AI Damage2003 Pontiac Aztek: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Pontiac Aztek filed 128 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 128
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 19% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 13% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 25 complaints (20% of all).
- Fuel system: 24 complaints (19% of all).
- Service brakes: 18 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 17 complaints (13% of all).
- Powertrain: 14 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.4 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 128 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 14 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
2003 pontiac aztec, 75,000 miles with no symptoms blew tie rod causing car to swerve due to lack of brakes and steering and flipped into ravine.
While driving 30mph another vehicle ran through a stop light and collided with the consumer's vehicle. There was no time to depress the brakes. On impact neither of the frontal air bags deployed.
Airbag did not deploy when vehicle struck cement median at approximately 65 mph.
While driving at 40 mph vehicle was involved in a head on collison and air bags did not deploy.
While driving about 55 mph on the highway and approaching an intersection gear was stuck in drive,driver lost control, resulting in a collision.
"takata recall"" stalls when I'm driving or when I'm coming to a stop it will completely shut off and when I start it up and throughout the ride is shakes and vibrates sometimes it won't start sometimes it'll start right away I don't replace spark plugs coils oil changed I'm still doing the same thing every place I go…
Later, I went to check on some laundry and the gas smell was even worse. I opened the door to access the garage and then recalled the weed wacker was actually broken and was only there to be discarded in the trash next pickup.
I have replaced the fuel pump and vapor sensor due to it not getting any fuel pressure. I have researched and there are 2 different recalls for my vehicle which have not been done due to my vin not being acnowleged with the recall
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 2,990 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 8% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Aztek has 113 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 128, about average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Pontiac Aztek?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel system, service brakes. Total complaints: 128. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (15%), warning lights, check engine (9%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Pontiac Aztek?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2003 Pontiac Aztek from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2003 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.