RoadVitals

2001 Pontiac Aztek Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jul 16, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 216 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Pontiac Aztek submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Jul 16, 2014

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 ID
10610945
Incident
Feb 13, 2014
Mileage
100,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Aug 14, 2007

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10199609
Incident
Mar 3, 2007
Suspension
Filed Apr 11, 2005

FRONT HUBS (BEARINGS) WEARING OUT. 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. CURRENTLY INSTALLING THE 4TH AND 5TH NEW BEARINGS ON VEHICLE. ONLY 60,000 MILES. TECHNICIAN SAYS THAT BEARING FAILURE COULD RESULT IN FRONT TIRE & RIM BREAKING AWAY FROM VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10116721
Incident
Apr 10, 2002
Mileage
25,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed May 26, 2004

HAVE HAD ON-GOING ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND A/C EVAPORATOR DRAIN. HAVE HAD THE DRAIN CLEANED TWICE AND REPAIRED ONCE. STILL HAVE WATER DRAINING INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT HUBS, FOUR WIRING HARNESSES, THE FUEL PUMP, THE BATTERY, AND THE BLOWER MOTOR TWICE. MOST OF THESE FAILURES DUE TO CORROSION/MELTING. ANOTHER HARNESS NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10073202
Incident
May 17, 2004
Mileage
15,000 mi
Body & structureHeating & air conditioningSuspension+1 more
Filed Oct 6, 2003

WHEN I BOUGHT MY 2001 AZTEK IN SEPTEMBER 2001, I WAS TOLD BY THE SALESPERSON THAT IT WOULD BE A DEPENDABLE DURABLE CAR. IT HAS BEEN ANYTHING BUT. WILL NOT KEEP ALIGNMENT SO THE TIRES HAVE WORN PREMATURELY. THE SEAL AROUND THE PASSENGER DOOR LEAKED CAUSING CARPET DAMAGE WHICH WAS NOT REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP. AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER HAD A CRACK AND ONE WEEK AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE CAR RAN HOT. LUCKILY, ALL OF THIS HAPPENED UNDER WARRANTY. ONE WEEK AFTER THE CONDENSER WAS REPLACED, THE CAR RAN HOT. ONE WEEK AFTER THE INTAKE WAS FIXED, IT RAN HOT AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADDED COOLANT AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. THE SAME DAY IT RAN HOT AGAIN (SATURDAY). I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN ON MONDAY MORNING AT 35,946 MILES. THEY DROVE THE CAR 33 MILES TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD GET HOT. IT WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH 35,979 MILES AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD BRAKE FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, THERE IS A TICKING NOISE UNDERNEATH IN FRONT AND BACK, AND THE CAR FEELS UNSTABLE ON THE ROAD. OVERALL I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THE CAR AND WOULD LIKE FOR THE DEALER TO BUY THE CAR BACK AT FULL PURCHASE PRICE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10041310
Incident
Aug 22, 2003
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Jan 8, 2003

SOON AFTER PURCHASE THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE THAT BEGAN IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE CLICKING NOISE THEN TURNED INTO A POPPING NOISE THAT COULD BE FELT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THERE IS WIND NOISE ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR POST, NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS INOPERABLE, THE HORN IS INOPERABLE, AND THE WIPERS DO NOT TURN OFF AT TIMES. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID
10001473
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Mileage
500 mi
Suspension
Filed Jan 8, 2003

2001 PONTIAC AZTEK HAS WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. GM SAYS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE ARE OVER 2000 OF THESE PARTS ON BACK ORDER. CAN CAN'T BE DRIVEN, NOR CAN IT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT THE PART. GM SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JB

NHTSA ID
10000812
Incident
Dec 17, 2001
Mileage
56,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 25, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
896815
Incident
Sep 20, 2001
Suspension
Filed Mar 15, 2001

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

NHTSA ID
883128

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .