U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Pontiac AZTEK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

128 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

71,100 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 90 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 128 complaints (14.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	30	23.4%
Fuel system concerns	24	18.8%
Electrical and battery issues	12	9.4%
Steering behavior	10	7.8%
Engine operation	7	5.5%
Transmission and shifting	4	3.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

Fuel/Propulsion System

Fuel System, Gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Steering

Engine

Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System	19
Fuel/Propulsion System	12
Fuel System, Gasoline	10
Engine And Engine Cooling	9
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	8
Steering	8
Engine	6
Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing	6

Electrical System: 19; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Steering: 8; Engine: 6; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 8

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 38 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2022

2003: 15; 2004: 18; 2005: 17; 2006: 7; 2007: 16; 2008: 13; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 6; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 9; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10001887 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)

REPLACED ABS CONTROL UNIT MODULE DUE TO AN INTERNAL SHORT. ALSO, REPLACED FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001887 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10011718 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)

THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011718 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10108224 · 2005-01-29 (January 29, 2005)

1. DRIVING ON CITY STREET AND HIT A GOLF BALL SIZE ROCK 2. GAS TANK WAS PUNCTURED, AND BRAKE LINE WAS CRUSHED. DROVE FOR 4 MORE MILES BEFORE WE SMELLED THE GAS AND GOT OUT AND SAW IT SPRAYING OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR. THE FACT THAT IT DIDN'T EXPLODE IS A MIRACLE, I WAS WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD SON. 3. THE PONTIAC AZTEK, WHICH THIS CAR IS, IS PROMOTED AND ADVERTISED AS A VEHICLE FOR GOING OFF ROUD THROUGH DIRT ROADS AND STREAMS, THIS HAPPENED DRIVING ALONG A CITY STREET. THE MANUFATURER WON'T FIX THIS PROBLEM, TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A FUNDAMENTA…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108224 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10137013 · 2005-09-19 (September 19, 2005)

I HAVE A 2003 AZTEK AND THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN LEAKING FROM THE WELD AT THE CHECK VALVE AND THE TANK. I HAVE FOUND A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2004 MODELS WHEN I CALLED PONTIAC THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL BUT IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10137013 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10063323 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

ON 2/8/2004 CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING AND BEGAN TO SMOKE. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. TWO WEEKS AFTER BEING REPAIRED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TWICE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. *AK THE VEHICLE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WIRES WERE BURNT UP MAKING A HOLE IN THE WINDSHIELD FLUID CONTAINER. THE CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063323 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10086245 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)

AZTEK HAS STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. STALLS HAVE TAKEN PLACE DURING LOW SPEEDS (USUALLY 10-15 MPH) AND ALWAYS WHILE TURNING. HAS RESULTED IN STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION AS WELL AS OTHER UNSAFE SITUATIONS. WHEN STALLS THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND STEERING FREEZES AND MUST RESTART CAR. STARTS BACK UP WITH NO PROBLEM AND NO PROBLEM LIGHTS INDICATED ON DASHBOARD. SERVICE DEPARTMENT UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AND FIND NO CODES SET FOR INCIDENTS IN VEHICLES COMPUTER. STALLING HAS NOW OCCURRED FOUR TIMES, ALW…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,145 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086245 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068540 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED FORWARD WHILE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE IGNITION SWITCH ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALREADY STARTED. THE REAR HATCH COULD NOT BE OPENED BY THE BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN PARK THE GEAR SELECTOR COULD NOT BE MOVED I…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068540 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068668 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TOWARDS THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *AK *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068668 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10116984 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH GAUGES MALFUNCTIONED. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT WAY UP, AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND VEHICLE STALLED. DRIVER HAD TO WAIT 20 MINUTES TO AN HOUR BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD START UP AGAIN. OWNER DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER WASN'T TALKING TO THE DIAGNOSTIC. DEALER TOLD THE OWNER THAT THE DEFECTS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. YET, THESE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTED. ALSO, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116984 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060888 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)

2003 PONTIAC AZTEC FREELY ROLLS FORWARD(AS IF IN NEUTRAL) WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE, WHILE ON A GRADE, AND ALSO FREELY ROLLS BACKWARD(AS IF IN NEUTRAL) WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE, WHILE ON A GRADE. DEALERSHIP AND GM CONSIDER THIS NORMAL OPERATION. MY HUSBAND AND I DO NOT WE CONSIDER THIS TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR ANYONE WALKING OR DRIVING IN FRONT OR BEHIND US ON A GRADE WHERE YOU MAY HAVE TO STOP AND GO.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060888 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10161131 · 2006-06-30 (June 30, 2006)

2003 AZTEK WITH 65000 MILES HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED GM SAID I DID NOT HAVE FLUID CHANGED AT 50,000 MILES THAT THE TROUBLE WAS MY FAULT. I CONTACTED GM THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CONTACTED 3 OTHER TRANSMISSION SHOPS---ALL 3 SAID CHANGING THE FLUID WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THE PROBLEM. GM THEN TELLS ME THEY CAN NOT TAKE THE WORD OF ANOTHER MECHANIC BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GM CERTIFIED. I WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR. NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161131 at NHTSA ↗