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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.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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

What owners actually said

34 reports
93,000 miles · May 22, 2014
Electrical System

KEY BECAME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF NOR REMOVE KEY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE AND PLACED ME IN A LOANER. HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO CORRECT. VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS RELATED TO THIS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT CHARGED AS THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME I HAD TO BRING IN T…

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KEY BECAME LOCKED IN THE IGNITION. COULD NOT TURN THE CAR OFF NOR REMOVE KEY. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE AND PLACED ME IN A LOANER. HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO CORRECT. VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS RELATED TO THIS. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT CHARGED AS THIS WAS THE 4TH TIME I HAD TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE IN MY FIRST 30 DAYS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593327

91,000 miles · May 22, 2014
EngineFuel/propulsion System

A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION AND IT GOT NOTICEABLY STRONGER WHILE IDLING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT PLACED ME IN A LOANER. COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK.THEY REPAIRED WHAT THEY BELIEV…

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A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED VERY STRONG ODOR OF GAS INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION AND IT GOT NOTICEABLY STRONGER WHILE IDLING. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT PLACED ME IN A LOANER. COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THIS OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT WEEK.THEY REPAIRED WHAT THEY BELIEVED TO BE THE PROBLEM BUT I WAS BACK IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS LATER AND IN ANOTHER LOANER. 4 TECHNICIANS AND 2 SERVICE MANAGERS LATER,THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT DUE TO A FUEL LEAK DUE TO A FAULTY O-RING. CAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL AND COST OVER 1200 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10593326

232,000 miles · Apr 28, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I WAS LEAVING SCHOOL AND I STARTED TO SMELL GAS, SO I STOPPED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKING AND THERE WASN'T. A WEEK HAD WENT BY AND I DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ANYMORE BUT MY RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS HAD QUIT WORKING. SO I HAD THE FUSES CHANGED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT THE RADIO. SEVERAL MONTHS LA…

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I WAS LEAVING SCHOOL AND I STARTED TO SMELL GAS, SO I STOPPED AND CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY LEAKING AND THERE WASN'T. A WEEK HAD WENT BY AND I DIDN'T SMELL THE GAS ANYMORE BUT MY RADIO AND DASH LIGHTS HAD QUIT WORKING. SO I HAD THE FUSES CHANGED AND THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED WORKING AGAIN BUT NOT THE RADIO. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER MY TEMP GAUGE STARTED SHOOTING ALL THE WAY UP TO HOT RIGHT AFTER IT WAS CRANKED. SO I HAD IT CHECKED AND MY VEHICLE WASN'T RUNNING HOT. THE ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM TOWN AND MY CAR SHUT OFF AND A TEMP LIGHT WAS BLINKING. I POPPED THE HOOD AND MY HOSES FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE MOTOR HAD BUSTED FROM ALL THE PRESSURE BUILT UP. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD A NEW MOTOR PUT IN. AND LOW AND BE-HOLD MY TRANSMISSION STARTS SHIFTING REALLY HARD WHEN I GO TO START OFF. I HAD IT LOOKED AT BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WITH IT. BUT SINCE IVE BEEN KEEPING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED WEEKLY IT HASN'T BEEN DOING IT AS MUCH. BUT IT STILL SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585181

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…

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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

32,000 miles · Jul 15, 2013
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF NOR WOULD THE KEY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES WHERE THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE RECENTLY RECURRED AND THE COIL WIRE WAS DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO SHU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF NOR WOULD THE KEY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES WHERE THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE FAILURE RECENTLY RECURRED AND THE COIL WIRE WAS DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V157000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ

NHTSA ODI #10524807

153,355 miles · Oct 26, 2012
Fuel/propulsion System

I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT, I SMELLED AN STRONG ODOR OF GAS/FUEL. WHEN I RESEARCHED THE CAR ON THE INTERNET, THE SEARCH REVEALED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THE 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. AFTER READING MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THE RECALL, THE SEARCH FOUND THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WERE PRODUCED…

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED IT, I SMELLED AN STRONG ODOR OF GAS/FUEL. WHEN I RESEARCHED THE CAR ON THE INTERNET, THE SEARCH REVEALED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM OF THE 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. AFTER READING MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT THE RECALL, THE SEARCH FOUND THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED. THEY FOUND THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING AND THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CHOKING. I CONTACTED GM AND I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT READ FROM AN AREA THAT HAD RECALLS, I WOULD NOT BE HELPED IN THIS SITUATION. I RESPONDED THAT MY CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUES AS OTHER CARS. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY RECALLS ON THE 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK, BUT I HAVE FOUND COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE, AS WELL AS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10482386

33,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Electrical System

GAUGES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, FUEL, TACHOMETER, TEMP AND THIS MONTH 04/2012 THE SPEEDOMETER STARTED ACTING UP. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457094

15,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457093

12,000 miles · May 1, 2012
Seats

RETAINER CLIP THAT HOLDS SIDE PANEL ON SEAT HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10457091

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…

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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

Official recalls

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.