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 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Pontiac Aztek, and it carries 1 recall. 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 | 7 | 21% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 12% |
| Power train | 4 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 6% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 6% |
| Seats | 2 | 6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
AT 147,000 MILES THE KEY REFUSED TO TURN BACK INTO THE OFF POSITION. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE VEHICLE WILL CUT COMPLETELY OFF WHILE COMING TO A STOP. WHILE IN MOTION AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO ANY KIND OF STOP, IT TURNS COMPLETELY OFF. IT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2015. WHETHER
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
IGNITION KEEP GETTING STUCK IN ACCESSORY MODE OR THE KEY GET STUCK IN IGNITION
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE DISABLED AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, IN MY CAR I HAVE NO POWER CAN REALLY MAKE IT UP A HILL DOESN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE, IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. AND THIS HAPP
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 PONTIAC AZTEK. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CORRODED AND LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK FRACTU
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
MY MAIN TEMP GAUAGES IS ACTING HAYWIRE. THE RADIATOR TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS SUPPOSED TO BE IN THE (BASED ON A WALL CLOCK) 0 (12) TO 6 HAND POSITION WITH 0 BEING HOT AND 6 COLD. GAS GAUGE IS FROM THE 6 TO 12. THE TEMPERA
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
I ACTUALLY GOT ON THE SITE TO RESEARCH RECALLS ON ANOTHER VEHICLE WE RECENTLY PURCHASED AND OUT OF CURIOSITY INCLUDED THE AZTEC WE STILL OWN. NO RECALLS SHOWED? I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT SINCE IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE VEHICLE HAS SEEMED TO STALL TWICE. UPON FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH THE DRIVER, THE STEERING ALSO LOCKED. THIS SEEMED SIMILAR OF THE SAME AS THE GM RECALL FOR FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES AND KEY SLOTS. PONTIAC WAS CONTAC
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 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.
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.
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 68 | good |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 7 of them (21%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2005 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.