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KLUNK

2001 Pontiac Aztek

The Verdict

50 Proceed with Caution

The 2001 Pontiac Aztek has 230 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are engine (71 complaints) and body (59 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 50/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Pontiac Aztek, consider the 2005 model year which has 85% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2005 has 85% fewer complaints

View the 2005 Pontiac Aztek dashboard →

50

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20015925567119
2002401419516
20033113206413
200414914272
2005739114

By Category

Engine
71
Body
59
Electrical
56
Brakes
25
Transmission
19

By Severity

1
99
2
107
3
4
4
20

Worst Problems

Complaints

Engine 1

BOUT 3 WEEKS AGO CAR JUST KEEP ACTING UP HAD IT FOR ONE YEAR CANT READ CODES ON CAR KEEP OVERHEATING REPLACED RADIATOR CVL AXLE BRAKES OIL CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAR JUST DECIDED TO NOT PASS 50MPH BE DRIVEABLE ONE DAY DRIVING IT WENT TO A STOP SIGN BRAKE CAR CUT OFF I SEE CHECK GAUGES COME ON SERVICE LIGHT ON CANT READ CODES TO FIND OUT ANYTHING I THINK THE WIRING IS MESS UP REPLACED STARTED AS WELL JUST TO MUCH ONLY HAD IT FOR A 1AND A HALF

87mo ago
Body 2

I HAVE REPLACE 2 IGNITION SWITCHES, AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS..THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT/UNLOCK WHEN SWITCHING CAR OFF..WHICH KILLS THE BATTERY BECAUSE I CAN'T TURN OFF THE CAR THIS IS TERRIBLE ..IT'S THE IGNITION SWITCH OR THE STEERING COLUMN, THIS HAPPENS WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK!!!!KEY WILL NOT TURN CAR OFF/CAN'T GET KEY OUT TOO

100mo ago
Engine 1

GM HAS ISSUED A SAFETY BULLETIN IN REGARDS TO A BROKEN FUEL TANK THAT COULD CAUSE EXPLOSIONS, OR FIRE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM TO PERFORM THE REPAIR BUT THEY ARE REFUSING. THE PROBLEM IS FOR ALL YEARS OF THE PONTIAC AZTEK AND BUICK RENDEZVOUS. I HAVE A LEAK FROM THIS LOCATION, THE FUEL INLET, AND AM NEARLY AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BUT AT A COST OF OVER 2000 DOLLARS, GM IS ALSO INFLATING THE COST BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE REPAIR NEEDS TO BE DONE.

115mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CHARGED THE BATTERY AND STARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN SUSPECTED AN IGNITION FAILURE AND PLANNED TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

125mo ago
Electrical 2

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE DRIVER SHUT THEIR DOOR, WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK.

134mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

136mo ago
Brakes 4

THE CAR WAS PARK! THE KEYS IN, I PULLED KEYS OUT N THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS I HOP IN THE CAR N TURN THE WHEEL AND I FLEW OUT AND THE CAR RAN ME OVER TIRE ON MY BACK THE CAR DIDN'T STOP I PUSHING THE BRAKES NOTHING! *TR

137mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT A ROUND OBJECT FELL FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

146mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO INDICATE THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT WAS STORED IN THE FUEL TANK AFTER IT WAS REFUELED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSE THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FLOATER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

146mo ago
Electrical 1

THE KEY CAN BE PULLED OUT OR FALL OUT OF THE IGNITION CYLINDER WITH ALMOST NO RESISTANCE IN THE RUN POSITION, AND DOOR AJAR, KEYS IN IGNITION CHIMES NO LONGER OPERATE AFTER FIRST OCCURRENCE OF KEY FALLOUT. KEY FALLOUT OCCURS EASIER AS TIME GOES ON, I AM UNSURE OF THE EXACT DATE OF FIRST OCCURRENCE. *TR

146mo ago
Electrical 2

AFTER ARRIVING HOME FROM WORK, I FOLLOWED MY NORMAL ROUTINE: PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY, CUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, I COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. NO MATTER WHAT I ATTEMPTED IT WOULD NOT BUDGE. MY ADULT SON ALSO TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH NO SUCCESS. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE 2ND POSITION-- MEANING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL "ON" JUST NOT RUNNING. I LEFT IT AS IT WAS WITH MY KEY STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE NEXT MORNING, OF COURSE, MY BATTERY WAS DEAD BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS STILL IN THE "ON" POSITION. THE NEXT DAY I FOUND A TEMPORARY "WORKAROUND" ON YOUTUBE. HOWEVER, THE IGNITION IS STILL NOT FIXED AND I AM STILL USING THE TEMPORARY WORKAROUND. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL GM DEALER AND GM OFFICES ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER MY VEHICLE. I KNEW THAT BEFORE I CALLED THEM; WHICH WASN'T THE REASON I CONTACTED THEM. I ASKED WHY THIS PARTICULAR IGNITION PROBLEM WAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND I WAS TOLD BY A GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT IT HAD TO BE ISSUED FROM YOUR ORGANIZATION. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED. GM DID AN OVERALL POOR JOB WITH THE IGNITION SWITCHES ON THE VEHICLES THAT WERE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC AND THEY NEED TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR IT. THANK YOU. *TR

147mo ago
Brakes 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HIS WIFE APPLIED THE BRAKE, SHE EXPERIENCED IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. A POPPING AND WHOOSHING SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT ONE OF THE BRAKE LINES FAILED DUE TO RUSTED THROUGH AT THE POINT OF FAILURE, AS WELL AS EXTREMELY RUSTED AT EVERY PLACE IT WAS CLIPPED TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THE ENTIRE BRAKE LINE BE REPLACED. . THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED, DUE TO CORROSION. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 2007, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 65,000 MILES. UPDATED 03/11/15. *JB

149mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

150mo ago
Electrical 2

WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED . LIKE TO SCARE ME TO DEATH. *TR

150mo ago
Engine 1

AS I HAVE SEEN OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SPECIFIC CAR STATE ON YOUR SITE, MY FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK, AND I WAS TOLD BY GM THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK BECAUSE IT IS "OUT OF RECALL SINCE 2011," EVEN THOUGH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH MY FUEL TANK! SO NOW I AM DRIVING AROUND IN, ESSENTIALLY, A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, HAVING TO SPEND $800 TO REPLACE A GAS TANK THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE REPLACED BY GM IN 2007, AT NO COST, BECAUSE GM FAILED TO NOTIFY ME. THIS IS VILE. TO THINK THAT GM DOESN'T CARE IF OWNERS OF THEIR CARS ARE DRIVING AROUND IN POTENTIAL FIREBOMBS, THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT, IS SICKENING. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW, AND CERTAINLY DESERVED TO BE NOTIFIED ABOUT PROBLEMS THAT ARE POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING, AND OFFERS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PARTS, THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE SENT TO ME, AS PER THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V349000. *TR

155mo ago
Brakes 1

BRAKE LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ROTTED OUT, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, AGAINST THE FIREWALL. THE OTHER PARTS OF THE LINE ARE "OK". SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THING IN THIS CHASSIS. *TR

160mo ago
Engine 2

I CONTACTED PONTIAC REGARDING A RECALL ON MY AZTEC WHICH INCLUDES THE FUEL TANK, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT CAN CATCH FIRE WITH JUST A SPARK FROM ELECTRICAL ON MY CAR, WELL THEY SAID THAT I WAS OUT OF THE RECALL SINCE 2011 I WAS NOT EVEN AWARE THERE WAS A RECALL UNTIL I STARTED INVESTIGATING MY PROBLEM ONLINE, I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE REGARDING THIS SAFETY ISSUE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER I BOUGHT IT USED BUT I REGISTERED IT AND NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE, MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN RIDE IN THIS CAR, AND ALL THEY COULD TELL ME AT PONTIAC WAS WE ARE SORRY BUT YOU ARE OUT OF THE RECALL TIME, AND WE CAN SCHEDULE YOU AN APPOINTMENT BUT WE WILL NOT PAY, SO THEY DO NOT CARE IF SOMEONE COULD POSSIBLY DIE IN A VEHICLE THAT WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT , WHICH IS THEIR FAULT NOT MINE. THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

162mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE LOADING THE VEHICLE WITH BOXES, THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED ERRONEOUSLY, STRIKING A PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR A CORPORATE ENGINEER TO FURTHER INSPECT THE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 197,000.

170mo ago
Brakes 2

BRAKES FAILED - THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WHILE ENTERING US10 IN BAY COUNTY, MI. WHY - BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINE FAILED. TO ME, THIS IS A VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUE AND A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AT GRAFF CHEVROLET, 3636 E WILDER RD, BAY CITY, MI. THE FIX INCLUDED REPLACING A SECTION OF BRAKE LINE THAT WAS WRAPPED IN HEAT REFLECTING TAPE. THE WAY I SEE IT, THE TAPE TRAPPED WATER BETWEEN THE TAPE AND THE STEEL TUBE CAUSING THE RUSTED TUBE TO FAIL. POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. HOW MANY MORE CARS ARE THERE OUT THERE, ON THIS CAR PLATFORM, THAT WILL EXPERIENCE THIS FAILURE? I OWN A 1958 CHEVY CONV, THAT HAS EXISTED IN MICHIGAN SINCE 1958. IT HAS NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY. I WANT TO PROTECT ALL THE PEOPLE OWNING THESE VEHICLES FROM BE KILLED OR WHATEVER OTHER LIFE ALTERING THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN. I WAS VERY VERY LUCKY WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED. *TR

175mo ago
Engine 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED. AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE TO FULL CAPACITY, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD SHOW AN EMPTY READING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SENSOR IN THE FUEL TANK HAD FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

184mo ago

230 total

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