2003 Pontiac Aztek

Since we first bought the car in 2005, whenever the fuel tank is filled to 3/4 or higher the car starts to smell of fuel fumes. If it is filled up full to the top, it literally spills fuel onto the ground (about 16oz). I called GM and they told me to bring it to the dealership. The dealership looked at it and determined that it is a bad weld on the fuel tank filler neck and also confirmed that the car is exhibiting the same symptoms as listed in multiple safety recalls regarding this fuel tank. The vin of this vehicle is within the range of safety recall bulletin number 06230, and is exhibiting the exact issues mentioned in that bulletin, but GM is saying that the specific vin is not included and that I need to contact NHTSA to have my vin added before they will fix it. The car only has 130,000 miles on it and this has been an issue for over 17 years. The dealership chat agent also told me to fill the car up to the top before bringing it in even though I told them that it's dangerous and will spill fuel. Now the vehicle is stuck at the dealership because they are saying that it's too dangerous to drive but they can't fix it until this vin is included in the recall by NHTSA. Upon further inspection of carcomplaints.com this appears to effect a lot more of these vehicles than the amount listed in the recall bulletin. I am certain that there are many vehicles driving around like mine that are posing a risk to the public. The car smells like an open gas can and seems like if someone were to smoke a cigarette in front of it that it would explode. This is dangerous. The crack is on top of the tank which is a place I could not have possibly caused the crack, this is 100% a manufacturing issue and my vehicle should have been included in this recall. I need my car back but can't risk my family in it until it is fixed. The dealership inspected it and GM told me to make this report.

"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

FIREWALL LEAKS A LOT OF WATER INTO BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR AREAS. THE WATER LEAKING IN CAUSES THOSE INTERIOR AREAS TO BECOME SOAKING WET AND DANGEROUS (FUSE BOX LOCATED WHERE WATER IS LEAKING), ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS (EVEN WET DUE IN THE MORNING CAN CAUSE WATER TO LEAK INTO THE FRONT CABIN AREA). VEHICLE STATIONARY AND EITHER IN A PARKING LOT OR SIDE STREET. I WILL TAKE PICTURES/VIDEO THE NEXT TIME IT OCCURS AND UPLOAD THEM AS DESCRIBED BELOW.

I RECENTLY BORROWED MY MOTHER-IN-LAW'S VEHICLE. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY HOME I PARKED IN THE ATTACHED GARAGE. LATER, WHEN MY DAUGHTER CAME HOME SHE ASKED WHY IT SMELLED LIKE GAS. I WENT TO CHECK AND UPON ENTERING THE LAUNDRY AREA (DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE GARAGE VIA ACCESS TO THE HOUSE) I NOTICED THE SMELL. I INSPECTED THE GARAGE AND THOUGHT, PERHAPS, THE SMELL WAS COMING FROM A WEED WACKER. LATER, I WENT TO CHECK ON SOME LAUNDRY AND THE GAS SMELL WAS EVEN WORSE. I OPENED THE DOOR TO ACCESS THE GARAGE AND THEN RECALLED THE WEED WACKER WAS ACTUALLY BROKEN AND WAS ONLY THERE TO BE DISCARDED IN THE TRASH NEXT PICKUP. I WAS CONCERNED AND WENT AND WOKE MY HUSBAND SAYING I SMELLED OVER-POWERING GAS SMELL AND TO PLEASE COME CHECK. HE INDICATED HE THOUGHT IT MAY BE HIS MOM'S CAR. HE CAME DOWN, SMELLED THE GAS TOO, AND WE PULLED THE CAR OUT AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND LEFT THE GARAGE DOOR OPEN FOR A BIT. THE SMELL WENT AWAY. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HAS BEEN ILL FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BUT PREVIOUSLY SHE WOULD COMPLAIN OF HER GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THAT SAID, I INSPECTED BOTH THE GARAGE AND THE DRIVEWAY OR LEAKS AND FOUND NONE. WHEN I DID MOVE THE CAR I DID SMELL GAS OUTSIDE OF THE CAR BUT NOT NEARLY AS STRONG AS WHEN IT WAS ENCLOSED INSIDE THE ATTACHED GARAGE. MY IN-LAWS KEEP THIS VEHICLE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY SO THE CHANCE OF THEM SMELLING THE ISSUE AND THINKING ANYTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WAS SLIM. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE CAR AND WOULDN'T RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS EVALUATED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC (MY OPINION BY A DEALERSHIP MECHANIC)

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH MY AZREK SHUTTING OFF ON ME IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND NOW IT WINT EVEN START. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND VAPOR SENSOR DUE TO IT NOT GETTING ANY FUEL PRESSURE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DONE DUE TO MY VIN NOT BEING ACNOWLEGED WITH THE RECALL

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP THE CONTACT DROVE ONTO THE GRASS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSATION PIPE CAUSED THE BRAKE LINE TO ROT. THE BRAKE LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 03/01/17*LJ *CN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. AFTER RE-FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES FLUCTUATED UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTIFIED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TO TRY TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. WHEN THERE WAS HALF A TANK OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NO LEAK PRESENT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL, THERE WAS A PROGRESSING LEAK. THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE UNDER THE VEHICLE AND STRONG FUEL FUMES WERE PRESENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WERE NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 07E021000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 01/26/17*LJ *JS

THE SMELL OF GAS, CHANGING THE FUEL PUMP MORE THAN ONCE. PROBLEM READING THE LEVEL OF GAS. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING WHEN IT START SHAKING AND STOP(2ND TIME). THE VEHICLE WAS PARK AND COULD NOT START(1ST TIME).

KEY KEEPS GETTING STUCK IN IGNITION, STEERING COLUMN GETS STUCK.FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND STAYING ALONG WITH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. FUEL PUMP KEEPS GOING OUT REPLACED 3 TIMES.

I CAN SMELL A GAS LEAK COMING FROM MY AZTEC. I DO KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM AND IT WAS NEVER HONORED BECAUSE THERE WAS NONE AT THAT TIME. THERE IS NOW A LEAK AS WELL AS A MAJOR SMELL OF FUEL COMING FROM IT. I DID CALL ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HONOR IT EVEN THOU IT WAS NEVER REPLACED THE FIRST TIME. IT IS GOING TO COST ME ABOUT $1500 TO HAVE IT REPLACE....I DO BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE HONOR. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AND SPOKE WITH THE OWNERS. AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER TO HAVE IT REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT EVEN THOU THE RECALL WAS NEVER DONE ON IT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

NOT EXACTLY SURE OF THE DATE OF THESE INCIDENTS, BUT I CAN SMELL FUMES COMING THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN I AM DRIVING, HAD TO GET THIS CHECKED A FEW WEEKS AGO. THE MECHANIC SAID THE GAS WAS LEAKING REPLACED THIS PART. I AM STILL SMELLING SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE AREA. I AM NOT SURE WHAT AND WHY. THE VEHICLE ALSO FEELS LIKE IT IS SHAKING WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKES ARE FINE. IT USUALLY DOES IT WHEN I AM BRAKING AND ALSO WHEN I GO PAST 40MPH. IT HAS GOTTEN REALLY BAD THAT I AM THINKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF VEHICLE AND NOT HAVING A VEHICLE. ALSO, I CAN HEAR A CRANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I AM TURNING THAT MAKES ME THINK THE VEHICLE IS BREAKING IN HALF. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS CAP LAST YEAR AS WELL FOR FUMES. *TR

SINCE OCTOBER 31ST. MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF ABOUT 15 WHILE DRIVING, I LOSE POWER OF MY STEERING AND CANNOT MOVE MY CAR. I SAW TODAY THAT THERE IS A GM IGNITION RECALL BUT MY CAR IS NOT INVOLVED WHEN I CALL GM.

I HAD A FLAT TIRE, REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. I WAS UNAWARE OF THE ACTUAL MILEAGE THAT WAS ON MY CAR AT THAT TIME. PULLED OVER AND CHANGED FLAT TIRE WITH SPARE DOUGHNUT TIRE (WHICH IS A JOKE). I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE OFF AND THE ABS LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON AND SAID IT WAS DISABLED. I CONTINUED DRIVING TO LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER IN HOOD RIVER, OR.. THEY SAID THE FLAT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO SELL ME 1 TIRE SINCE MY VEHICLE IS AWD. I LIMPED BACK HOME TO PORTLAND ON THE 35 MPH SPARE TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET CHEAPER TIRES THROUGH ANOTHER DEALER BUT WHEN MY NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON MY ABS NEVER REACTIVATED AND TO THIS DAY THE LIGHT STAYS ON SAYING IT IS DISABLED. IT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRIVING A 1973 MONTE CARLO VS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PLACES CHECK IT OUT AND THEY HAVE SAID IT IS IN THE WHEEL SENSORS??? ALL 4? I HAD THEM REPLACED AND IT STILL SAYS THE ABS IS DISABLED. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? AND THIS WENT OUT OVER HAVING A FLAT TIRE?? I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE IT TO DEALER. PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO TO GET THIS FIXED. IT IS ANNOYING AT BEST. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN W/O WARNING/SYMPTOMS. MY LIGHTS STILL WORKED BUT THE VEHICLE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP OTHERWISE AND I COASTED TO A STOP MID ROADWAY. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND IN THE ON POSITION AND WOULDN'T LET ME TURN KEY TO ANY OTHER POSITION AND KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT SO I SAT UNTIL BATTERY DIED WHICH SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF.WHEN VEHICLE INITIALLY LOST POWER AND CAME TO A STOP I TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AND ATTEMPT A RESTART WHICH IS WHEN I REALIZED THE KEY AND IGNITION WOULDN'T MOVE AND THEN VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE OUT OF PARK EITHER.ALSO AT THE MOMENT MY CAR SHUT DOWN,I GLANCED DOWN AT DASH AND SAW SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE FLASH STATING ABS ERROR BUT WAS UNSURE IF THIS WAS THE ONLY MESSAGE IT HAD FLASHED OR IF THIS WAS JUST THE LAST ONE THAT I CAUGHT AND THEY HAD POSSIBLY ALL FLASHED AS PART OF THE MALFUNCTION BUT HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING BRAKE RELATED CAUSE AN ENTIRE VEHICLE SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN TOTALLY AND BE DEAD AS A RESULT WITH TOTAL LOCKUP OF ALL CONTROLS.I HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT CONFUSION FROM ALL OF THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS, MECHANIC FRIENDS, ETC.AS TO WHAT OR WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THEY ALL SUGGESTED THAT IT SEEMED TO BE MY COMPUTER OR ELECTRICAL POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD AND DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE OR CLICK OR ANYTHING BUT SILENCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POWER BACK AND RESTART. I HAD MY TWO KIDS WITH ME AND ONE WAS A BABY IN A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR OF A RAINSTORM AND THIS WAS MY VEHICLE STRANDED MID CORNER IN A BLIND SPOT WITH NO WAY OF MOVING CAR FROM DANGER OF MIDDLE OF ROAD OR EVEN BEING ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY SO AS TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE OUT OF SAFETY CONCERN.THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CASE OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS VEHICLE FROM WHAT I AM READING ON CONSUMER REPORTED INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS/INVESTIGATIONS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND IT IS ALL ELECTRICAL ERROR RELATED. *TR

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

MY ANTI LOCK BRAKES COME ON WITHOUT WARNING ALL THE TIME. EVEN IF ITS A SIMPLE STOP SIGN OR IM TURNING A CORNER. I CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION UNDER MY FEET AND MY ANTI-LOCK LIGHT COMES ON, THE DASH. ITS VERY SCARY. I BOUGH MY CAR NOT EVEN 6 MONTHS AGO FROM A LOCAL DEALER. THE BRAKE ISSUE STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS IN TO ME HAVING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE FOR THESE TYPES OF CARS. SOMETHING ABOUT A SENSOR INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. ITS IS VERY UNSAFE AND FROM THE THINGS I'VE READ A VERY COMMON ISSUE. *TR

IN THE MIDDLE OF TURNING ON A BUSY ROAD I SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER TO MY CAR. IT SEEMED AS IF MY CAR WAS SHUT OFF BUT THE IGNITION WAS STILL IN THE ON POSITION. I ALMOST HIT/SIDE SWIPED 3 DIFFERENT CARS. THIS HAS BEEN A RECURRING ISSUE SINCE ABOUT FEB. 2014. I HAVE GONE TO DIFFERENT SHOPS AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG. FIRST IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR, THEN POSSIBLY A BAD SEAL ON MY GAS CAP, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I'VE GONE THROUGH FIXING EVERYTHING THEY SAY AND NOW EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE AT A LOSS. I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO TURN. *TR