RAIN STORM. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10235432July 23, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS TOLD AT MY LOCAL GARAGE ON A RECENT SERVICE VISIT ABOUT ABS BRAKES THAT THE ABS BRAKES ON SOME TRUCKS IN CANADA HAVE RECENTLY BEEN RECALLED? WELL, I HAVE A 2002 P. AZTEC WITH AN ABS PROBLEM. THIS INDIVIDUALS SON "ALSO" HAD A ABS PROBLEM WITH HIS OWN VEHICLE. MY QUESTION IS ARE THERE ANY RECALLS ON AZTEC ABS BRAKE SENSORS? IF NOT, IT SOUNDS LIKE GM SHOULD MAKE ONE. THIS IS A SERIOUS STOPPING ISSUE! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10235045July 20, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SHIFTED TO ANY GEAR WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING. THE INVERSE OF THIS HAS BEEN TRYING TO SHIFT IN TO PART AND THE IT WILL NOT GO !. TURNING THE ENGINE OFF HAD NO EFFECT ON THIS CONDITION AND IT HAD TO BE LEFT IN GEAR. OF COURSE THE LIGHTS DON'T GO OFF AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE "CHOCKED" AND THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED. THE DATE CAN BE DISREGARDED AS THIS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10234410July 15, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION
THE PROBLEM BEGAN WITH NOISY BRAKES. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN I WENT TO TURN A CORNER THE BRAKES AND TIRES LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT TURN. I ALMOST HIT SEVERAL VEHICLES WHILE I WAS TRYING TO GET THIS REPAIRED. WHEN HOOKED TO THE COMPUTER IT WOULD NOT THROW ANYTHING TELLING THE COMPUTER WHAT WAS WRONG. WHEN IT GOT WORSE IT FINALLY THREW A CODE TO THE COMPUTER AND SAID ITS THE WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH COSTS $250 PER TIRE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX ALL 4 TIRES SO I HAVE ONLY REPAIRED 2 AT THIS TIME. HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. RECALL OR REIMBURSE ME MY $$ FOR THE REPAIRS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE!!!! THIS PROBLEM BEGAN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE LEFT FRONT HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND IS DEFECTIVE AGAIN!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10232254June 25, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THREE WEEKS LATER, SHE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED HER THAT SHE WAS SENT THE NOTICE IN ERROR; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM WAS ALEAKING FULE LINE GOING INTO THE FUEL FILTER. UPDATED 07/15/08.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0