129 of the
829 complaints filed about the Pontiac Aztek
are about the fuel system —
16% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2001.
Since we first bought the car in 2005, whenever the fuel tank is filled to 3/4 or higher the car starts to smell of fuel fumes. If it is filled up full to the top, it literally spills fuel onto the ground (about 16oz). I called GM and they told me to bring it to the dealership. The dealership looked at it and determined that it is a bad weld on the fuel tank filler neck and also confirmed that the car is exhibiting the same symptoms as listed in multiple safety recalls regarding this fuel tank. The vin of this vehicle is within the range of safety recall bulletin number 06230, and is exhibiting the exact issues mentioned in that bulletin, but GM is saying that the specific vin is not included and that I need to contact NHTSA to have my vin added before they will fix it. The car only has 130,000 miles on it and this has been an issue for over 17 years. The dealership chat agent also told me to fill the car up to the top before bringing it in even though I told them that it's dangerous and will spill fuel. Now the vehicle is stuck at the dealership because they are saying that it's too dangerous to drive but they can't fix it until this vin is included in the recall by NHTSA. Upon further inspection of carcomplaints.com this appears to effect a lot more of these vehicles than the amount listed in the recall bulletin. I am certain that there are many vehicles driving around like mine that are posing a risk to the public. The car smells like an open gas can and seems like if someone were to smoke a cigarette in front of it that it would explode. This is dangerous. The crack is on top of the tank which is a place I could not have possibly caused the crack, this is 100% a manufacturing issue and my vehicle should have been included in this recall. I need my car back but can't risk my family in it until it is fixed. The dealership inspected it and GM told me to make this report.
NHTSA complaint #11480288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS FROM MY CAR FOR YEARS BUT JUST NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET IT LOOKED AT. I EVEN CALLED ABOUT RECALLS CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THROUGH RESEARCH IN 2015 BUT WAS TOLD THEY HAD BEEN CLOSED SO I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN IF IT WAS PREVIOUSLY COVERED UNDER RECALL. I NO LONGER FILL MY TANK WITH GAS BECAUSE THERE IS A LEAK. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE THAT I NEED A NEW FUEL TANK, AND FUEL LEVER SENSOR AND SENDER. ALSO, HAVE OIL LEAKS IN 2 PLACES, THEY TELL ME I NEED UPPER & LOWER INTAKE GASKETS. AS WELL AS VALVE COVER GASKETS & OIL PUMP DRIVE O-RING REPLACED AND OIL PAN GASKET REPLACED. ALSO, NEEDS WATER PUMP AND DRIVE BELT REPLACED.I ALSO FOR THE PAST 3 OR SO YEARS HAVE TO KEEP A PEN OR PENCIL IN MY CAR TO INSERT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE MY KEY .
NHTSA complaint #11322711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUT 3 WEEKS AGO CAR JUST KEEP ACTING UP HAD IT FOR ONE YEAR CANT READ CODES ON CAR KEEP OVERHEATING REPLACED RADIATOR CVL AXLE BRAKES OIL CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAR JUST DECIDED TO NOT PASS 50MPH BE DRIVEABLE ONE DAY DRIVING IT WENT TO A STOP SIGN BRAKE CAR CUT OFF I SEE CHECK GAUGES COME ON SERVICE LIGHT ON CANT READ CODES TO FIND OUT ANYTHING I THINK THE WIRING IS MESS UP REPLACED STARTED AS WELL JUST TO MUCH ONLY HAD IT FOR A 1AND A HALF
NHTSA complaint #11209417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL"" STALLS WHEN I'M DRIVING OR WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP IT WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WHEN I START IT UP AND THROUGHOUT THE RIDE IS SHAKES AND VIBRATES SOMETIMES IT WON'T START SOMETIMES IT'LL START RIGHT AWAY I DON'T REPLACE SPARK PLUGS COILS OIL CHANGED I'M STILL DOING THE SAME THING EVERY PLACE I GO SAYING THE SAME THING YOUR SAYS POSSIBLE MISFIRES CYLINDER 5 FUEL AND C2O OXYGEN SIMPSON AND I ALSO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER STILL NO DIFFERENT STILL WRITES THE SAME WAY RUNS HOT LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING NO WATER TO THE ENGINE
NHTSA complaint #11141535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR TURN OFF ON MY CHILDREN AND I ON THE HIGHWAY THANK GOD WE WAS ABLE TO COAST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT MY IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT OUTTA NO WHERE NOT ONLY THAT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND FUEL LINE EXHAUSTED SYSTEM SOMETHING WRONG ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. WITH THAT BEING SAID I'M GREAT MY CHILDREN WAS NOT HURT DOING THIS ORDEAL. I LEARNED THAT THESE CARS HAVE FEW COMPLAINTS. BUT DO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND VACUUM HOW'S EXHAUSTED. JUST GOT THE CAR I MARCH AND FOUND OUT BOUT THIS RECALL I'M SO DISAPPOINTED SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR RIGHT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11104927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECENTLY BORROWED MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S VEHICLE. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOME I PARKED IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE. LATER, WHEN MY DAUGHTER CAME HOME SHE ASKED WHY IT SMELLED LIKE GAS. I WENT TO CHECK AND UPON ENTERING THE LAUNDRY AREA (DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE GARAGE VIA ACCESS TO THE HOUSE) I NOTICED THE SMELL. I INSPECTED THE GARAGE AND THOUGHT, PERHAPS, THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM A WEED WACKER. LATER, I WENT TO CHECK ON SOME LAUNDRY AND THE GAS SMELL WAS EVEN WORSE. I OPENED THE DOOR TO ACCESS THE GARAGE AND THEN RECALLED THE WEED WACKER WAS ACTUALLY BROKEN AND WAS ONLY THERE TO BE DISCARDED IN THE TRASH NEXT PICKUP. I WAS CONCERNED AND WENT AND WOKE MY HUSBAND SAYING I SMELLED OVER-POWERING GAS SMELL AND TO PLEASE COME CHECK. HE INDICATED HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE HIS MOM'S CAR. HE CAME DOWN, SMELLED THE GAS TOO, AND WE PULLED THE CAR OUT AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND LEFT THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN FOR A BIT. THE SMELL WENT AWAY. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HAS BEEN ILL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT PREVIOUSLY SHE WOULD COMPLAIN OF HER GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THAT SAID, I INSPECTED BOTH THE GARAGE AND THE DRIVEWAY OR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. WHEN I DID MOVE THE CAR I DID SMELL GAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR BUT NOT NEARLY AS STRONG AS WHEN IT WAS ENCLOSED INSIDE THE ATTACHED GARAGE. MY IN-LAWS KEEP THIS VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY SO THE CHANCE OF THEM SMELLING THE ISSUE AND THINKING ANYTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WAS SLIM. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR AND WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS EVALUATED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (MY OPINION BY A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC)
NHTSA complaint #11089660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY AZREK SHUTTING OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND NOW IT WINT EVEN START. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND VAPOR SENSOR DUE TO IT NOT GETTING ANY FUEL PRESSURE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DONE DUE TO MY VIN NOT BEING ACNOWLEGED WITH THE RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11067057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" ON MY CAR THE ELECTRONIC IS NOT WORKING AND HASN'T BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND WON'T GO BACK OFF. AND THE GAS TANK IS NOT WORKING RIGHT, I CAN'T GET GAS INTO MY TANK , IT DOES GO IN BUT I HAVE TO KEEP TRYING BECAUSE IT POPS OUT AND DON'T LET ME PUT GAS IN IT.
NHTSA complaint #11030407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GM HAS ISSUED A SAFETY BULLETIN IN REGARDS TO A BROKEN FUEL TANK THAT COULD CAUSE EXPLOSIONS, OR FIRE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM TO PERFORM THE REPAIR BUT THEY ARE REFUSING. THE PROBLEM IS FOR ALL YEARS OF THE PONTIAC AZTEK AND BUICK RENDEZVOUS. I HAVE A LEAK FROM THIS LOCATION, THE FUEL INLET, AND AM NEARLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT AT A COST OF OVER 2000 DOLLARS, GM IS ALSO INFLATING THE COST BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10945461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FOR 45 MINUTES AND WHEN GOT HOME NOTICE THERE WAS GAS COMING FROM MY PONTIAC AZTEC. DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICE THERE'S A RECALL. CALL BUICK AND THEY TOLD ME MY VIN IS NOT COVER UNDER THE RECALL. REALLY?
NHTSA complaint #10927918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. AFTER RE-FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTIFIED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TO TRY TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10908517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING FUEL FASTER THAN USUAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL TANK LINES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
NHTSA complaint #10905053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. WHEN THERE WAS HALF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO LEAK PRESENT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL, THERE WAS A PROGRESSING LEAK. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND STRONG FUEL FUMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 01/26/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10882907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL ODORS AND LEAKS BY THE FUEL TANK INLET. CONSUMERS INTERNET SEARCH FOUND AN EXPIRED RECALL BULLETIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE, REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FUEL SMELL WAS STRONGER AFTER HE FILLED UP.
NHTSA complaint #10870973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 05/06/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE WHENEVER THE IT WAS FILLED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 11/1/2017
NHTSA complaint #10845724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SMELL OF GAS, CHANGING THE FUEL PUMP MORE THAN ONCE. PROBLEM READING THE LEVEL OF GAS. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING WHEN IT START SHAKING AND STOP(2ND TIME). THE VEHICLE WAS PARK AND COULD NOT START(1ST TIME).
NHTSA complaint #10807754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN IGNITION, STEERING COLUMN GETS STUCK.FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYING ALONG WITH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. FUEL PUMP KEEPS GOING OUT REPLACED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10789037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CORRODED AND LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA complaint #10732076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I CAN SMELL A GAS LEAK COMING FROM MY AZTEC. I DO KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM AND IT WAS NEVER HONORED BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE AT THAT TIME. THERE IS NOW A LEAK AS WELL AS A MAJOR SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM IT. I DID CALL ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR IT EVEN THOU IT WAS NEVER REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. IT IS GOING TO COST ME ABOUT $1500 TO HAVE IT REPLACE....I DO BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE HONOR. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AND SPOKE WITH THE OWNERS. AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT EVEN THOU THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10730947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT FUEL WAS SPILLING ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WELD OF THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V454000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. UPDATED 09/14/15
NHTSA complaint #10724672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.