Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 231 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Pontiac Aztek, and it carries 6 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 24 | 10% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 20 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 19 | 8% |
| Equipment | 17 | 7% |
| Power train | 17 | 7% |
| Air bags | 15 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 13 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 8 | 3% |
| Visibility | 6 | 3% |
| Tires | 6 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
BOUT 3 WEEKS AGO CAR JUST KEEP ACTING UP HAD IT FOR ONE YEAR CANT READ CODES ON CAR KEEP OVERHEATING REPLACED RADIATOR CVL AXLE BRAKES OIL CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID CAR JUST DECIDED TO NOT PASS 50MPH BE DRIVEABLE ONE DA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAVE REPLACE 2 IGNITION SWITCHES, AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS..THE KEY WILL NOT COME OUT/UNLOCK WHEN SWITCHING CAR OFF..WHICH KILLS THE BATTERY BECAUSE I CAN'T TURN OFF THE CAR THIS IS TERRIBLE ..IT'S THE IGNITION SWI
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
GM HAS ISSUED A SAFETY BULLETIN IN REGARDS TO A BROKEN FUEL TANK THAT COULD CAUSE EXPLOSIONS, OR FIRE. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM TO PERFORM THE REPAIR BUT THEY ARE REFUSING. THE PROBLEM IS FOR ALL YEARS OF THE PONTIAC AZT
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CHARGED THE BATTERY AND STARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED AFTER THE DRIVER SHUT THEIR DOOR, WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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! *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REVERSING OUT OF A DRIVE WAY, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK A
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2001 Pontiac Aztek. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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).
Risk: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: 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. OWNERS MAY CON
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
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
Risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Fix: 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
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.
Risk: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE A
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DA
| Reliability raw | 67 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 231 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 24 of them (10%). There are 6 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 67/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 66/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.