2002 Pontiac Aztek problems
The 2002 Pontiac Aztek has 173 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (16%) concerns fuel system. After that come suspension (13%) and electrical system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 173 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 16% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 3 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 2 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 67,000 miles 119 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 10 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 22 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 22 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 30 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 15 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 8 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 2 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Among the 119 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 66,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 78,000 miles (22 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 3 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 2 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the Pontiac Aztek with enough data (108 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I was stopped at a traffic signal behind another vehicle. I was rear ended by another vehicle at approximately 40 MPH. I was wearing my seat belt. The back of the drivers seat failed, causing me to fall backward and hit my knees on the plastic panels on the underside of the steering column. When I hit the vehicle in front of me, since the seat belt was now slack, the inertia locks were rendered ineffective and I hit the steering wheel, causing injuries to my chest and forearms.
While driving and when using the brakes, the brakes will work intermittently and the brake pedal will go to the floor, causing extended stopping distance. Dealer will be notified. Consumer stated when he tried to brake, the vehicle did not stop and he ran into a rail. Consumer was injured, consumer was infomred the brakes needed to be adjusted.
Fuel tank filler sprayed fuel onto exhaust pipe while under normal interstate driving conditions. My wife smelled an electrical burning smell about 10 minutes prior to the fire while fueling at a service station. She dismissed it since there was a nearby construction crew that was burning trash in barrels. She thought perhaps it was something they were burning. After a visual inspection of the vehicle, we continued on.
The failure was the cooling system. Keep in mind I take good care of my cars. All of a sudden it got hot with no warning signs. After only 47000 miles, my pontiac started to leak coolant from everywhere. So I took it to a pontiac dealer were they seen I needed a new thermostat, water pump,and upper and lower intake gaskets and seals. After it was all said and done. I had to pay 1,200 dollars !
Had to replace 5 wheel bearings AC condensers rear latch does not unlatch at times dealer said they put on a stronger spring still only works half the time. Transmission went out at 70,000 driver door gets out of line because of hinge bending.