Most common 2002 Pontiac Aztek problems
Share of the 121 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Pontiac Aztek complaints by model year
Best Aztek years: 2005, 2004. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
2002 Pontiac Aztek recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage
On certain vehicles, variations in the manufacturing process or exposure to high ambient temperatures May lead to fracture of the fuel tank inlet check valve (icv).
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank. The recall will be mailed in two phases with the first phase beginning on December 4, 2007. The second phase will be mailed on December 13, 2007.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 Pontiac Aztek:
Fuel tank leakage
Certain subject vehicles May exhibit leakage of odor and/or fuelfrom the lower portion of the fuel tank inlet filler pipe (inlet check valve).the inlet check valve (icv) and the fuel tank are joined together using a hot plate welding process for plastic parts.GM reports that its analysis of field returned parts show evidence of process variations for different manufacturing periods.these variations produced some icv…
Fuel tank leakage
GM is recalling (NHTSA recall no. 07v-349) certain model year (my) 2002-2004 Buick rendezvous, Chevrolet venture (regular wheelbase) and 2001-2004 Pontiac aztek and montana (regular wheelbase) vehicles to replace fuel tanks and correct a defect that May allow fuel leakage.the vehicle recall population is rendezvous and aztek vehicles built in May 2003, venture and montana vehicle built in June through August 2002…
What 2002 Pontiac Aztek owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 27 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Aztek. The contact smelled a strong fuel odor present in the vehicle without warning. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 07V349000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. Updated 05/06/16 the consumer stated there was a fuel leaking from the vehicle whenever the it was filled. The consumer was not included in the recall due to the age of the vehicle. Updated 11/1/2017
Fuel tank filler sprayed fuel onto exhaust pipe while under normal interstate driving conditions. My wife smelled an electrical burning smell about 10 minutes prior to the fire while fueling at a service station. She dismissed it since there was a nearby construction crew that was burning trash in barrels. She thought perhaps it was something they were burning. After a visual inspection of the vehicle, we continued on.
Engine & cooling all 24 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Aztek. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled without any warning and crashed into a tree. The contact mentioned that the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 192,000. The current mileage was 199,129. Updated 10/7/14
At 51,000 miles engine overheating when stopped at traffic lights. Added antifreeze, but did not fix the problem. At same time ac failed. Then electrical system started failing. Alarm going off for no reason, doors locking and unlocking themselves, rear hatch opening, and all gauges lighting up then going blank for 5 - 10 seconds. Took to dealer who stated that I had a failure in the intake manifold gasket, a leaking fuel filter, a shot ac system, and needed to replace the body control module. Dealer also stated that they have had to do the same work on many azteks. Took to my regular mechanic for verification and repair ($600 less than dealer wanted). Paid $1156 for intake manifold, fuel filter, and ac check. Mechanic doesn't believe that there is anything wrong with the ac system, but the problem is related to the body control module. …
Suspension all 20 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac aztec. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, he noticed the vehicle accelerated abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The dealer stated that they did not find any failure on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 70,000 and the current mileage was 79,000. ..updated 09/04/12 the consumer stated the first failure was just over a year ago. The vehicle accelerated to 40-45, rpms reached 3000-3100. With the vehicle stopped the rpms reached 1500-1700. The manufacturer was contacted and was reviewing the information from the vehicle to see if repairs were warranted and whether GM would assist with repairs. Updated 09/17/2012
Tl contact owns a 2002 Pontiac aztec. While driving 5 MPH the vehicle wobbled and the right front tire produced a grinding noise. The dealer stated that the right front hub bearings should be replaced, but has not made the repair. The manufacturer issued a special policy adjustment for the wheel bearings. The dealer would not replace the wheel bearings as part of the special policy adjustment because the vehicle's mileage exceeded 60,000. The current and failure mileage were 84,000. The consumer stated the repair was made by dobb's auto dealer. Update 05/04/07
2002 Pontiac Aztek engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Pontiac Aztek a good car?
Based on 121 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Aztek rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Aztek at the same age. It is one of the Aztek years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Pontiac Aztek?
The fuel & propulsion system — 27 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › tank assembly. Next are the engine & cooling (24) and suspension (20).
How many recalls does the 2002 Pontiac Aztek have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Pontiac Aztek, the most recent from August 8, 2007 (storage). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Pontiac Aztek?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001 and 2002. See the full Pontiac Aztek years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Pontiac Aztek problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 40% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.