U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Pontiac AZTEK problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

34 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

56,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 30 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 34 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	7	20.6%
Electrical and battery issues	4	11.8%
Fuel system concerns	4	11.8%
Transmission and shifting	3	8.8%
Engine operation	2	5.9%
Steering behavior	2	5.9%

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

Engine

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel/Propulsion System

Vehicle Speed Control

Power Train

Power Train:Axle Assembly

Seats

Electrical System: 7; Engine: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 2; Seats: 2

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: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 4 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.

2005

2006

2008

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014

2015

2017

2019

2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 4; 2017: 2; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 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 10128685 · 2005-07-13 (July 13, 2005)

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK ON JULY 1, 2005. SEVEN DAYS LATER, WITH 611 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, OR EVEN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DRIVER JIGGLED THE WIRES LEADING TO THE BATTERY. ALTHOUGH HE SAID THEY DIDN'T FEEL LOOSE, THE VEHICLE DID START AFTER THAT. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM, THEY TESTED IT, AND TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS NOR DUPLICATE THE PR…

Owner-reported narrative. 611 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128685 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10145380 · 2005-12-06 (December 6, 2005)

ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO RESPOND ON 2005 AZTEK. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** DURING AN ABRUPT STOP THE ABS FAILED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND HIT THE SIDE OF A VAN WHICH WAS COMING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOT HE DEALER THE WEEK BEFORE TO HAVE THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THE FOUND NO PROBLEMS. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING THIS ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 25,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10145380 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10158998 · 2006-06-05 (June 5, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE AUGUST 19TH, 2005. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSIST. IN MAY A FLIGHT RECORDER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158998 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10453179 · 2012-03-27 (March 27, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 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. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 A…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453179 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552434 · 2013-11-15 (November 15, 2013)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552434 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10264957 · 2009-04-10 (April 10, 2009)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 27,351 miles reported. Look up ODI 10264957 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10457093 · 2012-05-01 (May 1, 2012)

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457093 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10121751 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)

FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR ERRATIC WITH HALF TANK OR LESS. WHEN THIS OCCURS AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DOWNHILL, IT STALLS. DEALER REPLACED FUEL SENDER AND/OR PUMP ASSEMBLY. SAME THING HAPPENED 9 DAYS LATER.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121751 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10704328 · 2015-04-07 (April 7, 2015)

THE VEHICLE HAS SEEMED TO STALL TWICE. UPON FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE DRIVER, THE STEERING ALSO LOCKED. THIS SEEMED SIMILAR OF THE SAME AS THE GM RECALL FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES AND KEY SLOTS. PONTIAC WAS CONTACTED BUT THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL, WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THAT REPAIRS WOULD BE THE EXPENSE OF THE OWNER. PONTIAC DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT A POTENTIAL EXTENSION OF THE GM RECALL LIST. WOULDN'T YOU THINK THAT GM WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING IF THE PONTIAC AZTEK IS AFFECTED. WE …

Owner-reported narrative. 72,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10159050 · 2006-06-05 (June 5, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT AND WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT THE STEERING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST OCCASION FEBRUARY 28, 2006 THE STEERING SHAFT WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND MARCH 29, 2006 THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE THIRD OCCASION MAY 22, 2006 THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEARS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING HAS NOT BEEN C…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,056 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159050 at NHTSA ↗