2003 Pontiac Aztek Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: August 1, 2006 · Filed: August 19, 2022

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.

Incident: September 20, 2018 · Filed: October 20, 2018

"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

Incident: August 8, 2018 · Filed: September 3, 2018

FIREWALL LEAKS A LOT OF WATER INTO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREAS. THE WATER LEAKING IN CAUSES THOSE INTERIOR AREAS TO BECOME SOAKING WET AND DANGEROUS (FUSE BOX LOCATED WHERE WATER IS LEAKING), ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS (EVEN WET DUE IN THE MORNING CAN CAUSE WATER TO LEAK INTO THE FRONT CABIN AREA). VEHICLE STATIONARY AND EITHER IN A PARKING LOT OR SIDE STREET. I WILL TAKE PICTURES/VIDEO THE NEXT TIME IT OCCURS AND UPLOAD THEM AS DESCRIBED BELOW.

Incident: April 22, 2018 · Filed: April 23, 2018

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)

Incident: February 1, 2018 · Filed: February 5, 2018

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

Incident: February 10, 2017 · Filed: March 17, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

Incident: January 21, 2017 · Filed: January 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATION PIPE CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO ROT. THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 03/01/17*LJ *CN

Incident: September 1, 2016 · Filed: September 21, 2016

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.

Incident: February 2, 2015 · Filed: July 6, 2016

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 *JS

Incident: November 30, 2015 · Filed: December 1, 2015

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).