Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Pontiac Aztek owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
"Takata recall"" stalls when I'm driving or when I'm coming to a stop it will completely shut off and when I start it up and throughout the ride is shakes and vibrates sometimes it won't start sometimes it'll start right away I don't replace spark plugs coils oil changed I'm still doing the same thing every place I go saying the same thing your says possible misfires cylinder 5 fuel and c2o oxygen simpson and I also replace the fuel filter still no different still writes the same way runs hot like it's not getting no water to the engine
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Pontiac Aztek. After the contact turned the engine off, black smoke and flames appeared under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the flames. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unavailable.
My Aztek started to sputtering one morning, bringing my car to a stop. The car stalled and I would have to restart. It seemed like I couldn't go over 40 MPH. It's just kept hiccuping. I took it to a mechanic and got a new fuel and air filter. Still having problems, I replaced the idle air control valve. That didn't fix the problem. My car continued to get worse and couldn't even get anywhere. Took it to have the catalytic converter replaced, and it ran OK for about two weeks then it began to do it again. Took it back to the shop, and diagnostics read that it needed a new o2 sensor. So I replaced that and it seems like it has only gotten worse. …
My vehicle should have fallen under the lemon law due to several problems, resulting in 21 visits to the dealer in less than 3 months. Besides all of these problems, I later had to take it back because when I made a short left to right turn the vehicle would die leaving me to try to steer it to safety. It was supposed to be fixed, but recently it started doing it again. This is a dangerous problem, and is threatening the lives of everyone.I am a single mom, and this is my only transportation. The vehicle now has 81,000 miles on it, and is out of warranty. This is obviously an ongoing problem, and I can't afford to have these repairs done.I would like to turn in all of my vehicle information and problems that it has had to someone. …
Vehicle would not start one day, the start the next. Then it wouldn't start at all. Had heater problem before, but when they checked it , it was fine. Then when it wouldn't start at all, had it towed. The garage I had it towed to had been the one to check the heater a couple of weeks prior to it breaking down, they had given it an oil change also. After the tow, they informed me that anti-freeze had been getting into the intake oil(head gaskets),and they would have to take it all apart(labor!!!)---and that the fuel pump was bad. I've only had the vehicle for a little over a year!!!thank god I had a warranty extended,(even though I am paying a lot for that also!!)that I only(!) had to pay the 100.00 deductible, but then had to pay for filters,oil(again!!) and miscellaneous other expenses the warranty didn't pay!!altogether, with what the warranty paid, and what I paid (341.00)---it came …
Ses light and all dash lights came on, took to salerno duane in newton nj whew I purchased my 2003 Pontiac Aztek new. Was told intake manifold leaking and the cause of lights, ses and dash lights. $1100 later, lights still going off and on. Now told instrument cluster problem. $250. For parts plus labor. I am very angry that I was told that it was the intake manifold gasket, that I paid all that money and now they say it is something else. I argued with the dealer that I will not pay for instrument cluster or labor and they agreed. I also feel that I should be reimbursed for the intake manifold gasket and labor since this was obviously not the problem in the first place and they took advantage of me. There is no proof that the intake manifold gasket was leaking, and even if it was, it should be on a recall from GM because it is a common problem for GM motors. …
We purchased a new 2003 Pontiac Aztek in March of 2003. To date we have had the car in for repairs on the heater fan motor replaced twice, the drivers door hinges reset twice, the rear trunk release replaced twice, repainted the drivers door and rear drivers area near taillight because the paint was gone, several no-starts that were not repeated at the garage-but needed jump starts to run, rear drivers tail-light was replaced once because it was falling out and its starting to fall out again, front wheel bearings are being replaced tomorrow. We have a little over 18,000 miles on the car and hate it and will probably never buy another Pontiac because of this lemon. All repairs have been done under warranty so far, but what happens when that runs out? Sell it to the next sucker I guess.
2003 Pontiac Aztek. Took in due to fluid leaking into oil and causing it to look like a "milky" substance. Told that these vehicles are known for this issue and that the problem was with the intake manifold gasket. Had that replaced (over $1,000) - then discovered still a leak - now they are saying it probably needs an engine. The vehicle is not even 10yrs old. I read another description similar to this. How many individuals have to be gouged before something can be done about this. If this is a known problem with these vehicles, seems like something needs to be done to stop the manufacturer from preying on their customers.
While driving at approximately 60 MPH gauges malfunctioned. The temperature gauge went way up, and the vehicle overheated. Steering wheel locked up, and vehicle stalled. Driver had to wait 20 minutes to an hour before the vehicle would start up again. Owner drove the vehicle back to the dealer, and was informed that the computer wasn't talking to the diagnostic. Dealer told the owner that the defects were taken care of. Yet, these problems still existed. Also, owner was informed that the intake manifold was defective. Vehicle was out of warranty.
Service engine soon light kept coming on. Every time I had an oil change I did mention it. Was told it was a problem with the gas cap. Water leaked from evaporator. Found body of water in body pass through connector; carpet wet underneath. Evaporated drain hose was missing, hose replaced. Seats were removed, carpet dried and floor pan and sprayed carpet with odor eliminator. Dried water and cleaned corrosion from connector.
Engine complaints in other Aztek years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2003 Pontiac Aztek?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2003 Pontiac Aztek, 18% of the model year's 128 complaints. The component named most often is cooling system › fan (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Pontiac Aztek engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2003 Pontiac Aztek, though it has 3 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 2003 Pontiac Aztek engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.