2004 Pontiac AZTEK problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
67 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
48,146 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 53 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 67 complaints (14.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 25.4% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 14.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 14.9% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 13.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 7.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 8 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 5 |
Electrical System: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 8; Engine: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 5
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 14 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 13 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
2004: 13; 2005: 5; 2006: 8; 2007: 9; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 5; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 7; 2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 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 10074322 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING AREA THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE STEERING COLUMN AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT A POWER STEERING PUMP WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING COLUMN IS STILL WHINING AND THE BRAKES ARE STILL GRINDING AND THE STARTER IS STILL HESITATING. *NM THE FRONT AND BACK BUMPERS SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A LOT OF PLAY, THE WINDSHIELD CONTAINED NUMEROUS CHIPS, THE WINDOWS SQUEALED WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING, THERE WAS A CONSTANT WHINING SOUND COMING FR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080297 · 2004-07-01 (July 1, 2004)
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, A WINDING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT. THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE DRIVER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESTARTED IT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10080297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10100775 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
GAS LEAKING FROM THE AREA NEAR THE FUEL TANK WAS NOTICED WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE. PREVIOUS TO THAT THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A APARTMENT PARKING LOT, SO THE GAS LEAK MAY HAVE EXISITED DAYS EARLIER. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FIRES BECAUSE OF THIS BEFORE IT WAS DETECTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE WHOLE FUEL TANK AND SEAL. GAS WAS APPARENTLY LEAKING FROM A SEAM IN THE FUEL TANK. THOUGH SOME 2004 AZTEKS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, MINE WAS APPARENTLY NOT ON THE RECALL LIST.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10100775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164180 · 2006-08-02 (August 2, 2006)
THE WELD BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE AND THE FUEL TANK HAS FAILED CAUSING A GAS LEAK. THERE WAS AN EARLIER RECALL ISSUED (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V454/GM RECALL NO. 03055) THAT WAS LIMITED TO 79 VEHICLES. I OWN A 2004 MODEL THAT IS NOT ONE OF THE 79 VEHICLES AND I AM ENCOUNTERING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS WHAT IS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL. I BELIEVE MORE VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED THAT WHAT IS NOTED BY GM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 37,589 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116708 · 2005-04-11 (April 11, 2005)
DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED IN A PARKING LOT BY MYSELF, MY VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON ME. THE BATTERY LIGHT FLASHED AND I LOST THE STEERING AND BRAKES. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO GM AND WAS TAKEN TO WAYNE WOODRUMS PONTIAC DEALERSHIP IN MACOMB, IL. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, THERE WERE NO CODES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE INCLUDING BRAKING ISSUES THAT CAN NOT BE FIXED, PCV VALVE FAILURE, AND CURRENTLY IT IS STRUGGLING WHILE DRIVING AND LOUD RATTLING, I A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201785 · 2007-09-04 (September 4, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND DISCOVERED A FUEL VALVE LEAK. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR UNDER RECALL NUMBER 07V349000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE). THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $804. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IGNITION WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD START AFTER THE THIRD ATTEMPT. THE DEALER ALSO REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER RECALL NUMBER 05V157000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,901 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10604980 · 2014-06-21 (June 21, 2014)
THE GAUGES MESSED UP FIRST NONE OF THE GAUGES WORK SOMETIMES THE SPEED ODOMETER WILL MOVE BUT DOES NOT WORK . THE CAR ALSO WHEN ACCELRATING THE GAS IT WONT GO THE WAY IT SHOULD IT TAKES ALONG TIME TO BUILD UP SPEED. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON THIS CAR TRYING TO GET IT TO RUN PROPER I HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP AT G.M.C TO HAVE THE ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ISSUE THEY REPLACED A PART BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM THEY HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND THIS WAS TEAGUE CHEVROLET-BUICK INC MABAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 122,948 miles reported. Look up ODI 10604980 at NHTSA ↗