Problems · by component

2001 Pontiac Aztek air bags problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Aztek cite air bags, 11% of all 227 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
26
11% of all complaints
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2015Air bagsODI 10714071
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2012Air bagsODI 10464429
“FRONT CRASH AGAINST A SOLID CORNER OF A BUILDING, APROX SPEED CRASH 45 MPH. GM DID NOT WANT TO REPAIR OR REPLACED, INSTEAD FACED A TRIAL WHERE THEY COMMITTED A FRAUD AND OTHER FELONIOUS, ALL OF THEM PROVEN, STILL AFTER NEARLY 9 YEARS STILL FACING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CHARGES. GM DEALER WITH FALSE STATEMENT STILL NOW A DAYS KEEPS THE VEHICLE, SAME THAT STILL CAN BE ANALYZED NOW A DAYS BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. LOTS OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY GM, DEALERS, LAWYERS AND EXPERT WITNESSES. REGRET VERY MUCH SUCH A POOR BEHAVIOR OF GM, I MA READY TO SUPPLY AS MUCH INFORMATION AS NEEDED, PHOTOS, REPORTS, AND COURTS DOCUMENTS THAT PROVES THEIR FELONIOUS. A GM EXPERT WITNESS SUBMITTED TO THE COURT A FALSE REPORT, AND ALSO BOUGHT THE OFFICIAL EXPERT WITNESS OF THE COURT, THESE FELONIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVED BYTHE COURT, THAT IS WHY NOW THEY ARE FACING A CIVIL AND CRIMINAL CHARGES, FOR GM IF NOT QUALITY GOOD IS THE FRAUD!!!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2010Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10315325
“FUEL LEAKAGE: SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING-INABILITY TO MAKE A GOOD SEAL... TANK-LEAKAGE FUEL/EMISSIONS- DETECT PROBLEM CURRENTLY PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY NEED PIN REPLACE: WISH TO HAVE ALL CHECKED OUT! SAFETY CHILD SEAT HOLDER MAY NOT BE FUNCTIONAL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2008Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Interior lighting, Equipment, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10247857
“2001 AZTEK PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE PARKED. *TS ***NAR*** THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG, LEFT THE CONSUMERS FIANCE AND TWO CHILDREN WITH TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2006Air bagsODI 10157372
“DT: INSTRUMENT PANEL AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. DEALER SAYS THE AIR BAG ON PASSENGER SIDE IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER SAYS MOISTURE GETS UNDER FLOOR MATS AND GETS INTO WIRES OF AIR BAGS. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WOULD PAY HALF TO GET IT FIXED. HAS NOT HAD PROBLEM FIXED YET. CONSUMER THINKS IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND HAS CONCERNS FOR HIS PASSENGERS SAFETY OR SAFETY TO OTHERS. *NM *SB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2005Air bagsODI 10120751

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

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 AFTERWARD.

Air bagsReported Dec 9, 2002NHTSA 02V329000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Feb 1, 2001NHTSA 01V026000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.