Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Pontiac Aztek problems

Owners filed 130 complaints about the 2002 Pontiac Aztek with NHTSA between Feb 2002 and Apr 2017. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (23).

Complaints
130
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling23
  2. Electrical system20
  3. Suspension20
  4. Fuel system, gasoline19
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic12
  6. Structure11
  7. Equipment11
  8. Latches/locks/linkages10
  9. Power train9
  10. Exterior lighting8
  11. Fuel system, other5
  12. Visibility5
  13. Fuel/propulsion system4
  14. Engine3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20025
200317
200416
200524
200617
200713
200817
20093
20104
20110
20123
20134
20142
20151
20163
20171

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

23 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE HEAD GASKET OVERHEATED ON THE VEHICLE. HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT BY THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE RISING ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10369915

Electrical system

20 reports
“AS NOTED IN PREVIOUS STATEMENTS THIS VEHICLE IS DIFFICULTY AT STARTING AND CRANKING AT VARIOUS SITUATION. PLAYING THE RADIO WITH ENGINE OFF, MUST WAIT TEN MINUTES BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START, THEN IT MAY CRANK OR YOU HAVE TO START OVER. ITS NOT THE RADIO ITS THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AS DONE IN THE PAST. IT DOESN'T MATTER, STOP, OR MOVING IT HAS DONE ALL YOU MENTION, AND WITH THE LIGHTS OFF AT NIGHT YOU CAN INJURED A PEDESTRIAN OR OURSELVES. THIS CAR WAS RECALL AND IT WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN FIX BUT HERE WE STUCK HERE FROM 04/07/17 POSSIBLY WILL GET HELP FROM THE NEAREST GMC CAR DEALER ON 04/10/17. KEEP ALL THIS INFORMATION FOR OFFICIAL USED ONLY. THANKS UPDATED 05/17/17*LJ UPDATED 07/25/2017*JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 8, 2017Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 10971442

Suspension

20 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FIRST FAILURE WAS JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 40-45, RPMS REACHED 3000-3100. WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE RPMS REACHED 1500-1700. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS REVIEWING THE INFORMATION FROM THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF REPAIRS WERE WARRANTED AND WHETHER GM WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/17/2012 *JS *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2012Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlODI 10467524

Fuel system, gasoline

19 reports1 fire1 related recall
“2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FUEL ODORS AND LEAKS BY THE FUEL TANK INLET. CONSUMERS INTERNET SEARCH FOUND AN EXPIRED RECALL BULLETIN FOR THE SAME ISSUE, REQUESTS ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FUEL SMELL WAS STRONGER AFTER HE FILLED UP. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 2, 2016Fuel system, gasolineODI 10870973

Service brakes, hydraulic

12 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE TRACTION LIGHT. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE ODOMETER ALSO MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 23, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10372198

Structure

11 reports
“THE CLEAR ENAMEL HAS BEEN COMING OFF MY 2002 AZTEK VERY BADLY...IT HAS BEEN FOR THE PAST YEAR. IS THIS NORMAL...THE ENGINE BONNET IS TERRIBLE AND ALL ABOVE THE DOORS AND HATCHBACK. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 9, 2009StructureODI 10254415
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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