Pontiac Aztek recall history and complaint patterns

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Pontiac Aztek, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 13
Total Complaints 829
Years Covered 2001–2005

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the Pontiac Aztek. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Pontiac Aztek, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Airbags

2 campaigns · Years: 2001

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Fuel and emissions

2 campaigns · Years: 2001–2004

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Electrical

1 campaign · Years: 2004

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Equipment and labeling

1 campaign · Years: 2001–2003

These campaigns relate to equipment compliance, labeling, or tires.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

1 campaign · Years: 2001

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Steering and suspension

1 campaign · Years: 2003

These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Pontiac Aztek in NHTSA complaint data are Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline, Equipment:appliance:air conditioner.

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Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2005 0 43 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine, Fuel system, gasoline.
2004 3 96 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Suspension:front:wheel bearing, Fuel/propulsion system.
2003 3 188 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Fuel system, gasoline.
2002 2 173 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Suspension:front:wheel bearing, Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly.
2001 5 329 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Equipment:appliance:air conditioner, Air bags.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Fuel system , Equipment and Air bags

Show recall evidence by year

2004

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Storage: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (03V454000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain passenger vehicles, a weld between the fuel tank inlet check valve and the fuel tank can fail.
  • Electrical system: Ignition: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (05V157000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain sport utility vehicles, contamination on ignition relay contacts can cause high resistance. This can affect signals to the powertrain control module and, could cause intermittent vehicle stalls at any time.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Storage: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (07V349000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).

2003

  • Steering: Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (03V052000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small.
  • Equipment: Owners/service/other manual: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (03V250000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchora
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Storage: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (07V349000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).

2002

  • Equipment: Owners/service/other manual: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (03V250000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchora
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Storage: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (07V349000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).

2001

  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (01V026000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger, sport utility vehicles and minivans. The passenger air bag inflator modules were built without the correct amount of generant, which produces the gas that fills the air bag. Some were built with a double load of generant and some were built without generant.
  • Seats: Recliner: Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (01V383000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: certain mini vans built with second row 50/50 split bench seats or captain's chairs, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." The seat latch anchor wire diameter is greater than 6.1 Mm.
  • Air bags: Frontal: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (02V329000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterwar
  • Equipment: Owners/service/other manual: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (03V250000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage system." The owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchora
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Storage: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (07V349000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures may lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

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