Page 5 of 5 · complaints 201–216 of 216

2001 Pontiac Aztek complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Apr 11, 2002OR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR AND REAR HATCH, CONSUMER WANTS DEALER TO BUY VEHICLE BACK. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 9, 2002AL

HAD JUST STARTED VEHICLE WHEN ABS LIGHT AND CHIMES SOUNDED. THIS WAS AN INDICATION ABS WAS NOT WORKING. DEALER INFORMED VEHICLE WAS OKAY TO DRIVE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES.*AK ABS STILL DO NOT WORK, DEALER FOUND DEFECTIVE BCM, ALSO REPLACED BLOWN RIGHT TURN BLINKER BULB AND REPLACED RIGHT REAR STOP LAMP BULB. *TT

Seats1 injured
Filed Mar 25, 2002OK

CAR WAS HIT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE (ABOUT THE MIDDLE)THE CAR THEN ROLLED OVER--WHEN EVERYTHING STOPPED ONE OF THE SEATS WAS HANGING BY THE SEATBELT--THE ONLY AIR BAG THAT WENT OUT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE--I DON'T BELIEVE THE CAR SHOULD HAVE ROLLED OVER SO EASILY

Air Bags
Filed Feb 21, 2002DE

HORN STOPPED WORKING, DEALER REPLACED AIRBAG MODULE 3 TIMES IN A 2 MONTH PERIOD. PROBLEM KEPT REOCCURRING.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 19, 2002TX

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, RESULTING IN AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING, AND CAUSING MINOR BODY INJURIES.*AK

Air Bags
Filed Feb 13, 2002OH

CONSUMER STATES ON GOING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG SENOR LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND STAYING ON WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASION AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. NLM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 29, 2002WA

ON 01/05/2002 I REAR-ENDED A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE GOING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. UPON IMPACT, MY AIRBAGS DID "NOT" DEPLOY AND MY SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD ME FROM HITTIG THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. I HAD REPORTED TO THE DEALER THAT I DIDN'T THINK THE SEATBELTS IN THE FRONT WERE WORKING CORRECTLY NOT MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. HE CONVINCED ME THAT THESE WERE NEWER SEATBELTS THAT DO NOT REACT AS SENSITIVE AS THE OLDER MODEL VEHICLES. I ENDED UP BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH CHEST CONTUSIONS, LEG CONTUSTIONS AND CERVICAL STRAIN. I HAVE SEARCHED YOUR SIGHT AND FOUND THAT THE 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK HAS REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING DUE TO NO EXCELERANT OR DEPLOYING TOO HARD DUE TO EXESSIVE EXCELERANT. I FEEL THAT I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW AND FEEL THAT THE THREAT TO OTHER OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES IS VERY REAL AND VERY DANGEROUS. *AK,

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Jan 16, 2002TX

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT BRAKES WERE WARPED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE DRUM WAS WARPED AND RUST CHIPS WERE FALLING OFF OUTSIDE OF THE DRUMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE AIRBAG AND SHE WAS NEVER INFORMED, CONSUMER HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 05-OCT-2001 FROM THE REAR IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB

Tires
Filed Nov 7, 2001NY

I HIT A POTHOLE AT 25 MPH AND WITHIN 1/2 MILE THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. ON INSPECTION, THE TIRE HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE A SLASH MARK ON THE SIDEWALL, PROCEEDING INTO THE TREAD. I TOOK THE TIRE TO DANIELS PONTIAC IN GENEVA NY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A ROADHAZARD PROBLEM, SO THERE WOULD BE NO COVERAGE. IN ADDITION, THERE IS A BACKORDER ON THIS TIRE SO IT MAY TAKE UP TO A WEEK TO GET A NEW TIRE. I AM FORCED TO RIDE ON THE DONUT SPARE TIRE IN THE MEANTIME. I CONTACTED A FIRESTONE REP. DOUG HILL WHO WOULD ONLY OFFER TO HAVE THE TIRE PICKED UP AND AFTER INSPECTION WILL COVER NO MORE THAN 50% FOR THE COST OF THE TIRE. AT THIS POINT, THE MONEY IS THE LEAST OF MY CONCERN FOR ONE TIRE. AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS TIRE, ON BOTH THE NHTSA SITE AND OTHER WEBSITES, I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY DRIVING WITH THESE TIRES. MR. HILL STATED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE TIRES, HENCE FIRESTONE WILL NOT COVER ANYTHING BEYONE 50% FOR THIS ONE TIRE. I HOPE THAT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF THIS TIRE MODEL WILL BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY, AS THERE IS AN OBVIOUS PATTERN OF PROBLEMS WITH IT. OBVIOUSLY FIRESTONE WILL NOT ADMIT TO ANY CULPABILITY, NOR TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TIRE, UNLESS FORCED TO DO SO. *AK (TIRESIZE: 215/70R/16)

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Oct 29, 2001OK

BACK DOOR ON PASSENGER SIDE IS TIED INTO BACK WHEEL WELD. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH BACK DOORS SHUT INTO BACK WHEEL WELLS, MUD FROZE ON THE WHEEL WELLS AND KEPT THE BACK DOORS FROM OPENING, CONSUMER HAD TO CHIP OFF THE MUD IN ORDER TO OPEN THE BACK DOORS. *JB

Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Filed Oct 16, 2001OH

I AM VERY DISTURBED BY THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS THE 2ND "NEW" CAR I HAVE BOUGHT FROM TOM PEDENS AND IT IS ALSO THE 2ND "LEMON" I TRADED IN A 2000 GRAND PRIX BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE TROUBLE I WAS HAVING PLUS I LOST $2,000 ON THE TRADE-IN, BUT I NEEDED A DEPENDABLE CAR, AND I CHOSE THE "AZTEC" AND RECEIVED ANOTHER LEMON. NOW WHAT DO I DO? THE MECHANICS SAY THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THE RATTLES, REMOTE, OR THE LATCH, SO DID I SPEND $22,000 FOR ANOTHER CAR? I WORK HARD FOR MY MONEY AND LOOK OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN. REALLY HOW SAFE ARE THEY, WHEN THEY GET IN A BRAND NEW CAR THAT IS FALLING APART? PLEASE HELP ME!!!! *AK

Electrical System
Filed Oct 1, 2001AZ

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD ALSO FAIL. VEHICLE WOULD ACT ERRATICALLY. HAD VEHICLE TEST DRIVEN TWICE BY MECHANIC BEFORE PROBLEM WAS NOTICED. MECHANIC DISABLED AIR BAG, BUT COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.*AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 25, 2001CA

FRONT WHEELS CASTER ARE OFF AND UNEVEN, UNABLE TO ALIGN/AJUST FRONT WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WANTED BODY SHOP TO BEND FRONT FRAME TO MAKE ADJUSTMENT. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed May 3, 2001IL

A PRART IS MISSING FROM REAR DOOR SECURITY LOCK. THERE IS NO LEVER TO ENGAGE LOCKS, ONLY A HOLE IN THE STEAL. SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALER SAID TO USE A KEY TO MANIPULATE THE LOCK WHICH WOULD DAMAGE THE KEY OR INTERNAL PARTS.

Suspension
Filed Mar 15, 2001IN

VEHICLE VIBRATES AT 65MPH AND HIGHER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Nov 21, 2000NY

VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER 5 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. NEW BATTERY INSTALLED BY DEALER AFTER FIRST INCIDENT WHERE CAR DIED TWICE IN ONE DAY--ONCE UPON BACKING UP/ONCE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE UPON STARTUP. PROBLEM INTERMITTENT -- WILL RUN OKAY FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN SHUTDOWN UPON STARTUP. *AK

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2001 Pontiac Aztek → · Every Aztek year → · How the figures are calculated →