2001 Pontiac Aztek engine and engine cooling problems

“PURCHASED THE PONTIAC 2001 AZTEK FROM A DEALER USED. THE FIRST WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SECOND WEEK THE SERVICE VEHICLE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE THERMOMETER GAUGE WAS STUCK IN COLD, TOOK THE CAR TO CHECKERS AUTOPARTS TO DIAGNOSE. WAS A BAD THERMOSTAT. ANOTHER WEEK LATER THE ENGINE STARTED OVERHEATING. STOPPED CHECKED COOLANT. WAS GONE OUT OF THE RESERVOIR, WHICH I JUST HAD FILLED AT JIFFY LUBE THAT MORNING. STOPPED BY THEM AGAIN, THEY CHECKED THE LIQUIDS, FOUND COOLANT MIXED IN WITH THE OIL. ADVISED NOT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE IT CAN MESS UP THE ENGINE. CALLED DEALER AND HAD THEM TOW IT. THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR THE PAST 4 DAYS. STATED THAT IT WAS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WONDERING IF THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE AFTER READING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING IT. AND ALSO IF PONTIAC WOULD FIX IT. *TR”

“2001 PONTIAC AZTEK TRUCK. CONSUMER SENT DOCUMENTS REGARDING WORK DONE TO VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED *JB”

“MY CAR STARTED TO RUN HOT AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS DROVE ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE, BUT THE FLUID WASN'T HOT. MY HUSBAND REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, HOSES, A COOLING SENSOR, AND SOME OTHER THINGS. WHEN NONE OF THAT WORKED, WE TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP AND THEY TOLD US WE NEED HEAD GASKETS. WE HAVE A 2001 AZTEK AND WHEN WE GOT THE CAR IN 2004, THE GASKETS BLEW BUT IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE JOB. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE AND GIVE US ALL SOME RELIABLE CARS AND TRUCKS! *TR”

“2001 PONTIAC AZTEK I HAVE REPLACED THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE GASKETS AS WELL AS THERMOSTAT AT QUITE AND EXPENSE AND NOW THE HEAD GASKETS ARE BLOWN. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 3.4 L FROM GM AND IT STILL HASN'T BEEN RECALLED OR FIXED TO THE CONSUMERS BEHALF?I HAVE READ THAT IT WAS BLAMED ON THE DEX-COOL COOLANT THAT GM USED FROM MID 90'5- PRESENT IF THAT'S THE CASE WHY ISN'T GM HELD RESPONSIBLE IF THEY KNOW THEIR COOLANT IS THE CAUSE OF GASKET BREAKDOWN? *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVING A FREE OIL CHANGE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE INTO THE ENGINE. GENERAL MOTORS ADVISED HIM TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO A PONTIAC DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WARRANTY AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LATER CHANGED THERE MIND. THE REFERENCE NUMBER FROM GENERAL MOTORS WAS 71-616597877. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,595 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,575.”

“I WAS FINDING ANTIFREEZE IN MY OIL. TOOK TO THE SHOP AND HAD TO HAVE THE INTAKE GASKET AND THE MANIFOLD GASKET REPLACED. ALSO HAD TO HAVE A NEW THERMOSTAT AND PVC VALVE. IT COST ALMOST $900.00. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEMS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 2 TIMES AND BRAKE SHOES 2 TIMES. ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEATER FIXED. NOW THE AC DOES NOT WORK. HAD TO HAVE THE WINDOW CONTROL UNIT REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. HAD TO HAVE COMPUTER COMPONENTS REPLACED BECAUSE THE BATTERY WENT BAD WITH NO NOTICE. AND NOW THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. TO FIX THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO COST ME $200 THAT IS JUST FOR THE WHOLE MOTOR AND CONNECTING RODS. BECAUSE IT IS A FACTORY ONLY PART. ALL TOGETHER I HAVE PAID ALMOST $2,000.00. THE AC IS THE CONDENSER WHICH IS ANOTHER $300.00. I HAVE HAD AND LOVED GM VEHICLES FOR AWHILE. BUT THIS KIND OF THING HAS NEVER BEEN A PROBLEM.....SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE. *JB”