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2005 Pontiac Aztek

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Pontiac Aztek are lower than the model-year median of 121.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
34Owner complaints

Model-year median: 121

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2005 Pontiac Aztek

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 34 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Electrical System: 9 reports
  • Engine: 4 reports
  • Fuel System, Gasoline: 4 reports
  • Power Train: 4 reports
  • Fuel/propulsion System: 3 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    121
    2002    128
    2003    67
    2004    34
    2005
    Compare all Aztek years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Electrical System
    9    Engine
    4    Fuel System, Gasoline
    4    Power Train
    4    Fuel/propulsion System
    3
    All reported categories
    Vehicle Speed Control
    3    Air Bags
    2    Seats
    2    Service Brakes
    2    Steering
    2    Unknown Or Other
    2    Wheels
    2    Engine And Engine Cooling
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    1    Suspension
    1

    Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

    When problems were reported

    Mileage at the reported incident

    30 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

    NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

    What to inspect

    Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

    • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Engine. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
    • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

    NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

    2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

    Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    100,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013
    Fuel System, Gasoline

    THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT DETECT IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OR WHY THE FUEL ODOR WAS SO STRONG. THIS ONLY SEEM TO HAPPEN IN THE COLD WEATHER MONTHS THE SMELLL IS A LOT STRONGER WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING BUT STI…

    Read full complaint

    THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT DETECT IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OR WHY THE FUEL ODOR WAS SO STRONG. THIS ONLY SEEM TO HAPPEN IN THE COLD WEATHER MONTHS THE SMELLL IS A LOT STRONGER WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING BUT STILL RUNNING IN TRAFFIC OR WARMING UP OR AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10552434

    66,000 miles · Mar 27, 2012
    Fuel System, Gasoline

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT DETECT IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OR WHY THE FUEL ODOR WAS SO STRONG. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERE…

    Read full complaint

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING IN THE INTERIOR AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT THEY COULD NOT DETECT IF THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK OR WHY THE FUEL ODOR WAS SO STRONG. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

    NHTSA ODI #10453179

    54,000 miles · Jan 29, 2009
    Fuel System, Gasoline

    MY 2005 PONTIAC AZTEC FUEL GAUGE HAS QUIT WORKING PROPERLY. I NEVER KNOW WHEN I START THE VEHICLE IF IT WILL WORK OR NOT. IT MAY SHOW EMPTY IT MAY GO PAST EMPTY AND SOMETIMES IT WORKING PROPERLY. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND THE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL AZTECS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10256834

    3,250 miles · May 20, 2005
    Fuel System, Gasoline

    FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR ERRATIC WITH HALF TANK OR LESS. WHEN THIS OCCURS AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING DOWNHILL, IT STALLS. DEALER REPLACED FUEL SENDER AND/OR PUMP ASSEMBLY. SAME THING HAPPENED 9 DAYS LATER.

    NHTSA ODI #10121751

    Recall campaigns

    0

    No recalls in this snapshot.

    Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.