2002 Pontiac Aztek Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Aztek years
- About as many complaints as other years 3rd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 121 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Pontiac Aztek. That ranks 3rd out of 5 Aztek model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (21 complaints, 17%), typically at around 56,776 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 121owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2002 Pontiac Aztek problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 17% | 56,776 | — | — |
| Suspension | 20 | 17% | 41,500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 16% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 18 | 15% | 76,050 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 12 | 10% | 45,820 | — | — |
| Structure | 11 | 9% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 10 | 8% | 46,004 | — | — |
| Power Train | 9 | 7% | 40,225 | — | — |
| Equipment | 8 | 7% | 81,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 4% | 67,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 | 4% | 74,100 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 3% | 139,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 4 | 3% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 2% | 159,500 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 3 | 2% | 74,100 | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 2 | 2% | 51,008 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2% | 251,612 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 2% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | 127,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1% | 192,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 74,100 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 78,493 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 1% | 74,200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2002 Pontiac Aztek recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:storage
Problem: 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 contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. The vehicle population includes buick rendezvous and pontiac aztek vehicle built in may 2003; chevrolet venture and pontiac montana vehicles built from june through august 2002; and all vehicles registered in nevada, arizona, virgin islands, puerto rico, and hawaii.
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual
Problem: 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.
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 child restraint or booster cushion. Owner notification began august 18, 2003. Owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, gmc at 1-866-996-9463, pontiac at 1-800-620-7668, or oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel tank leakage (EA07006) — opened Apr 18, 2007, closed Sep 13, 2007, led to recall 07V349000.
- Fuel tank leakage (RQ06009) — opened Dec 14, 2006, closed Apr 18, 2007.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
As noted in previous statements this vehicle is difficulty at starting and cranking at various situation. Playing the radio with engine off, must wait ten minutes before attempting to start, then it may crank or you have to start over. Its not the radio its the ignition lock cylinder as done in the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac aztek. After refueling the vehicle, it was noticed that the vehicle was losing fuel faster than usual. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank, fuel pump, and fuel tank lines failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
2002 pontiac aztek. Consumer writes in regards to fuel odors and leaks by the fuel tank inlet. Consumers internet search found an expired recall bulletin for the same issue, requests assistance with repairs. *smd the consumer noticed the fuel smell was stronger after he filled up. *jb
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 pontiac aztek. While driving 45 mph, the alarm system sounded, the locks operated on their own, and the trunk opened without being prompted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Other Pontiac Aztek years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Aztek | 34 | 0 |
| 2004 Aztek | 67 | 3 |
| 2003 Aztek | 128 | 3 |
| 2002 | 121 | 2 |
| 2001 Aztek | 216 | 5 |
See all Pontiac Aztek problems by year, every Pontiac model, or the VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Pontiac Aztek?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, suspension, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 21 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Pontiac Aztek?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2002 Pontiac Aztek a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Aztek model years, the 2002 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.