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 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Pontiac Aztek, and it carries 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 9 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 | 10% |
| Suspension | 6 | 9% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 4% |
| Air bags | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3% |
| Engine | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS FROM MY CAR FOR YEARS BUT JUST NEVER HAD THE MONEY TO GET IT LOOKED AT. I EVEN CALLED ABOUT RECALLS CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT I FOUND OUT ABOUT THROUGH RESEARCH IN 2015 BUT WAS TOLD THEY HA
NHTSA complaint: Engine
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING; THERE IS A HISTORY OF A RECALL THAT HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED ON THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CRASHED INTO A GMC ENVOY AND FLIPPED OVER LANDING ON THE ROOF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED BEFORE REACHING AN INTERSECTION. THE
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
MY CAR TURN OFF ON MY CHILDREN AND I ON THE HIGHWAY THANK GOD WE WAS ABLE TO COAST ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT MY IGNITION CONTROL MODULE WENT OUT OUTTA NO WHERE NOT ONLY THAT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR AND FUE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
"TAKATA RECALL" ON MY CAR THE ELECTRONIC IS NOT WORKING AND HASN'T BEEN FOR A LONG TIME, THE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND WON'T GO BACK OFF. AND THE GAS TANK IS NOT WORKING RIGHT, I CAN'T GET GAS INTO MY TANK , IT DOES GO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY FOR 45 MINUTES AND WHEN GOT HOME NOTICE THERE WAS GAS COMING FROM MY PONTIAC AZTEC. DID SOME RESEARCH AND NOTICE THERE'S A RECALL. CALL BUICK AND THEY TOLD ME MY VIN IS NOT COVER UNDER THE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
I HAVE NOT DRIVEN MY VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS BECAUSE MY MECHANIC TOLD ME MY VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING ON TO MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THAT IT WHY IT WAS SMOKING WHEN WE STOPPED. I TALKED TO MY LOCAL GM DEALER AND THE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2004 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 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION ON IGNITION RELAY CONTACTS CAN CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE. THIS CAN AFFECT SIGNALS TO THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE AND, COULD CAUSE INTERMITTENT VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME.
Risk: THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, IT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION RELAY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A WELD BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE AND THE FUEL TANK CAN FAIL.
Risk: IF THESE PARTS SEPARATE, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE AN ODOR OF FUEL, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE, AND/OR FUEL MAY LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE FUEL TANK TO SEE IF IT IS ON THE LIST OF AFFECTED TANKS. IF THE SERIAL NUMBER MATCHES, THE FUEL TANK WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | 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 67 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 9 of them (13%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 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 69/100. 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.