Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
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).
Gradual loss of braking due to a leak in the brake line. Brake fluid from the leaking brake line dripped on catalytic converter causing a fire. The brake line was reconstructed by a licensed mechanic. No damage to any other part of the car.
The car was park! The keys in, I pulled keys out n the car rolled backwards I hop in the car n turn the wheel and I flew out and the car ran me over tire on my back the car didn't stop I pushing the brakes nothing!
8081 miles: SRS light on intermittently. (reflash PCM and BCM) battery goes dead intermittently. (replaced battery and cleaned terminals) the brakes squeal and erratic fuel gauge. (no problem found at that time). 8125 miles: ses light on again. (cleaned corroded connectors for ABS and fuel pump) 8155 miles: ses on again. (replaced all femaile terminals and cleared codes. Dropped fuel tank to replace fuel modules, replaced all terminals at module. 11541 miles: air bag light on intermittently (could not reproduce) turn signal fuse blowing regularly (replaced neutral wiring safety switch, adj for reverse lights) 12018: turn signals blowing still. …
Brakes failed - the pedal went all the way to the floor while entering us10 in bay county, mi. Why - because the brake line failed. To me, this is a vehicle safety issue and a design problem. The problem was fixed at graff Chevrolet, 3636 e wilder rd, bay city, mi. The fix included replacing a section of brake line that was wrapped in heat reflecting tape. The way I see it, the tape trapped water between the tape and the steel tube causing the rusted tube to fail. Poor engineering design. How many more cars are there out there, on this car platform, that will experience this failure? I own a 1958 Chevy conv, that has existed in michigan since 1958. It has not had this problem. I'm not looking for money. I want to protect all the people owning these vehicles from be killed or whatever other life altering things that could happen. I was very very lucky when my brakes failed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Pontiac Aztek. The contact stated when his wife applied the brake, she experienced immediate and complete brake failure. A popping and whooshing sound was heard and the brake pedal went to the floor. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where it was found that one of the brake lines failed due to rusted through at the point of failure, as well as extremely rusted at every place it was clipped to the body of the vehicle to the back of the vehicle. The mechanic recommended the entire brake line be replaced. . The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 136,000. The consumer stated it was the second time, the brake line failed, due to corrosion. The first time was in 2007, when the vehicle had 65,000 miles. Updated 03/11/15.
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.
ABS and traction control features have never worked properly; ABS comes on at slow speeds, and sometimes the system just shuts itself off. Dealer and my regular mechanics have dealt with this from 2001 when I purchased the car (a demo) from the dealer (9,152 miles) up to now (2005, 56,925 miles). I have spent a small fortune having this diagnosed and repaired, and Pontiac has told me it is no longer their problem. I have had all the front wheel bearings, hub assemblies, pigtales and harnesses replaced more than once; I have new brakes; I have new front struts (monroe); I have no patience.
The consumer stated she saw fluid leaking from under her vehicle in her driveway. She says she took her vehicle to the mechanic, who said it was her radiator. She then took the vehicle to somewhere else to get a second opinion, that mechanic told her that the problem was the radiator, air conditioning, and the engine intake manifold. The vehicle was leaking coolant into the intake manifold. She says her vehicle is not old enough to have this kind of problem. Front brake rotors are rusting and must be replaced.
Dt: the car is having brake problems, and the consumer has been fixing the brakes every since she owned the vehicle. The air conditioner has been replaced 3 times within the first year she owned the car. The car was having sensor problems. In order for the consumer to get her sticker for the year, her car had to be in good shape. The place where consumer bought her car is committing fraud. They didn't do a thorough check on consumer's car before she bought it. There is rust underneath her hood.
Our air conditioner quit working, we thought it just needed to be re-charged, I had it re-charged two weeks in a roll, then it quit working again, I looked on the internet and saw many complains about the compressor leaking in the Aztek 2001, I would think that a notification should be sent out to consumers. Of course this all happens after the warranty just ran out. You want to increase your sales and with problems like this many of us get rather weary of GM autos.
Brake complaints in other Aztek years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2001 Pontiac Aztek?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the brakes of the 2001 Pontiac Aztek, 14% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Pontiac Aztek brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes 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 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.