Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Pontiac Aztek problems
Owners filed 34 complaints about the 2005 Pontiac Aztek with NHTSA between May 2005 and Oct 2019. The most-cited component is electrical system (9).
Complaints
34
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system9
- Engine4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Power train4
- Vehicle speed control3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Wheels2
- Service brakes2
- Steering2
- Air bags2
- Seats2
- Exterior lighting1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Suspension1
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
2
0
3
4
1
0
5
2
5
4
0
2
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
9 reports
“WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON AN EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND IS HEARD. THE NOISE CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASH AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THERE IS A LOUD CRACKLING SOUND. NO GAUGES WORK CORRECTLY. THEY EITHER PEG OUT OR OPERATE OUT OF THE EXPECTED RANGE OF OPERATION. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON. THE AWD LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THE GAS GAUGE ALWAYS BELOW "E". *TR”
Engine
4 reports
“THE VEHICLE WILL CUT COMPLETELY OFF WHILE COMING TO A STOP. WHILE IN MOTION AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO ANY KIND OF STOP, IT TURNS COMPLETELY OFF. IT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2015. WHETHER COMING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY, OR JUST COMING TO A STOP SIGN ON A CITY STREET, THE VEHICLE CUTS COMPLETELY OFF.”
Fuel system, gasoline
4 reports
“THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT DETECT IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OR WHY THE FUEL ODOR WAS SO STRONG. THIS ONLY SEEM TO HAPPEN IN THE COLD WEATHER MONTHS THE SMELLL IS A LOT STRONGER WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING BUT STILL RUNNING IN TRAFFIC OR WARMING UP OR AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR”
Power train
4 reports
“FAILURE OF INTERLOCK TRANSMISSION SYSTEM ON A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED FULLY, AND THE BUTTON ON THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTER WOULD NOT PUSH IN. THIS IS ON A VEHICLE WITH 27,361 MILES ON IT, AND AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, HAD TO BE TOWED, ANDS A CABLE FIXED/REPAIRED. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
3 reports
“ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE DISABLED AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, IN MY CAR I HAVE NO POWER CAN REALLY MAKE IT UP A HILL DOESN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE, IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. AND THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK”
Fuel/propulsion system
3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CORRODED AND LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.”
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.