2003 Pontiac Aztek Engine Problems

"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

NHTSA ID

11141535

Incident

Sep 20, 2018

Mileage

160,007 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10966457

Incident

Feb 10, 2017

ENGINE RPM SURGES TO OVER 3000 WITHOUT WARNING. THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS INITIALLY PLACED IN DRIVE AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THE DRIVER MAY NEED TO SUDDENLY APPLY THE BRAKE IF BEHIND A CAR. THE HIGH RPM ALSO ACTS AS AN UNDESIRED "CRUISE CONTROL" SYSTEM, THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH "CRUISE". THE DRIVER MUST ALSO FIRMLY HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN WHILE STOPPED AS THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10629545

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

164,000 mi

MY AZTEK STARTED TO SPUTTERING ONE MORNING, BRINGING MY CAR TO A STOP. THE CAR STALLED AND I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART. IT SEEMED LIKE I COULDN'T GO OVER 40 MPH. IT'S JUST KEPT HICCUPING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND GOT A NEW FUEL AND AIR FILTER. STILL HAVING PROBLEMS, I REPLACED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. MY CAR CONTINUED TO GET WORSE AND COULDN'T EVEN GET ANYWHERE. TOOK IT TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, AND IT RAN OK FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS THEN IT BEGAN TO DO IT AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE SHOP, AND DIAGNOSTICS READ THAT IT NEEDED A NEW O2 SENSOR. SO I REPLACED THAT AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. THE SHOP THAT REPLACED THE CONVERTER AND O2 SENSOR SPENT 6 HOURS OR LABOR TRYING TO FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT; AND REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH CHARGING ME MORE MONEY AND THE CAR NOT GETTING FIXED.THIS MORNING (ABOUT A LITTLE OVER A MONTH THIS ALL STARTED) I TRIED TO MAKE IT INTO TOWN WHERE I COULD TAKE IT TO ANOTHER SHOP, AND MY CAR COMPLETELY GAVE UP. THE KEY WOULDN'T EVEN TURN OVER. SO THAT HAS RACKED ME UP A NICE TOWING BILL. OVER 1000 DOLL AS S IN THE LAST MONTH, AND MY CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD. SEEMS LIKE MY PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE'S ON THE INTERNET WITH AN AZTEK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593111

Incident

Apr 11, 2014

Mileage

146,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10587120

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 4 MINS. I STOPPED AT LIGHT AND CAR CUT OFF. CAR NEVER CUT ON AFTER. I JUST PURCHASED CAR ON JUNE 26 2013. I WAS TOLD THERE AREN'T ANT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND IF I HAVE ANY PROBLEMS TO BRING IT BACK I BROUGHT IT BACK TO FIND THAT THEY DIDN'T VALUE THEIR WORD. THEY WOULDN'T ACCEPT CAR BACK AND EXCHANGE FOR MY PURCHASE. ALTHOUGH I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR TIL THIS DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526096

Incident

Jul 20, 2013

Mileage

126,000 mi

IT STARTED RUNNING ON ITS OWN AND THE RPM'S WENT UP TO 3000 IN PARK GEAR. I TOOK IT BACK TO COLONIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND DECIDED THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE MY IAC - IDLE AIR CONTROL MOTOR REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY 4/28/11, I PICKED UP MY CAR AND DROVE IT HOME. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH EVERYTHING WAS FIXED AND WORKING FINE. UNTIL, I DROVE MY CAR ON 4/30/11. THAT IS WHEN MY CAR'S RPM WENT UP TO 3500 IN PARK GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR FROM SOUTH BOSTON, MA ALL THE WAY TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP IN WATERTOWN, MA WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH. NOW THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING I NEED TO REPLACE THE TPS - THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. I AM NOT SURE THIS IS GOING TO FIX MY PROBLEM BUT I KNOW THAT I NEEDED TO REPORT THIS TO NHTSA. MOST LIKELY YOU WILL BE RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL FROM ME SHORTLY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS AND RESOLVED. I DO NOT WANT TO BE IN MY CAR AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T WANT IT TO SEEM LIKE THIS PROBLEM WAS NEVER REPORTED TO PONTIAC OR NHTSA. THIS CAN SAVE A LOT OF PEOPLES LIVES. PLEASE HAVE SOMEONE RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND GET BACK TO ME. PREVIOUS EMAIL SENT TO [email protected] ON 4/24/11- DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I AM PRESENTLY HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. WITHIN THE LAST FOUR DAYS, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED COASTING/DRIVING ON ITS OWN WITH ME NOT HAVING TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. LIKE ON 4/24/11, I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH ON THE ROAD. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE BY ITS SELF AT THAT SPEED AND I WAS NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. MATTER OF FACT I NEVER USE THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR AND IT IN PARK THE RPM NEEDLE WENT BETWEEN 2000 -3000 RPMS. SURGE OR REVING MY ENGINE VERY LOUD. I BELIEVE THIS IS VERY DANGERS AND WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO TELL ME WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO THE COLONIAL GMC CAR DEALERSHIP IN WATERTOWN, MA ON 4/18/11 AND 4/23/11 BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT SHOWING UP.

NHTSA ID

10398747

Incident

Apr 16, 2011

Mileage

41,506 mi

2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. TOOK IN DUE TO FLUID LEAKING INTO OIL AND CAUSING IT TO LOOK LIKE A "MILKY" SUBSTANCE. TOLD THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE KNOWN FOR THIS ISSUE AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. HAD THAT REPLACED (OVER $1,000) - THEN DISCOVERED STILL A LEAK - NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT PROBABLY NEEDS AN ENGINE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN 10YRS OLD. I READ ANOTHER DESCRIPTION SIMILAR TO THIS. HOW MANY INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO BE GOUGED BEFORE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO STOP THE MANUFACTURER FROM PREYING ON THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265498

Incident

Mar 30, 2009

Mileage

38,000 mi

THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN HOT AND AFTER INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM AT HOME WE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE NOT WORKING. WE DID NOT FIND ANY LEAKS OR DISCONNECTED BELTS OR HOSES. WE HAVE NOT HAD A PROFESSIONAL LOOK AT IT YET BUT WE ARE VERY CERTAIN THAT THE FANS ARE NOT COMING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10252115

Incident

Dec 13, 2008

Mileage

49,177 mi

AZTEK IS 5 YRS OLD 70,000 MILES. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STALLING AFTER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS (WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW!) COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM! 9/4/08 WAS DRIVING LATE FROM A GAME AND BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. HAD DIAGNOSTIC DONE - MISFIRE IN CYLINDER 6. TOOK IT TO DEALER - COSTING ME $4000 TO FIX! NEEDS 2 NEW HEADS!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10241672

Incident

Sep 4, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAD THE INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACED BY GM 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. NOW MY AZTEK HAS 82,000 AND CYLINDER #4 HAS NO COMPRESSION - THE ROCKER GASKET HAD STOPPED WORKING $800 LATER - TWO WEEKS LATER I HAVE NO COMPRESSION IN CYLINDER #6. MY CAR IS JUST 5 YEARS OLD! GM NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214958

Incident

Jan 14, 2008

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS. PROBLEM EVIDENCED ITSELF AT ROUGHLY 58,000 MILES. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECTIVE CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10204330

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

58,000 mi

SMELT BURNING ANTI FREEZE AFTER DRIVING THE CAR. HEAD GASKETS REPLACED FRONT AND BACK. 1 - WATER PUMP REPLACED NOT IT 2- INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS REPLACED - NOT TOTALLY FIXED 3 - HEAD GASKETS BACK OF ENGINE NOW BEING REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10191574

Incident

May 18, 2007

Mileage

58,369 mi

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC 6 MONTHS AGO, AND FOUND OUT RECENTLY THAT THERE IS A LOT OF KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE ORANGE ANTI-FREEZE EATING AWAY AT THE TUBES AND GASKETS OF THE ENGINE. WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING TO PAY OVER $700 TO FIX THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. I THINK SOMEONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183618

Incident

Feb 20, 2007

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONE DAY, THE START THE NEXT. THEN IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. HAD HEATER PROBLEM BEFORE, BUT WHEN THEY CHECKED IT , IT WAS FINE. THEN WHEN IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL, HAD IT TOWED. THE GARAGE I HAD IT TOWED TO HAD BEEN THE ONE TO CHECK THE HEATER A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO IT BREAKING DOWN, THEY HAD GIVEN IT AN OIL CHANGE ALSO. AFTER THE TOW, THEY INFORMED ME THAT ANTI-FREEZE HAD BEEN GETTING INTO THE INTAKE OIL(HEAD GASKETS),AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT ALL APART(LABOR!!!)---AND THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS BAD. I'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR!!!THANK GOD I HAD A WARRANTY EXTENDED,(EVEN THOUGH I AM PAYING A LOT FOR THAT ALSO!!)THAT I ONLY(!) HAD TO PAY THE 100.00 DEDUCTIBLE, BUT THEN HAD TO PAY FOR FILTERS,OIL(AGAIN!!) AND MISCELLANEOUS OTHER EXPENSES THE WARRANTY DIDN'T PAY!!ALTOGETHER, WITH WHAT THE WARRANTY PAID, AND WHAT I PAID (341.00)---IT CAME TO 2,200.00!!!---NOW THIS CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD,BARELY!!! AND I THINK THAT THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! *JB

NHTSA ID

10182782

Incident

Feb 7, 2007

Mileage

49,989 mi

SES LIGHT AND ALL DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, TOOK TO SALERNO DUANE IN NEWTON NJ WHEW I PURCHASED MY 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK NEW. WAS TOLD INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING AND THE CAUSE OF LIGHTS, SES AND DASH LIGHTS. $1100 LATER, LIGHTS STILL GOING OFF AND ON. NOW TOLD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PROBLEM. $250. FOR PARTS PLUS LABOR. I AM VERY ANGRY THAT I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, THAT I PAID ALL THAT MONEY AND NOW THEY SAY IT IS SOMETHING ELSE. I ARGUED WITH THE DEALER THAT I WILL NOT PAY FOR INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OR LABOR AND THEY AGREED. I ALSO FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AND LABOR SINCE THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY NOT THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THEY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME. THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS LEAKING, AND EVEN IF IT WAS, IT SHOULD BE ON A RECALL FROM GM BECAUSE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR GM MOTORS. WHEN IS ANYBODY GOING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132136

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

Mileage

94,171 mi

MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE FALLEN UNDER THE LEMON LAW DUE TO SEVERAL PROBLEMS, RESULTING IN 21 VISITS TO THE DEALER IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS. BESIDES ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS, I LATER HAD TO TAKE IT BACK BECAUSE WHEN I MADE A SHORT LEFT TO RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE WOULD DIE LEAVING ME TO TRY TO STEER IT TO SAFETY. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, BUT RECENTLY IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND IS THREATENING THE LIVES OF EVERYONE.I AM A SINGLE MOM, AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ONGOING PROBLEM, AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THESE REPAIRS DONE.I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IN ALL OF MY VEHICLE INFORMATION AND PROBLEMS THAT IT HAS HAD TO SOMEONE. I TRIED TO WORK WITH THE DEALER AND PONTIAC'S CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE FIRST YEAR, AND WAS FINALLY TOLD BY WALT GRAYSON AT GRAYSON PONTIAC THAT MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. INSTEAD OF OFFERING TO ASSIST WITH THE SITUATION. I HAVE BACK UP FOR EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THE VEHICLE. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME?*AK

NHTSA ID

10118510

Incident

Apr 22, 2005

Mileage

80,743 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT WAY UP, AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER HAD TO WAIT 20 MINUTES TO AN HOUR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START UP AGAIN. OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER WASN'T TALKING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE DEFECTS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. YET, THESE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED. ALSO, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10116984

Incident

Mar 18, 2005

Mileage

26,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK IN MARCH OF 2003. TO DATE WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS ON THE HEATER FAN MOTOR REPLACED TWICE, THE DRIVERS DOOR HINGES RESET TWICE, THE REAR TRUNK RELEASE REPLACED TWICE, REPAINTED THE DRIVERS DOOR AND REAR DRIVERS AREA NEAR TAILLIGHT BECAUSE THE PAINT WAS GONE, SEVERAL NO-STARTS THAT WERE NOT REPEATED AT THE GARAGE-BUT NEEDED JUMP STARTS TO RUN, REAR DRIVERS TAIL-LIGHT WAS REPLACED ONCE BECAUSE IT WAS FALLING OUT AND ITS STARTING TO FALL OUT AGAIN, FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE BEING REPLACED TOMORROW. WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 18,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HATE IT AND WILL PROBABLY NEVER BUY ANOTHER PONTIAC BECAUSE OF THIS LEMON. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE UNDER WARRANTY SO FAR, BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT RUNS OUT? SELL IT TO THE NEXT SUCKER I GUESS. *JB *TR

NHTSA ID

10109862

Incident

Feb 4, 2005

Mileage

18,500 mi

SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. EVERY TIME I HAD AN OIL CHANGE I DID MENTION IT. WAS TOLD IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS CAP. WATER LEAKED FROM EVAPORATOR. FOUND BODY OF WATER IN BODY PASS THROUGH CONNECTOR; CARPET WET UNDERNEATH. EVAPORATED DRAIN HOSE WAS MISSING, HOSE REPLACED. SEATS WERE REMOVED, CARPET DRIED AND FLOOR PAN AND SPRAYED CARPET WITH ODOR ELIMINATOR. DRIED WATER AND CLEANED CORROSION FROM CONNECTOR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075246

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

19,874 mi

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE THE SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF THE SHIFTER COULD BE MOVED AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS WAITING TO BACK OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10071402

Incident

Mar 12, 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED FORWARD WHILE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE IGNITION SWITCH ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALREADY STARTED. THE REAR HATCH COULD NOT BE OPENED BY THE BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN PARK THE GEAR SELECTOR COULD NOT BE MOVED INTO DRIVE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON. THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AN ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. *NM

NHTSA ID

10068540

Incident

Nov 12, 2003

ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MALFUNTIONED. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 6/30/2003 AND I HAVE NOTICED THE TEMP GUAGE FLUCTUATING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ELECTRIC COOLING FANS WERE NOT WORKING. THERE WERE ONLY 600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10026051

Incident

Jul 10, 2003

Mileage

615 mi