2003 Pontiac Aztek review from North America

I leased a 2003 Aztek in late 2002, got it because it was a good price, and I needed lots of space. I specificaly requsted the aztek to have various options, it never came with them and I took a bunch of exterior add-ons instead of what I had ordered.

The first problem with the car was when it was less that a year old, it would just shut off while driving... The brakes don't last, and need frequent replacement, the service light is on all the time, GM has no reason for this. The heater gave out in the second year - and we live in a climate that req. only 3 months of use per year... About 3 months a go it had to go in for serious work, the car was over-heating, and it was a crack in the manifold. Presently it had a brake job about 2500KM ago and it is now making a thumping sound when you brake, the car makes a slight knocking sound at times, and yesterday it stalled at the intersection and now is not running smooth. It is scheduled to go in to the GM dealership by tow-truck, as it will not make it on it's own... And as for simple stupid problems, the lights on the radio, heat/air knobs are burnt out, the hatch never opens right, sometimes when you start it, you cannot get it in gear and you have to turn it off and start it again, the transmission seems to lock in park.

Overall, I cannot wait for the lease to end in 10 months, I wanted to trade it early, but GM won't take it back early even for another GM. Also if I were to trade it any other dealer would only give me about $7000, that is $3000 less than the buy-out at lease end. I think GM knows it is a problem car! For a car still on warranty and with far less than average KM on it this is a joke that it has had so many problems.