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Pontiac Aztek VIN Check

NHTSA holds 411 owner complaints on the Pontiac Aztek from 112 production runs; the worst run has 18, the typical one 3.7.

NHTSA complaint records · 411 complaints · 112 runs · 2001–2005 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Aztek run is 3G7DA03E71S (2001 builds) with 18 complaints, 4.9× the typical run. Fuel system problems make up 18% of reports; 2001 is the worst model year at 5.8 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for Aztek model years 2001–2005.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Pontiac Aztek has 112 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 17% of every Aztek complaint on file.

FIG.01·Pontiac Aztek — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
3G7DA03E71S••••••20011811
3G7DA03E41S••••••2001152—
3G7DA03E81S••••••200113—1
3G7DA03E11S••••••200113——
3G7DA03EX1S••••••20011211
3G7DA03E91S••••••2001101—
3G7DA03E02S••••••20029——
3G7DA03E31S••••••200191—
3G7DA03E92S••••••200291—
3G7DA03E51S••••••2001911
3G7DA03E01S••••••20018——
3G7DA03E21S••••••20018——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 100 Aztek runs has 8 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Pontiac Aztek the gap between build years is 3.2×: a 2001 car draws 5.8 complaints per run, a 2005 one 1.8.

FIG.02·Pontiac Aztek — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20051.829161
20042.455232
20033.491272
20023.785232
20015.8151269
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2001 at 5.8 complaints per run; lightest is 2005 at 1.8.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 18% of everything Pontiac Aztek owners report: Fuel System, 83 of 411 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Pontiac Aztek — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Fuel System83—1
Electrical System72—5
Gasoline69——
Service Brakes6012
Engine And Engine Cooling49—1
Hydraulic4612
Power Train4021
Suspension39——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 9 recall campaigns on the Pontiac Aztek; the 6 below cover build years 2001 to 2005. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Pontiac Aztek — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
07E021000Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly:pressure Relief Devices2001–2005
07V349000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage2001–2004
03V250000Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual2001–2003
05V157000Electrical System:ignition2004
03V454000Fuel System, Gasoline:storage2004
03V052000Steering2003
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The Aztek against its rivals

The Aztek draws 3.7 complaints per production run; the Isuzu Rodeo 3.4, the Mitsubishi Montero Sport 1.4 and the Infiniti QX4 2.1. That is the highest rate of the 4.

FIG.05·Pontiac Aztek VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Pontiac Aztek4111123.73.9%
Isuzu Rodeo1,5774633.49.4%
Mitsubishi Montero Sport2641901.415.9%
Infiniti QX42231042.112.6%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 411 reports on the Pontiac Aztek, 3.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Pontiac Aztek — complaint severity
OutcomePontiac AztekAll vehicles
Complaints filed4111,115,966
Involved a crash16 (3.9%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire10 (2.4%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported2058,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 33% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Pontiac Aztek share of that is 411 complaints over 112 runs, 0.04% of everything on record.

Everything on the Pontiac Aztek
Recalls18 campaignsFuel economy20 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems603 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2001–2005

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Pontiac Aztek VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 411 NHTSA complaints from 112 Aztek runs and 9 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Aztek production run has the most complaints?

3G7DA03E71S, a 2001 build, with 18 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical Aztek run has 3.7.

Which Aztek years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2001 is heaviest at 5.8 complaints per run and 2005 lightest at 1.8.

Does the Aztek get more complaints than the Isuzu Rodeo?

Yes: 3.7 complaints per production run for the Aztek against 3.4 for the Isuzu Rodeo.

How many Aztek complaints involve a crash?

3.9% of 411 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 10 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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