2003 Pontiac Aztek Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2003 Pontiac Aztek, and owners have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2003 Pontiac Aztek
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Storage (fuel system)
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).
Remedy: 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…
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Owners/service/other manual (equipment)
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.
Remedy: 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…
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Steering
In some of these sport utility vehicles, the diameter of the steering column intermediate shaft is too small.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the steering column intermediate shaft. Owners were notified by telephone on february 7, 2003, with a follow-up letter on february 11, 2003. Owners who take their…
128 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Pontiac Aztek have filed 128 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 71,212 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 18 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Since we first bought the car in 2005, whenever the fuel tank is filled to 3/4 or higher the car starts to smell of fuel fumes. If it is filled up full to the top, it literally spills fuel onto the gr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 19, 2022 · Fuel/propulsion system
“"takata recall"" stalls when i'm driving or when i'm coming to a stop it will completely shut off and when i start it up and throughout the ride is shakes and vibrates sometimes it won't start sometim”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 20, 2018 · Electronic stability control (esc)
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Pontiac Aztek (Aztek AWD, Aztek FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–17 / 22–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Pontiac Aztek model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Pontiac Aztek model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Pontiac Aztek | 5 | 216 |
| 2002 Pontiac Aztek | 2 | 121 |
| 2003 Pontiac Aztek | 3 | 128 |
| 2004 Pontiac Aztek | 3 | 67 |
| 2005 Pontiac Aztek | 0 | 34 |
Checking a specific 2003 Pontiac Aztek
How do I know if my 2003 Pontiac Aztek has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2003 Pontiac Aztek; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Pontiac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V052000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Pontiac models
- G65,889 complaints
- Grand AM5,580 complaints
- Grand Prix5,426 complaints
- Bonneville1,979 complaints
- Vibe1,865 complaints
- Sunfire1,144 complaints
- Montana1,054 complaints
- Trans Sport973 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.