RoadVitals

2004 Pontiac Aztek Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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.
13
Latest Apr 29, 2020
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.
19%
of 67 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 the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Pontiac Aztek submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 engine

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

EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 29, 2020

I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS FROM MY CAR FOR YEARS BUT JUST NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET IT LOOKED AT. I EVEN CALLED ABOUT RECALLS CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THROUGH RESEARCH IN 2015 BUT WAS TOLD THEY HAD BEEN CLOSED SO I WOULD BE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS EVEN IF IT WAS PREVIOUSLY COVERED UNDER RECALL. I NO LONGER FILL MY TANK WITH GAS BECAUSE THERE IS A LEAK. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATE THAT I NEED A NEW FUEL TANK, AND FUEL LEVER SENSOR AND SENDER. ALSO, HAVE OIL LEAKS IN 2 PLACES, THEY TELL ME I NEED UPPER & LOWER INTAKE GASKETS. AS WELL AS VALVE COVER GASKETS & OIL PUMP DRIVE O-RING REPLACED AND OIL PAN GASKET REPLACED. ALSO, NEEDS WATER PUMP AND DRIVE BELT REPLACED.I ALSO FOR THE PAST 3 OR SO YEARS HAVE TO KEEP A PEN OR PENCIL IN MY CAR TO INSERT UNDER THE STEERING WHEEL TO RELEASE MY KEY .

NHTSA ID
11322711
Incident
Apr 25, 2020
Engine
Filed Nov 4, 2015

I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS BECAUSE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME MY VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING ON TO MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THAT IT WHY IT WAS SMOKING WHEN WE STOPPED. I TALKED TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL SO THEY COULD NOT HELP, SO I HAVE THREE CHOICES LET IT SIT IN MY DRIVEWAY, PAY SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED OR DRIVE IT TILL IT STARTS ON FIRE. IT HAS THE 3800 MOTOR LIKE ALL THE OTHER CARS IN THE RECALL. I CAN GET A LETTER FROM MY MECHANIC IF NEEDED.

NHTSA ID
10788443
Incident
Sep 7, 2015
Mileage
204,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 22, 2015

DRIVING CAR ON ROAD AND CAR QUIT RUNNING, ELECTRICAL STARTED FLASHING. PULLED OVER AND IGNITION SWITCH WOULD ONLY GO TO ACC. MODE, IT WOULD NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION. I HAD CAR TOWED TO MY HOUSE. THE IGNITION WILL ONLY GO TO ACC. MODE WILL NOT TURN TO OFF POSITION WHERE KEY CAN BE REMOVED..UNHOOKED BATTERY TERMINAL AND CAR IS STILL PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10678243
Incident
May 9, 2014
Mileage
124,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 21, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE, FUEL TANK, AND FUEL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000.

NHTSA ID
10676885
Incident
Jan 19, 2015
Mileage
158,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10638500
Incident
Jun 2, 2008
Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD CONSTANTLY OVERHEAT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND JUST THE GAUGE WAS DEFECTIVE. LATER, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED TO THE POINT THAT THERE WERE BELL-LIKE SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $3,000. IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $7,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID
10238706
Incident
May 10, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 21, 2007

HEAD GASKET BLOWN ON 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK RALLY, 3.4L ENGINE, 39,880 MILES. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED 3 MONTHS AGO WITH 37,000 MILES AT SOUTHTOWNE HYUNDAI IN RIVERDALE, GA - 770-471-1000. THEY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS MECHANICALLY SOUND AND HAD PASSED A 60-POINT INSPECTION. RECENTLY, UPON DRIVING UP A 5-MILE HILL, ABOUT MIDWAY THE CAR STARTED OVERHEATING. I LET IT COOL DOWN, TURNED OFF THE A/C, TURNED ON THE HEATER AND DROVE BACK APPROX. 5 MILES TO THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION. THE CAR DID NOT INDICATE ANY MORE OVERHEATING. TECH'S COULD NOT FIND A LEAK. THERE WAS NO MORE OVERHEATING UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. ON MY WAY TO GET AN OIL CHANGE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK IT TO PONTIAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIAGNOSED A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS PARTICULAR CAR. PONTIAC SAID IT WILL FIX FREE OF CHARGE IF I PAY $1,100 FOR MAINTENANCE SERVICE (REPLACING ALL FLUIDS - WHICH HAD BEEN DONE 3,000 MILES AGO AT THE SOUTHTOWNE HYUNDAI). LUCKY FOR ME, THE HEAD GASKET DID NOT BLOW ON A HIGHWAY OR HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP. I AM NOW WAITING FOR REPAIRS THROUGH PONTIAC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200266
Incident
Aug 19, 2007
Mileage
39,880 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 18, 2006

WHILE DRIVING CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, LOSING STEERING AND BRAKES. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST SIXTY DAYS. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE SECOND TIME A DIFFERENT DEALER REPLACED A PART THAT THEY THOUGHT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY IT ISN'T. THE THIRD TIME I STOPPED TO GET GAS AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR FINALLY STARTED UP AND I DROVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE HOME. THE DEALER IS GOING TO CHECK IT OVER AGAIN AND HOPEFULLY FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM, BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10160117
Incident
May 28, 2006
Engine
Filed Mar 2, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE STALLING. THIS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN PARK THEN RESTARTED AND OPERATED PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A NEW CHIP IN AN EFFORT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM, BUT THIS HAS NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE PULLED OVER AND TOWED IN, TO DETERMINE THE CODES ON THE COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID
10151640
Incident
Mar 2, 2006
Mileage
28,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 3, 2005

INTERMITTENTLY THE 3.4L ENGINE WOULD STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED OF 10 MPH OR LESS. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON ONE OCCASION, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR ANOTHER INSPECTION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10113319
Incident
Feb 27, 2005
Mileage
10,200 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10097431
Incident
Dec 20, 2003
Engine
Filed Jul 19, 2004

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10083230
Incident
Jun 29, 2004
Mileage
5,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+3 more
Filed Jul 6, 2004

WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE STEERING COLUMN AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT A POWER STEERING PUMP WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING COLUMN IS STILL WHINING AND THE BRAKES ARE STILL GRINDING AND THE STARTER IS STILL HESITATING. *NM THE FRONT AND BACK BUMPERS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY, THE WINDSHIELD CONTAINED NUMEROUS CHIPS, THE WINDOWS SQUEALED WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING, THERE WAS A CONSTANT WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP WHEN IN MOTION, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER PROPERLY ALIGNED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THE WHINING, BRAKES AND THE STARTER, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS LATER TOLD THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD AN AIR BUBBLE. THE ENGINE WAS ALSO SLOW TO START AND WOULD CLICK AT TIMES. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10074322
Incident
May 20, 2004
Mileage
2,200 mi

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 .