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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

Electrical System complaints

9 reports
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147,000 miles · Oct 25, 2019
Electrical System

AT 147,000 MILES THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN BACK INTO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI #11270994

108,040 miles · Nov 24, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON AN EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND IS HEARD. THE NOISE CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASH AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THERE IS A LOUD CRACKLING SOUND. NO GAUGES WORK CORRECTLY. THEY EITHER PEG OUT OR OPERATE OUT OF THE EXPECTED RANGE OF …

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WHEN THE RADIO IS TURNED ON AN EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING SOUND IS HEARD. THE NOISE CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED OFF. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL CRACKLING SOUND IN THE DASH AND WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED THERE IS A LOUD CRACKLING SOUND. NO GAUGES WORK CORRECTLY. THEY EITHER PEG OUT OR OPERATE OUT OF THE EXPECTED RANGE OF OPERATION. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON. THE AWD LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME. THE GAS GAUGE ALWAYS BELOW "E". *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660539

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

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

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

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

30,000 miles · Oct 8, 2009
Electrical System

GAUGES ARE INTERMITTENT ON 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. YOU CAN TURN IGNITION SWITCH ON & OFF TO RESET THEM. SOMETIMES IT WORKS,SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286761

400 miles · Jun 5, 2006
Electrical System

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE AUGUST 19TH, 2005. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSIST. IN MAY A FLIGHT…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATES CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOOSE POWER AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND THE IGNITION RELAY WAS REPLACED IN DECEMBER. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SINCE AUGUST 19TH, 2005. SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSIST. IN MAY A FLIGHT RECORDER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10158998

611 miles · Jul 13, 2005
Electrical System

I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK ON JULY 1, 2005. SEVEN DAYS LATER, WITH 611 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, OR EVEN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DRIVER JIGGLED THE WIRES LEADING TO TH…

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK ON JULY 1, 2005. SEVEN DAYS LATER, WITH 611 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, IT COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD. I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS, OR EVEN REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED, THE DRIVER JIGGLED THE WIRES LEADING TO THE BATTERY. ALTHOUGH HE SAID THEY DIDN'T FEEL LOOSE, THE VEHICLE DID START AFTER THAT. I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM, THEY TESTED IT, AND TOLD ME THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS NOR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. HOWEVER, ABOUT FIVE MINUTES PRIOR, I WAS MOVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON AND THE RADIO STATION CHANGED (WITHOUT HELP FROM ME). AFTER ABOUT A SECOND, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE RADIO RETURNED TO MY ORIGINAL STATION. FIVE MINUTES LATER, STOPPED AT A LIGHT, IS WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

NHTSA ODI #10128685

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.