Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Pontiac Aztek submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 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.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
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.
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. *JB
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*JS
2002 PONTIAC AZTEK WAS PARKED AND WAS IDLING. SMELLED STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. UPON EXAMINATION, FUEL WAS LEAKING PROFUSELY AROUND THE FILLER TUBE. TRIED TO HAVE IT SEALED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. TANK WILL LEAK OUT ANY FUEL QUANTITY OVER 3 US GALLON. IT DOES NOT LEAK WHEN KEPT UNDER THIS QUANTITY OF FUEL.
TL -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL IN 2008. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AFTER SMELLING THE VAPORS OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE HAVING MORE MILEAGE THAN WHAT WAS STIPULATED IN THE LETTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BASE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 172,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. RVK
VEHICLE DASH GOES CRAZY SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND CHANGE OIL LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. MANY DIAGNOSTIC TESTS NO POPPED CODE NOR BAD FUSES. NOW SECURITY WARNING AND ANTI THEFT TURNS ON MY VEHICLE GOES ON LOCK DOWN NO AC, WINDOWS AND DOORS LOCK DOWN I CAN NOT GET OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO TIMES. ALSO NEWEST THING IS MY VEHICLE SHUT OF IN MID DRIVE, GOOD THING I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD ACCIDENT. THIS IS A ON AND OFF THING NO WARNING. NOW THREE TIME INCIDENT, BUT 1ST FOR VEHICLE SHUT OFF ENGINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UNUSUALLY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE EMITTING IN THE FRONT EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR AN UNRELATED REPAIR WHERE THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FUEL FILLER WAS FRACTURED AND LEAKING GASOLINE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON HER YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V349000: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE STORAGE); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 165,577.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXAMINING HIS VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL IN THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HE ALSO SMELLED FUEL WHEN HE DROVE THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR TIRE SERVICE. THE TECHNICIAN OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND A HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE;STORAGE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,415.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE CODE WAS IN REFERENCE TO THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. MECHANIC DE-ACTIVATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AFTER 2 DAYS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER AND HAD CODE CHECKED. SAME ISSUE WITH FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR. DEALER STATED THIS WAS A RECALL ISSUE. DEALER CHECKED WITH MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. DEALER REMOVED CONNECTOR AT BODY PASS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DE-ACTIVATED. AFTER 1 WEEK, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS CONSISTENCY APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. IN ADDITION, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE, ALL GAGE LIGHTS WILL FLASH FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN GO OUT. A/C STOPPED WORKING AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE. STEERING WHEEL RADIO VOLUME BUTTON SOMETIMES WORKS AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. HAVE ALREADY PUT SO MUCH MONEY INTO REPAIR OF THIS VEHICLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2007 WITH 57,000 MILES. SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING TRADE-IN AS THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. HAVE SPENT HALF THE PURCHASE PRICE IN REPAIRS WITHIN 1 YEAR OF PURCHASE. AFTER SEARCHING INTERNET FOR AZTEK PROBLEMS, HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING SAME ISSUES I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THIS VEHICLE. IF THESE ARE COMMON ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL, WHY IS THERE NO MANUFACTURER BULLETIN TO REPAIR THESE DEFECTS? *TR
AT 51,000 MILES ENGINE OVERHEATING WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. ADDED ANTIFREEZE, BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. AT SAME TIME AC FAILED. THEN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED FAILING. ALARM GOING OFF FOR NO REASON, DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES, REAR HATCH OPENING, AND ALL GAUGES LIGHTING UP THEN GOING BLANK FOR 5 - 10 SECONDS. TOOK TO DEALER WHO STATED THAT I HAD A FAILURE IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, A LEAKING FUEL FILTER, A SHOT AC SYSTEM, AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD TO DO THE SAME WORK ON MANY AZTEKS. TOOK TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC FOR VERIFICATION AND REPAIR ($600 LESS THAN DEALER WANTED). PAID $1156 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD, FUEL FILTER, AND AC CHECK. MECHANIC DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AC SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. CAN NOT FIX THE MODULE AT THIS TIME - HAVE BEEN GIVEN ESTIMATE OF $800. SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS MODULE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THAT NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND HAVE GM REIMBURSE THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP BY MANY AZTEK OWNERS BOTH ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS. IT IS REALLY ALARMING TO BE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN SUDDENLY ALL THE GAUGES GO BLANK, EVEN IF JUST FOR A FEW SECONDS, NOT TO MENTION DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES AND THE ALARM GOING OFF FOR NO REASON. BY READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I SHOULD LOOK FORWARD TO REPLACING WHEEL BEARINGS ALSO. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
LEAKY FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR CAUSED STARTING DIFFICULTY CONSISTENT WITH SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V090000, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. PROBLEM PERSISTED FOR A FEW MONTHS IN FALL 2007 UNTIL DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY DEALER. CONSUMER CHARGED $184.85. *TR
WE OWN A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, OUR CAR WOULD NOT START AND COULD NOT BE JUMPED BY AAA. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE AAA-APPROVED SERVICE STATION WE USE FOR ALL REPAIRS. AFTER REPLACING THE STARTER, THEY TOLD US THAT THERE WAS ALSO A LEAK WITH THE FUEL INLET SEAL. IT BEING THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, WE WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THAT DAY. AFTER GOING ON THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH THE PRICE OF THE PART, WE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN EFFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON. WE CALLED THE PONTIAC NUMBER LISTED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON LOOKED UP THE RECALL (AFTER I GAVE HER THE NUMBER AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING) AND SAID THAT IT DID APPEAR OUR VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL BUT THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A PONTIAC/GM DEALER. WE LOCATED ONE NEARBY AND SHE PUT ME ON HOLD TO CALL THEM. WHEN SHE CAME BACK ON SHE SAID AFTER FURTHER REVIEW THAT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL BECAUSE IT ONLY AFFECTED CERTAIN VEHICLES WITHIN THE 2001-2004 YEARS WHOSE VINS ENDED WITH 2S549384 THROUGH 2S608951. WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT MY VEHICLE FIT THOSE PARAMETERS, SHE SAID IT WAS NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL BASED ON GM PARAMETERS, BUT WOULD NOT OR COULD NOT GIVE ME WHAT THE EXCLUSION PARAMETERS WERE. *TR
GASOLINE LEAKS FROM THE TANK AT THE JUNCTION OF THE FILLER TUBE AND TANK. GASOLINE DRIPS ONTO THE PAVEMENT, SMELLS TERRIBLE, AND IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE FUEL TANK HAS A CRACK NEAR THE FUEL FILLER NECK. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE PONTIAC DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NUMBER 07V-349. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. A STRONG ODOR WAS NOTICED AROUND THE FUEL TANK AREA. THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT WAS A DRIVING VEHICLE AT 70 MILES AN HOUR, WHEN THE VEHICLE MADE A SCRAPING NOISE DUE TO A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INICIDENTS OR CASUALTIES. THE CONTACT'S CAR WAS TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER STATING THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH WHEEL BEARINGS BUT, THIS WAS NOT A RECALL. THE CONTACT LETTER ALSO STATED THAT REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE GIVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS UNDER 60,000 OR 5 YEARS. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY UNDER THESE PERAMETERS. THE FIRST INCIDENT WITH THE WHEEL BEARINGS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE 'S FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT REGISTER THE CONTENTS OF THE FUEL TANK.
I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 16, 2006. I REPLACED THE GAS CAP, AS I THOUGHT IT MAY JUST BE WORN. THIS UNFORTUNATELY DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SMELL BECAME EXTREMELY STRONG-I COULD SMELL IT INSIDE THE CAR AND GOT A SEVERE HEADACHE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP. I WAS TOLD THE GAS TANK WAS PLASTIC, AND WAS CRACKED! I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2005 AS A "CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE". I FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE A VEHICLE THAT THE GAS TANK DOES NOT LAST A FEW YEARS. *NM
GAS TANK IS LEAKING AT CONNECTOR TO FUEL FILLER HOSE. ENTIRE GAS TANK MUST BE REPLACED. THERE HAS BEEN A HISTORY OF THE GAS TANK MAKING POPPING NOISES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER SMELLING GASOLINE AND NOTICING A LEAK ON THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE GAS INLET VALVE.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED FOR SIX MONTHS THE SMELL OF GAS WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A GAS LEAK WAS OBSERVED. THE DEALER DETERMINED A CRACK IN THE NECK OF THE FUEL TANK CREATED THE PROBLEM.
DT: CONSUMER SAYS BODY MODULE HAS BLOWN THREE TIMES ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS ON PARKWAY WHEN BODY MODULE BLEW OUT, AND VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING ON CAR SHUT DOWN. ENGINE STOPPED, ALL LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING, THE HATCH POPPED. THE BODY MODULE BLEW AT 7000 MILES/AT 17000 MILES, AND AGAIN AT 27000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER THREE TIMES AND BODY MODULE WAS REPLACED. FIRST TWO TIMES MODULE BLEW WAS AT NIGHT, THE THIRD WAS DURING THE DAY. ALSO, CONSUMER SAYS THAT SHE IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANK POPPING. TANK IS CONTRACTING OR EXPANDING, AND NOTHING IS RELIEVING THE PRESSURE SLOWLY. SO WHEN THE PRESSURE CHANGES QUICKLY IT CAUSED NOISE. CONSUMER SAYS THIS IS DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION. *AK
THE FUEL INLET HAD A CRACK. AS A RESULT, EXCESSIVE FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. *AK WITH NO WARNING, THE WELD BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE AND THE FUEL TANK FAILED. PART# 10323136 SERIAL# 116864 BUILD DATE 6/2/02. *SC 8JB
CAN NOT REMEMBER SPECIFIC DATE 1.THE CHANGE THE OIL LAMP CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE OIL. SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE NOTICED THE CHANGE THE OIL LAMP WOULD COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO HALL IN HAMPTON ROADS AND THE LAMP WAS TURNED OFF BUT THE ORIGINAL CHIMING FOR SIGNALING THE DOOR IS LOCKING CEASED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO FIX THIS ERROR WE WERE INFORMED THAT PONTIAC TECHNICIANS COULD NOT FIX AND COULD NOT GIVE ANY REASON FOR THIS CHANGE. 2.A PORTABLE DVD PLAYER WAS HOOKED UP TO THE VEHICLE FROM THE PLUG IN LOCATED BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT SEATS AND THE TAPE ATTACHMENT WAS INSERTED INTO THE TAPE DECK. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR ABOUT 1 TO 1.5 HOURS WITH THE PORTABLE DVD PLAYER WHEN AN ERROR CODE AND SECURITY CODE CAME ON. THE DEVICE WAS IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THEREAFTER THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNED OFF THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON BY ITSELF WITH OUT KEY IN IGNITION, THE GAGES ALTHOUGH ON FULL AND VEHICLE RUNNING WOULD NOT MOVE, AIRBAG ICON WOULD BLINK AND CHIMING WAS DIM. UPON TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS FOUND THAT THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WENT BAD WITH NO FURTHER EXPLANATION. 3.ONE WEEK AFTER GETTING VEHICLE FROM NUMBER 2 ABOVE THE VEHICLES BATTERY WORKED BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THE PLUG IN LOCATED IN NUMBER 2 ABOVE WERE NOT WORKING. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE POWER TRAN CONTROL MODULE AND FUEL SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING AND THAT A SWITCH IN THE CONSOLE AREA FROM NUMBER 2 ABOVE NEEDED FIXING.
FUEL TANK FILLER SPRAYED FUEL ONTO EXHAUST PIPE WHILE UNDER NORMAL INTERSTATE DRIVING CONDITIONS. MY WIFE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL ABOUT 10 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE FIRE WHILE FUELING AT A SERVICE STATION. SHE DISMISSED IT SINCE THERE WAS A NEARBY CONSTRUCTION CREW THAT WAS BURNING TRASH IN BARRELS. SHE THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS SOMETHING THEY WERE BURNING. AFTER A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, WE CONTINUED ON. *NM
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .