2001 Pontiac AZTEK: complaints, problems and recalls

2001 PONTIAC AZTEK HAS WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. GM SAYS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND THERE ARE OVER 2000 OF THESE PARTS ON BACK ORDER. CAN CAN'T BE DRIVEN, NOR CAN IT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT THE PART. GM SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000812 at NHTSA ↗

STUDDED SNOW TIRES WERE PURCHASED AND PUT ON BY GULF SERVICE STATION IN PITTSFIELD, ME ON 12/03/02. ON 01/01/03 THE DRIVER FRONT SNOW TIRE "BLEW OFF" RIM OF WHEEL. TIRE WAS NOT RECOVERED AT ACCIDENT SITE. TIRE COULD NOT BE FOUND BY NY STATE TROOPER NOR MY HUSBAND! VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED.

Owner-reported narrative. 58,214 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000846 at NHTSA ↗

WARRANTY WORK WAS DONE WHICH INCLUDED ROTATING TIRES. WHEN TIRES WERE ROTATED, THREE TIRES WERE NOTED WITH INNER EDGE CUPPING AND DAMAGE. THE SRV IS AN AZTEC AND THE TIRES ARE WILDERNESS HTS. NILES IS A AUTHORIZED DEALER AND STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES, WILL NOT REPLACE.TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000945 at NHTSA ↗

SOON AFTER PURCHASE THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE THAT BEGAN IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE CLICKING NOISE THEN TURNED INTO A POPPING NOISE THAT COULD BE FELT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THERE IS WIND NOISE ON THE LEFT FRONT DOOR POST, NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF VEHICLE, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS INOPERABLE, THE HORN IS INOPERABLE, AND THE WIPERS DO NOT TURN OFF AT TIMES. *JG *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001473 at NHTSA ↗

FUEL TANK DROPPED PARTIALLY, CAUSING SPARKS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002277 at NHTSA ↗

I OWNED A PONTIAC AZTEK 2001. I USE TO NOTICE THIS CAR / SUV FREQUENTLY SWAYED WITH BREEZE - MORE SO THAN OTHER CARS I HAVE DRIVEN. ON A WINDY DAY AROUND 10:30 PM NIGHT WHILE DRIVING WITH FAMILY ON A FREEWAY (US23 S) NEAR FENTON MI, WE NOTICED EXCESSIVE FREEZING WINDS CAUSING THE THE CAR TO SWAY ABNORMALLY. FINALLY IT SWAYED WITH THE BREEZE PUSHING THE CAR TO THE NEXT LANE ( I WAS ON THE FAST LANE ON THE TWO LANE FREWAY) BUT INSTEAD OF RETURNING BACK.. IT CONTINUED THE SLIDE. IT APPEARS WE HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND WITH THE FORCE OF THE WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002736 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAGS. ALSO STATED THAT HER SIZE WILL ACTUALLY NOT ALLOW HER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAS AN AIR BAG. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004726 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014650 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-02-01 (February 1, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINIVANS. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR MODULES WERE BUILT WITHOUT THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF GENERANT, WHICH PRODUCES THE GAS THAT FILLS THE AIR BAG. SOME WERE BUILT WITH A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT AND SOME WERE BUILT WITHOUT GENERANT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT WOULD TRIGGER A PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, A DOUBLE LOAD OF GENERANT CAN CAUSE THE INFLATOR MODULE TO EXPLODE. IF THE AIR BAG MODULE EXPLODES, METAL AND PLASTIC DEBRIS COULD CAUSE SEVERE INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANT. A MODULE WITH NO GENERANT WOULD NOT INFLATE THE AIR BAG, AND THE OCCUPANTS COULD RECEIVE MORE SEVERE INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE. TELEPHONE CALLS WERE MADE TO OWNERS ON JANUARY 29, 2001. FOLLOW UP OWNER MAILING BEGAN ON APRIL 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000.

Reported: 2001-12-13 (December 13, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS BUILT WITH SECOND ROW 50/50 SPLIT BENCH SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SEAT LATCH ANCHOR WIRE DIAMETER IS GREATER THAN 6.1 MM.

Consequence: IF THE CONNECTOR FOR A LATCH-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY TO THE ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT A CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LATCH ANCHOR WIRES AND REPAIR THOSE WITH AN IMPROPER DIAMETER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 10, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

Reported: 2002-12-09 (December 9, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.

Reported: 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Reported: 2007-08-08 (August 8, 2007)

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).

Consequence: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.