Known Recalls

Model year record

2003 Pontiac Aztek

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 188 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V349000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
20,594
Reported to NHTSA
2007-08-08
Owners notified
2007-12-04

Defect description

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).

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V250000

Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual

Component
Equipment: other: owners/service/other manual
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,707,825
Reported to NHTSA
2003-07-15
Owners notified
2003-08-20

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V052000

Steering

Component
Steering
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
4,512
Reported to NHTSA
2003-02-20
Owners notified
2003-02-07

Defect description

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

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system1996,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system12150,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline1077,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling949,177 mi
Power train: automatic transmission865,000 mi
Steering8120,000 mi
Engine6146,000 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing618,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage547,500 mi
Service brakes583,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic533,500 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)4120,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly455,200 mi
Suspension4118,000 mi
Unknown or other4113,690 mi
Electrical system: wiring318,000 mi
Power train3123,557 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip313,000 mi
Air bags214,000 mi
Electronic stability control: automatic (ASC)2—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan2615 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine238,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline249,989 mi
Equipment214,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner268,180 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings213,500 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock2—
Seat belts: rear/other2—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor2—
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments218,500 mi
Suspension: rear260,000 mi
Vehicle speed control2164,000 mi
Visibility247,890 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer28,536 mi
Wheels2—
Wheels: hubcap/cover2—
Air bags: frontal140,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel176,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition176,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch1—
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers153,470 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash1—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system180,743 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe126,000 mi
Exterior lighting1—
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch153,470 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch153,470 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights1—
Exterior lighting: tail lights118,500 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch153,470 mi
Fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly184,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump149,989 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap142,067 mi
Fuel system, other1127,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages1—
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)1—
Power train: axle hubs133,500 mi
Power train: driveline: differential unit168,180 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: differential proportional valve168,180 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum163,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages190,000 mi
Structure11 mi
Tires1—
Tires: valve114,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1—
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer1127,332 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring128,000 mi

The 2002 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2004 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.