2002 Pontiac Aztek from North America - Comments

2156 klm - Polin Filters not installed at factory. Rear hatch not closing well, Radio cutting in and out.

3830 klm - Replaced Radio/CD player.

4454 Klm - still having issues with rear hatch.

7405 Klm - Rear hatch not adjusted properly.

7442 Klm - Clunking in rear Suspension replaced right rear shock, Insterment panel info center flashing (One connector at BCM not fully seated reconnected one connector at BCM)

8038 Klm - Squeal from engine on cold start ups, oil light stays on for one minute, Clunk in rear Suspension (left rear shock ordered), rear hatch not opening, wind noise on pass front door (Adjusted right front door striker)

8397 klm - left rear shock leaking internally (shock abosrber rear replaced)

9675 klm - Heater shaking whole vehicle replaced pollin filters.

14046 klm - Lags in power when driving, rattle in dash, Left Rear weatherstrip comming off, Transmission chugging.

15669 klm - Shakes when braking (resurface front rotors and installed 6 thou shim in left front and 3 thou in right front)

18927 klm - Installed new rotors, drivers door loose (adjusted striker)

21058 klm - rattle noise from under drivers feet, Rear hatch not releasing.

29432 klm - Heater/Air not working replaced relay trace to ignition.

31458 klm - Pass side seat cushion foam shifted, Squeal in front brakes (installed squeal kit), Drivers door rattles, clunk in front end (Left front control arm bushing seperation)

32344 klm - Replaced left front lower control arm bushing, shim needed in drivers door as hanging down.

32560 klm - Clunking noise in rear.

I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone due to continuing problems.

What is a Polin filter?

I have also had many problems with my '02 Aztek. After 2 1/2 yrs, I feel it was the biggest mistake I've made purchasing a vehicle. Both front hubs were replaced as well as the right rear one. A water leak inside the car led to corrosion of important wires that caused the car to just shut off while driving (thank god for roadside assist). The radio stations are not consistently clear when driving in neighboring communities. The rear hatch does not open in the winter... unfortunatly I am over my lemon law provision and am stuck till I can get myself out of this car... the next one won't be a GM.

LET ME SAY THIS - "I Love driving the Aztek. I Love the gas mileage, the comfort, the storage capacity etc... But I've been totally disappointed with its service RECORD.

Let me see where to start:

WITH THE VEHICLE LESS THAN A year old:

(1) Front Halogen and rear brake lights needed replacing.

(2) The left front universal joint was defective (a typical problem with the Aztek) I wonder when the right front is going to go bad?

(3) Because of uncaring service - my Pontiac Service Team failed to notify me of uneven wear on the tires due to the bad univerasal joint so I ended up with four ruined tires.

(4) The drivers seat needed to be replaced due to abnormal wear due to poor padding design and placement on the joint for the reclining seat.

(5) The intake manifold was replaced.

With the vehicle just hitting the two year mark (Still Love to drive it) :

(6) The A/C now needs to be replaced.

(7) The Catalytic converter needed to be replaced.

I think my total dissatisfaction with my Pontiac Service Team and the 3-year, 36000 miles warranty (for what is considered a Good Quality Vehicle) really upsets me.

I was Happy with the service at first with the Pontiac Service Team - until my first major problem (Universal Jooint). Then I saw what they were made of - EXCUSES.

Then after my last oil change and tire rotation, when my my wife took the car home another problem occurred. This time after the tire rotation, the front end was out of whack. She brought the car back to the Pontiac Service Team to get more EXCUSES. What upset me the most - she was told that her tire was defective and needed to be replaced (that would have meant two tires needed replacing). I advised her to take the tire back to the tire dealer since it was no more than 3 months old. When she took the vehicle to our tire store they indicated the tire wasn't defective - just the wheel wasn't balanced. The tire was re-balanced and the drive is once again normal. Hmmm...

What really got me was the Pontiac Service Team indicated there was nothing to do, but replace the tire. Don't they know how to balance tires? He told my wife he ran a balance test and was unable balance the tire.

I hope this isn't typical at all Pontiac Service Centers, but I'll never go back to this one (the one where I purchased the car from). I am TOTALLY displeased!

Then as mentioned above (within two weeks) after the catalytic converter was replaced - the A/C Compressor went bad. Now don't think the car fits the State discription of a LEMON - but in my book it does.

Even though I still Love driving it!

I am the owner of this Pontiac Aztek with many problems. Here is the latest on this car: 34,040 klm - Oil leak in engine, front passenger seat needs new foam (no one ever uses this seat?) Strange rattle in rear end of car, drivers door again loose.. I am at the point were GM can keep the POS.

We purchased a 03 Pontiac Aztek in December of '02.

The monster has had nothing, but problems from day one:

1) rear hatch won't open

2) brake pads needed replacing at 13K

3) Wheel hubs needed replacing

4) Car has died twice while driving because of a water leak inside car from sunroof drain corroded fuel pump and other wires 2X

5) loud humming noise from engine (Tech said it is "NORMAL" - not.

We like the way it handles, but we will never every buy another Pontiac. We are afraid to drive the car because of the cost every time it breaks down. We didn't buy the extended warranty (estimated at $2,800) and we probably should have. I hope someone steals it so we can get rid of it. Did I mention we can't sell it because it has depreciated so much that we are upside down on our loan?

There should be a special place in hell for whomever came up with the Aztek...

I also have a red 2001 aztek. I have taken this tek to the dealer almost once a month for problems.

First the heater relay went, then the heater blower motor.

Then the BCM went bad.

Do yourselves a favor and look under the hood on the drivers side, most of you with over 30,000 miles will notice a coolant leak, the intake manifold gaskets will fail, this cost me $900.00+, I will never buy another Aztek again or pontiac for that matter, do youself a favor as well and don't by an aztek unless you have a very big bank account.

I love my 2002 Aztek, but I am SO disappointed with the reliability.

First, let me state that I BABY this car to no end. I follow the recommended service requirements, change the oil every 3,000 miles, and hand wash it at least once per week.

The car now has 40,000 miles, and I have had nothing but problems with it from Day One.

First, the head gasket went at 20,000 miles. Had the $1,500 repair done under warranty.

Then, a few thousand miles later, the A/C condenser went, and had to be replaced. A $900.00 repair, that was covered under warranty.

When the car hit 36,300 miles, both front wheel bearings wore out, but this time, the repair was on me. I made a federal case about this with Pontiac, and they agreed to pay 1/2 of the repair, but it still cost me $500.00. They also sent we a GM certificate worth $1500.00 toward the purchase of any GM vehicle, but it has to be used within a year.

Tonight, with the car just over 40,000 miles, all of the instrumentation lights went out. I checked all of the fuses and relays, but could not solve the problem. This will be another costly repair, and this time, it's all on me.

I've tried to trade in this lemon, which is perfect in appearance. However, I still owe 11 grand on it (even with the free financing), and no one will give me anything over 8 for it. One dealer offered $6000.00!

At this point, I will be forced to drive it until probably the fourth year, at which point I should have enough equity to get a decent trade-in dollar. But how much is going to cost me in the long run with its proven bad track record?

GM lives up to its reputation for stylish, smooth and enjoyable cars. However, they continue to drive away customers with their unreliable offerings. Next car for me? Toyota!

Oh yeah and did I mention the Pontiac Service was totally negligible. They replaced my fuel filter insisting that was the cause of the car not starting and when we picked it up from the dealership it did not start. Needless to say since August we are just now finding out it is the BCM module causing all the problems. No faith in Pontiac or GM for that matter.

I hate my Aztek; bought it used and have had nothing but trouble with it. It's been into the shop more often than being out. Most of my problems are in the wiring system and cause the AWD light to come on every time I make a left turn; this has happened 3 times to it so far...

Going to pick it up again tonight from the shop because another wiring problem happened yesterday. Something in the steering wheel that cause it to short out, and I could not turn the thing off and remove the key.

Like many others I have a rear hatch that will not pop open unless I am pushing the button on the remote and lifting it at the same time.