Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (air conditioning, heater, defroster, HVAC controls).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Pontiac Aztek owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Took my 2001 Pontiac Aztek in last week 10 mar 04 with a A/C problem. They told me it was low on freon and serviced it back up and sent me on my way. 5 days later turned on the A/C and again no cold air. Took my Aztek back in today and they called and told me that I have a crack in my condenser on the right side on the bottom. Look up on NHTSA web site and find a technical service bulletin and call Pontiac but they don't have it on their system so they will not offer any assistance for me. The technical service bulletin on this website says exactly the problem I have and even gives new installation instructions for the new condenser. Why have new installation procedures? Obviously there is a problem if you have to install it a new way but Pontiac won't offer any help. It's obviously a manufacturer deficiency and they are not willing to correct it without wanting to charge me $1000. …
Tl contact owns a 2001 Pontiac aztec. She stated that the condenser would not blow cold air when engaged. The dealer stated that there was a hole in the condenser. The condenser has been replaced on four occasions. The manufacturer offered her a voucher for a new vehicle. As of August 7, 2007, the failure has not been rectified. The failure mileage was 13,745 and the current mileage was 92,000. The consumer was told that brackets were punching holes in the condenser. After the last condenser replacement, the consumer smelled something burning and noticed anti-freeze leaking only when the air conditioner was on. The consumer returned to the dealership and was informed that a new radiator was needed and there was a problem with the intake. The consumer was then told the intake was OK, but a radiator was still needed. Updated 09/11/07. The blower motor was also replaced. Updated 09/11/07.
We have had multiple thing go wrong with our 2001 Aztek we purchased under 40,000 miles, now has about 60, 000- the front brake rotors were warped- mechanic said that they had to have been like that from manufacturer, as he has never seen anything that bad in a car of that age- air conditioner is not working- went on the web, and it looks like many owners are also experiencing this due to cracked/leaking compressors- also, fuel gauge stopped working shortly after we purchased- needle is very sporadic, and you never know how much gas you have- this also seems to be a common problem- had interior electrical problems as well- this was the only thing fixed by Pontiac- I recently contacted Pontiac, who was unwilling to address any of these issues.
I took my 2001 Pontiac Aztek in for A/C service on 5/11/04 because the air emitted was not cool. They recharged the A/C. Less than 24 hours later, the air was warm again. I took it back to the garage where they ran dye through the A/C and found the compressor needs replaced at an estimate of $1000.00. They said this should not happen at 43,000 miles and could be a manufacturer problem. I checked several vehicle information sites on the internet and found this to be a common problem at the same mileage, but GM will not issue a recall. This is a very expensive repair and is obviously the fault of the manufacturer. It's a shame that GM will lose valuable customers over something like this.
Air conditioner condenser cracked just after the 50,000 mile mark. This car has been driven conservatively in non-extreme conditions with regular checkups. It cracked completely on its own without any help from myself. It was only a matter of a few days before the cold level inside went from cold to hot. The repair required the replacement of the condenser which proved to be very costly for me; $850.00. Neither the dealer or Pontiac customer service offered any help for my situation even though I was informed by the dealer that this problem is very common with azteks.
A/C condenser has a leak on the right hand side, bottom corner. Vehicle had just 47,200 miles. It appears this is a frequent failure (6 replacements listed NHTSA complaints and 3 web sites with over 18 identical complaints). One source stated that it appeared to be caused by manufacture process in which insuficent weld process was used causing failure due to normal vibration between 42,000 and 60,000 miles. This is listed as an alert for canadian comsumers as well so I am sure it is a frequent problem.
Have had on-going issues with electrical system and A/C evaporator drain. Have had the drain cleaned twice and repaired once. Still have water draining into passenger compartment. Have replaced both front hubs, four wiring harnesses, the fuel pump, the battery, and the blower motor twice. Most of these failures due to corrosion/melting. Another harness now needs to be replaced due to corrosion.
Air conditioner stopped functioning at around 60,000 miles. Ac condenser was replaced. Repair tech said that there was a bracket that was poorly made, and that bracket would punch holes in the condenser. Tech said the parts supplier had sold over 200 condensers in the past 2 weeks. Repair tech had fixed 3 exactly like this one over the past several months.
Air conditioner condenser was replaced in summer of 2003 and again in 2005. Mechanic said that both incidents were due to faulty engineering (bracket). The bracket somehow causes a hole in the condenser in the same place. I have saved the old condensers for proof. There is nothing the mechanic can do to prevent it from happening again.
Fuel gauge stopped working,could not tell how much fuel there was. Dealer said fuel sensor went out. Notice other complaints of this type at 50,000 miles. Also ac also went out at 50,000 defected bracket GM will not back up.
AC & Heater complaints in other Aztek years
Frequently asked questions
How common are ac & heater problems on the 2001 Pontiac Aztek?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the a/c & heater of the 2001 Pontiac Aztek, 11% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is appliance › air conditioner (22 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Pontiac Aztek ac & heater problems?
No. NHTSA lists no a/c & heater recall for the 2001 Pontiac Aztek, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Pontiac Aztek ac & heater problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.