2003 Pontiac AZTEK: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK AND WANTED TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE LATCH SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO MY OWNERS MANUAL THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE LATCH, HOWEVER IT IS MISSING THE REAR LATCH TETHERS. THE OWNERS MANUAL CLEARLY INDICATES FOR THE CENTER POSITION THE LATCH ANCHOR IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE SEAT ON THE FLOOR OF THE CARGO AREA, BUT THERE IS NO LATCH ANCHOR THERE. I AM NOT SURE IF SOME DESIGNER CHANGED THE POSITION OF THE LATCH ANCHOR AND DID NOT CHANGE THE OWNERS MANUAL BUT I HAVE LOOKED AND CAN FIND NO REAR LATCH ANCHOR FO…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010672 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

SEVERE NOISE PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING OVER 40 MPH WITH PASSENGER REAR WINDOW OPEN. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016482 at NHTSA ↗

ELECTRIC COOLING FANS MALFUNTIONED. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 6/30/2003 AND I HAVE NOTICED THE TEMP GUAGE FLUCTUATING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ELECTRIC COOLING FANS WERE NOT WORKING. THERE WERE ONLY 600 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 615 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026051 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATE REAR HATCH SPOILER BLOCKS REAR VIEW VISION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031765 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHENEVER HE TURNS A CORNER AND HITS A BUMP THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO WANT TO SKID AROUND TO THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HANDLING NORMALLY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032050 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHENEVER VEHICLE MAKES A TURN AROUND AT A CORNER AT ANY SPEED AND HITS A BUMP, THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE SKIDS TOWARDS THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DISMISSED IT AS NORMAL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032051 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)

IN SOME OF THESE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DIAMETER OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS TOO SMALL.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO SPIN INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULTING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON FEBRUARY 7, 2003, WITH A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON FEBRUARY 11, 2003. 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 BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

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.