RoadVitals

2005 Pontiac Aztek Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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 Oct 25, 2019
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.
26%
of 34 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 electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 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 electrical

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

Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 2019

AT 147,000 MILES THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN BACK INTO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ID
11270994
Incident
Oct 18, 2019
Mileage
147,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Nov 24, 2014

WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON AN EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND IS HEARD. THE NOISE CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASH AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THERE IS A LOUD CRACKLING SOUND. NO GAUGES WORK CORRECTLY. THEY EITHER PEG OUT OR OPERATE OUT OF THE EXPECTED RANGE OF OPERATION. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON. THE AWD LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THE GAS GAUGE ALWAYS BELOW "E". *TR

NHTSA ID
10660539
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
108,040 mi
Electrical
Filed May 22, 2014

KEY BECAME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF NOR REMOVE KEY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE AND PLACED ME IN A LOANER. HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO CORRECT. VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS RELATED TO THIS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT CHARGED AS THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME I HAD TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE IN MY FIRST 30 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593327
Incident
May 28, 2013
Mileage
93,000 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Apr 28, 2014

I WAS LEAVING SCHOOL AND I STARTED TO SMELL GAS, SO I STOPPED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKING AND THERE WASN'T. A WEEK HAD WENT BY AND I DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ANYMORE BUT MY RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS HAD QUIT WORKING. SO I HAD THE FUSES CHANGED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT THE RADIO. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER MY TEMP GAUGE STARTED SHOOTING ALL THE WAY UP TO HOT RIGHT AFTER IT WAS CRANKED. SO I HAD IT CHECKED AND MY VEHICLE WASN'T RUNNING HOT. THE ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN AND MY CAR SHUT OFF AND A TEMP LIGHT WAS BLINKING. I POPPED THE HOOD AND MY HOSES FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE MOTOR HAD BUSTED FROM ALL THE PRESSURE BUILT UP. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD A NEW MOTOR PUT IN. AND LOW AND BE-HOLD MY TRANSMISSION STARTS SHIFTING REALLY HARD WHEN I GO TO START OFF. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WITH IT. BUT SINCE IVE BEEN KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED WEEKLY IT HASN'T BEEN DOING IT AS MUCH. BUT IT STILL SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. *JS

NHTSA ID
10585181
Incident
Apr 11, 2013
Mileage
232,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 15, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF NOR WOULD THE KEY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES WHERE THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE RECENTLY RECURRED AND THE COIL WIRE WAS DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V157000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ

NHTSA ID
10524807
Incident
Jun 3, 2010
Mileage
32,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 1, 2012

GAUGES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, FUEL, TACHOMETER, TEMP AND THIS MONTH 04/2012 THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING UP. *JS

NHTSA ID
10457094
Incident
Jul 12, 2007
Mileage
33,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 8, 2009

GAUGES ARE INTERMITTENT ON 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. YOU CAN TURN IGNITION SWITCH ON & OFF TO RESET THEM. SOMETIMES IT WORKS,SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286761
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Mileage
30,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 5, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE AUGUST 19TH, 2005. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSIST. IN MAY A FLIGHT RECORDER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10158998
Incident
Jun 3, 2006
Mileage
400 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 13, 2005

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK ON JULY 1, 2005. SEVEN DAYS LATER, WITH 611 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, OR EVEN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DRIVER JIGGLED THE WIRES LEADING TO THE BATTERY. ALTHOUGH HE SAID THEY DIDN'T FEEL LOOSE, THE VEHICLE DID START AFTER THAT. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM, THEY TESTED IT, AND TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS NOR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. HOWEVER, ABOUT FIVE MINUTES PRIOR, I WAS MOVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THE RADIO STATION CHANGED (WITHOUT HELP FROM ME). AFTER ABOUT A SECOND, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE RADIO RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL STATION. FIVE MINUTES LATER, STOPPED AT A LIGHT, IS WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

NHTSA ID
10128685
Incident
Jul 8, 2005
Mileage
611 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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .