Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Aztek, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling21
- Suspension20
- Fuel system, gasoline19
- Electrical system18
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Structure11
- Latches/locks/linkages10
- Power train9
- Equipment8
- Fuel system, other5
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 2002 Aztek vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Pontiac Aztek failed the safety check 5.13% of the time — 156% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 113,890 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 12.0–12.5 L/100 km (about 19–20 mpg US), CO₂ 276–288 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aztek · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 9.8 | 12.0 |
| Aztek AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 10.3 | 12.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2002 Pontiac Aztek.
| 2006199 15 Aug 2006 | Suspension On certain Aztek (AWD), Montana (AWD), Relay (AWD), RendezVous (AWD), RendezVous (FWD), Silhouette (AWD), Terraza (AWD), Terraza (FWD), Uplander (AWD) and Ventu… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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).
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Pontiac told its dealers about the 2002 Pontiac Aztek: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637173 | THIS MESSAGE IS IN REFERENCE TO PAINTED FASCIA AND SIDE CLADDING SERVICE. *TT |
| 636615 | SUBJECT REGARDING SLIDING REAR CARGO CONVENIENCE TRAY DAMAGE. *TT |
| 636607 | SOME CUSOMTERS MAY REPORT A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR ROOF HEADLINDER AREA WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON A VERY ROUGH ROAD. *TT |
| 635008 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND THAT WHILE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ARE EXTREMELY HARSH. *TT |
| 635006 | INFORMATION ON SERVICING 4T65-E TRANSAXLE SPACER PLATE AND GASKETS FOR VARIOUS MODELS FROM 1997 THROUGH 2002. *TT |
| 634985 | CONCERNS WITH SLIPS, HARSH UPSHIFT OR GARAGE SHIFTS, LAUNCH SHUDDERS, FLARES, ERRATIC SHIFTS AND INTERMITTENT CONCERNS, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1811 OR P0748 SET. *TT |
| 634931 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0716 AND / OR P0717, P0730, P0753, P0758, P1860, P1887 OR OTHER MISCELLANEOUS TRANSMISSION TROUBLE CODES SET. *TT |
| 634833 | SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE ON REVISED VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT |
| 634708 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION. *TT |
| 634242 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM REGARDING BRAKE BOOSTER POWER PISTON. *TT |
| 634236 | CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM BULLETIN REGARDING VEHICLES WITH BRAKE BOOSTER CONTAINING CERTAIN INTERNAL PARTS THAT ARE NOT TO SPECIFICATION. *TT |
| 631267 | INCORRECT TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, SES LAMP ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0756 AND P0757. *SLC UPDATE. *TT |
| 628862 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON (SES) INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED WITH HARSH TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. *TT |
| 627695 | INFORMATION REGARDING AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER REPLACEMENT OF SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE. *YH |
| 627671 | HARD START, NO START, STALL, AND/OR FUEL GAUGE INOPERATIVE OR FLUCTUATES. *YH UPDATED *EH |
| 625447 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN BULLETIN #01060 - VALVE SPRINGS REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 625296 | INFORMATION ON DRIVE AXLE FLUID CHANGE WHEN TOWING A TRAILER. *SLC |
| 625101 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT. *JG |
| 625083 | SUBJECT REGARDING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT. *JG |
| 625021 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPLACEMENT VALVE SPRINGS. *JG |
| 624065 | SOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT AN EXHAUST SYSTEM MUFFLER HEAT SHIELD RATTLE / CLANG TYPE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 623474 | INFORMATION REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER OIL SEAL, A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION. *SLC |
| 11009156 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 11007744 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
| 11007743 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
FUEL TANK LEAKAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation