52 of the
829 complaints filed about the Pontiac Aztek
are about the suspension —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A ROUND OBJECT FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10610945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40-45, RPMS REACHED 3000-3100. WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE RPMS REACHED 1500-1700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS REVIEWING THE INFORMATION FROM THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF REPAIRS WERE WARRANTED AND WHETHER GM WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/17/2012 *JS
NHTSA complaint #10467524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40-45, RPMS REACHED 3000-3100. WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE RPMS REACHED 1500-1700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS REVIEWING THE INFORMATION FROM THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF REPAIRS WERE WARRANTED AND WHETHER GM WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/17/2012 *JS
NHTSA complaint #10467524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT ALWAYS RESPOND AND NEEDED TO BE APPLIED REPEATEDLY IN ORDER TO FUNCTION AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE FAULTY SENSORS WHERE REPLACED; HOWEVER THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO FOUND A LEAK ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE THEN EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY DRIVING UPHILL. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASED AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PIVOTAL JOINTS IN THE REAR WHEELS WERE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED UNUSUAL TREAD WEAR AND TEAR OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES) AND 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED DUE TO MILEAGE ON VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10463281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM ON AN UNEVEN ROAD OR HIT A BUMP JUST RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SWERVES BADLY, SOMETIMES INTO THE OTHER LANE. I CALLED PONTIAC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT JUST TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROADS ALSO. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. I ADVISED THEM THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME THING & THESE PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS & IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I ADVISED PONTIAC THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A MAJOR WRECK ONE DAY & THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIABLE FOR NOT RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM & FIXING IT. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION AND THE STEERING THAT IT JUST PULLS ANY DIRECTION WHEN JUST A LITTLE BUMP..I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.......
NHTSA complaint #10459046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN APRIL 2011 ON BUMPY ROADS A GRINDING NOISE WOULD COME ON AND IT TOOK LONGER TO STOP THE CAR. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS PROBABLY THE ABS SYSTEM AND COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS, THE COMPUTER MODULE MAY BE BAD, THE SENSORS ON EACH WHEEL COULD BE BAD. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN MAY, HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON ONE WHEEL AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED $540. THEN IN JUNE THE CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING, TOOK IT IN AGAIN, WAS TOLD ANOTHER WHEEL NEEDED NEW BEARINGS $740 WITH A WARRANTY. IN AUGUST CAR STARTED THE VIBRATING AND GRINDING AGAIN, YOU CAN HEAR A VIBRATION LIKE A MOTOR OR SOMETHING COMES ON AND THEN WHEN YOU TRY TO STOP YOU HAVE TO PUSH REALLY REALLY HARD. AT THAT POINT I WENT ON LINE TO CHECK IT OUT, SEEMS LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO OWN EITHER A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK OR A 2003 BUICK RENDEVOUS ARE HAVING THESE SAME ISSUES. THE DEALERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A DEFECT IN THE CAR. ALL THE BLOGS THAT I SAW ONLINE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPACKED THE BEARINGS ON ALL WHEELS, REPLACE SENSORS AND THE HARNESS TO THE COMPUTER MODULE AND NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK AND THE DEALERS DON'T SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT ONCE AND FOR ALL. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN WORKED ON BY THE DEALER. SO FAR MY DEALER HASN'T MENTIONED THE COMPUTER SENSOR BUT I'M SURE AFTER I'VE REPLACED ALL WHEEL BEARINGS THEY WILL GET TO THAT. BOTTOM LINE IS IF ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME SAFETY ISSUE, YOUR DEPT NEEDS TO LOOK AT IT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. WE ARE KEEPING OUR CARS LONGER AND THEY SHOULD LAST WELL OVER 100,000 MILES WITH PROPER MAINTENANCE. SO NOW I HAVE A PERFECTLY GOOD CAR WITH A PERFECTLY GOOD ENGINE, BUT NO ABS BRAKING SYSTEM AND IT CAN'T SEEM TO BE FIXED!
NHTSA complaint #10425989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT REPEATEDLY EXPERIENCES FAILURE WITH THE FRONT WHEEL OF HER VEHICLE. ON DECEMBER 9, 2003, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE HUB ASSEMBLY AND WHEEL BEARING TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURES RECURRED AND WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT BECAME UPSET WITH THE DEALER AND CALLED PONTIAC TO INFORM THEM THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE REPAIR AS WELL; THEREFORE, SHE WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IT OVERHEATED AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE ANTILOCK BRAKES ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND THAT THE ANITLOCK AND INTAKE MANIFOLD AND FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONTACT BEGAN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
NHTSA complaint #10251790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10242119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10234410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM TOLD BY MY SERVICE MAN THAT MY WHEEL BEARINGS ARE GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED IN MY 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK WITH ONLY 109,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY SEVERAL SERVICE PEOPLE AND FRIENDS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH AZTEKS. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS? I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT YET, MY SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10226394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE DRIVING 1-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT AND HE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS OF APRIL 18, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE THE LUG NUTS WERE DISCOLORED AND THE WHEELS WERE HOT. HE REPLACED THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF UPDATED 05/20/08
NHTSA complaint #10224974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD BE REPLACED AT 62000. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE AGAIN 7 1/2 MONTHS LATER. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS A SELECT FEW SERIAL NUMBERS ON THE WHEEL BEARINGS THAT THEY WERE BEING REPLACED UNDER A SAFETY ALERT BUT MINE WAS NOT ONE OF THEM.. SO EVEN THOUGH I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR MINE TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10205208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS FINDING ANTIFREEZE IN MY OIL. TOOK TO THE SHOP AND HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET AND THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. ALSO HAD TO HAVE A NEW THERMOSTAT AND PVC VALVE. IT COST ALMOST $900.00. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEMS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 2 TIMES AND BRAKE SHOES 2 TIMES. ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER FIXED. NOW THE AC DOES NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW CONTROL UNIT REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. HAD TO HAVE COMPUTER COMPONENTS REPLACED BECAUSE THE BATTERY WENT BAD WITH NO NOTICE. AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO COST ME $200 THAT IS JUST FOR THE WHOLE MOTOR AND CONNECTING RODS. BECAUSE IT IS A FACTORY ONLY PART. ALL TOGETHER I HAVE PAID ALMOST $2,000.00. THE AC IS THE CONDENSER WHICH IS ANOTHER $300.00. I HAVE HAD AND LOVED GM VEHICLES FOR AWHILE. BUT THIS KIND OF THING HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM.....SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10199609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT HUB BEARINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED, BUT HAS NOT MADE THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARINGS AS PART OF THE SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE EXCEEDED 60,000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 84,000.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR WAS MADE BY DOBB'S AUTO DEALER. UPDATE 05/04/07
NHTSA complaint #10187100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK IN JUNE OF 2005 WITH 18K ON THE UNIT I DROVE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES FOR MY JOB IN ALL OF 05' AND THE BEGINNING OF 06' I HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED IN JUNE OF 06' AND THEN THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN JAN/ FEB. OF 07' THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THE VEHICLE IS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY AND IS FALLING APART / ALSO THE REAR HATCH IS FAILING THE HATCH WILL NOT OPEN PROPERLY WHEN THE BUTTON IS PUSHED OR YOU HAVE TO PULL UP ON THE HATCH WHEN YOU PUSH THE BUTTON / VERY FRUSTRATING.
NHTSA complaint #10183401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK IN OCT OF 2006, IT HAS 43K MILES. THE NEXT DAY, I NOTICED A SQUEALING NOISE WHEN I TURNED, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED IT WAS DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING "ALL WHEEL DRIVE". ABOUT 4 DAYS LATER, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I AM ON AN UNEVEN ROAD OR HIT A BUMP JUST RIGHT, THE VEHICLE SWERVES BADLY, SOMETIMES INTO THE OTHER LANE. I CALLED PONTIAC AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT JUST TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT TO OTHERS ON THE ROADS ALSO. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A DIAGNOSIS. I ADVISED THEM THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME THING & THESE PEOPLE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS & IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I ADVISED PONTIAC THAT THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A MAJOR WRECK ONE DAY & THEY ARE GOING TO BE LIABLE FOR NOT RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM & FIXING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10176774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN (2) AZTEK'S, A 2002 AND A 2004. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN SEPT 06 STATING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH FRONT BEARINGS WEARING PREMATURELY ON 2002 AZTEK'S. THE LETTER STATED THAT THEY WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE BEARINGS WITHIN (5) YEARS OF DATE OF PURCHASE OR 60,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. SINCE MY 2002 AZTEK IS LOCATED AT MY VACATION HOME, IT HAS ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT EXHIBITED THE WORN BEARING SYMPTOMS. HOWEVER, MY 2004 AZTEK DID HAVE THE BEARING ISSUE AT 48,000 MILES. I CALLED PONTIAC AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE EXPENSE BECAUSE IT IS NOT WITHIN THE VIN RANGE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY EXPECTED THE RECALL TO BE EXPANDED TO LATER MODEL AZTEKS AND TO KEEP MY RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT AT A LATER DATE. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO RECOUP MY MONEY TO NO AVAIL. BEWARE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YEAR AZTEK YOU HAVE, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY EXPERIENCE THE PREMATURE BEARING WEAR BEFORE 50,000 MILES. MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS YOU EXPERIENCE THE SYMPTOMS, HUM GROWL OR GRINDING COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. TALKING WITH PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE IS A JOKE. THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT LOSING A CUSTOMER. NO WONDER THE AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS KEEP LOSING MARKET SHARE.
NHTSA complaint #10175571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.