2001 Pontiac Aztek service brakes, hydraulic problems

“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”

“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”

“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”

“AIR CONDITIONING REPLACED 4 TIMES AT MY OWN EXPENSE ONCE WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SHORTLY AFTER IT BROKE AGAIN DUE TO DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AS STATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. HOLE IS CREATED DUE TO BRACKET AND COOLANT LEAKS OUT. THE PURCHASE AND INSTALL OF A NEW ONE HAS COST ME $1200 EACH TIME IT HAPPENS AND FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS I'VE JUST DRIVEN WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING DUE TO THE COST FACTOR AND KNOWING IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE NEXT 2 MONTHS. EVERYTIME IT WAS REPLACED IT WAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM A HOLE IN THE CONDENSER. I'VE HEAR COMPLAINTS FROM EVERY ATZEK OWNER I'VE MET ABOUT THE AIR CONDITIONING AND STILL PONTIAC REFUSES TO FESS US TO THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS I'VE HAD TO DRIVE AROUND IN 90+ DEGREE HEAT WITHOUT AIR BECAUSE OF THIS. I'M A FIELD TECHNICIAN AND I'M TRAVELING YEAR ROUND. I HAD AN 88 GRAND PRIX PREVIOUSLY AND THAT HAD ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND I SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON BRAKES ONLY TO RECEIVE A LETTER 2 YEARS AFTER I GOT RID OF THE CAR CLAIMING I CAN GET MONEY BACK DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE BRAKES. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE WAY PONTIAC DESIGNED THE AC. THEY SHOULD…”

“GRADUAL LOSS OF BRAKING DUE TO A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE. BRAKE FLUID FROM THE LEAKING BRAKE LINE DRIPPED ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING A FIRE. THE BRAKE LINE WAS RECONSTRUCTED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC. NO DAMAGE TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. *TR”

“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”