2003 PONTIAC AZTEK Power Train Problems

I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 30MPH WHEN MY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN W/O WARNING/SYMPTOMS. MY LIGHTS STILL WORKED BUT THE VEHICLE TOTALLY SHUT DOWN AND LOCKED UP OTHERWISE AND I COASTED TO A STOP MID ROADWAY. KEY WAS STUCK IN IGNITION AND IN THE ON POSITION AND WOULDN'T LET ME TURN KEY TO ANY OTHER POSITION AND KEY WOULDN'T COME OUT SO I SAT UNTIL BATTERY DIED WHICH SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF.WHEN VEHICLE INITIALLY LOST POWER AND CAME TO A STOP I TRIED TO PUT VEHICLE INTO PARK AND ATTEMPT A RESTART WHICH IS WHEN I REALIZED THE KEY AND IGNITION WOULDN'T MOVE AND THEN VEHICLE WOULDN'T MOVE OUT OF PARK EITHER.ALSO AT THE MOMENT MY CAR SHUT DOWN,I GLANCED DOWN AT DASH AND SAW SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE FLASH STATING ABS ERROR BUT WAS UNSURE IF THIS WAS THE ONLY MESSAGE IT HAD FLASHED OR IF THIS WAS JUST THE LAST ONE THAT I CAUGHT AND THEY HAD POSSIBLY ALL FLASHED AS PART OF THE MALFUNCTION BUT HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING BRAKE RELATED CAUSE AN ENTIRE VEHICLE SYSTEM TO SHUT DOWN TOTALLY AND BE DEAD AS A RESULT WITH TOTAL LOCKUP OF ALL CONTROLS.I HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT CONFUSION FROM ALL OF THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS, MECHANIC FRIENDS, ETC.AS TO WHAT OR WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. THEY ALL SUGGESTED THAT IT SEEMED TO BE MY COMPUTER OR ELECTRICAL POSSIBLY BECAUSE THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD AND DID NOT MAKE ANY NOISE OR CLICK OR ANYTHING BUT SILENCE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO POWER BACK AND RESTART. I HAD MY TWO KIDS WITH ME AND ONE WAS A BABY IN A TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR OF A RAINSTORM AND THIS WAS MY VEHICLE STRANDED MID CORNER IN A BLIND SPOT WITH NO WAY OF MOVING CAR FROM DANGER OF MIDDLE OF ROAD OR EVEN BEING ABLE TO REMOVE MY KEY SO AS TO ABANDON THE VEHICLE OUT OF SAFETY CONCERN.THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CASE OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS VEHICLE FROM WHAT I AM READING ON CONSUMER REPORTED INCIDENTS AND COMPLAINTS/INVESTIGATIONS. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND IT IS ALL ELECTRICAL ERROR RELATED. *TR

Mileage: 125,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS COMPLETELY OPEN. SUDDENLY, THE UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL INTO A NEARBY LAKE. THE CONTACT WAS STANDING BY THE OPENED DOOR AND SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE DOOR AS THE VEHICLE GAINED SPEED. THE VEHICLE ROLLED INTO THE LAKE AND WAS DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF CRASHING AND BEING SUBMERGED IN WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 7/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL. SHE WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WITH THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. WHEN SHE REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO CONTINUE BACKING UP, SHE DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL. IT WAS MOMENTS LATER, WHEN SHE STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE JUMPED FROM PARK KNOCKING HER DOWN TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE LAKE. UPDATED 07/18/12

Mileage: 73,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN DRIVE WITH THE ENGINE OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IN TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE STARTED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,557.

Mileage: 123,557

INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE SHIFTED TO ANY GEAR WITHOUT TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTING. THE INVERSE OF THIS HAS BEEN TRYING TO SHIFT IN TO PART AND THE IT WILL NOT GO !. TURNING THE ENGINE OFF HAD NO EFFECT ON THIS CONDITION AND IT HAD TO BE LEFT IN GEAR. OF COURSE THE LIGHTS DON'T GO OFF AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE "CHOCKED" AND THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED. THE DATE CAN BE DISREGARDED AS THIS HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. *TR

Mileage: 999,999

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. ON OCTOBER 26, 2006, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE AND NOTICED WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THESE FAILURES. SOON AFTER HER WARRANTY EXPIRED, SHE WAS INFORMED THAT A BLOWER MOTOR WAS NEEDED FOR THE A/C SYSTEM AND SHE PAID FOR THE REPAIR. ON JANUARY 9, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT SHE NEEDED A BATTERY. ON OCTOBER 30, 2007, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR WINTERIZING AND REGULAR SERVICE MAINTENANCE. A NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID $3,023 FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,143 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,180. THE DEALER STATED PERFORMED REPAIRS ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 11/16/07 *TR

Mileage: 68,180

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 PONTIAC AZTEC. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE RPMS INCREASED FROM 2,500 TO 3,500 WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE GEARS FAILED AND THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AS OCTOBER 16, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Mileage: 88,000

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A "GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE" BUT FOUND OUT LATER THAT IT WAS NOT PROPERLY INSPECTED AS THE BRAKES WERE BAD ALL OF THE WAY AROUND. THE DEALER TOOK CARE OF IT, BUT 3 DAYS LATER A LOUD HUMMING STARTED TO OCCUR WHEN WE TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT. UPON REPORTING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD FIX IT FOR $600+. THIS PROBLEM HAS SINCE GOTTEN WORSE TO THE POINT WHERE THE HUMMING ALMOST DROWNS OUT YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD. AND IF YOU TURN LEFT, IT IS SO LOUD THAT IT HURTS YOUR EARS. EVEN WHEN WE TURN AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, SAY IN A PARKING LOT, IT SOUNDS LIKE A DEEP HUM AND CRUNCHING SOUND ON THE LEFT FRONT AND REAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S CLUTCH PADS, AND THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS AS WE REPORTED IT 3 DAYS AFTER WE BOUGHT THE AZTEK. EVEN PONTIAC BLEW US OFF, AND OFFERED A YEARS WORTH OF OIL CHANGES AND LUBES FOR OUR TROUBLE.....AFTER 5 MONTHS, WE STILL HAVE YET TO GET THAT CERTIFICATE. I WILL BE SURE TO NEVER LOOK AT ANOTHER "GM CERTIFIED VEHICLE" AGAIN AFTER THE WAY WE WERE TREATED. *JB

Mileage: 33,500

2003 AZTEK WITH 65000 MILES HAVE TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. CONTACTED GM SAID I DID NOT HAVE FLUID CHANGED AT 50,000 MILES THAT THE TROUBLE WAS MY FAULT. I CONTACTED GM THEY SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I CONTACTED 3 OTHER TRANSMISSION SHOPS---ALL 3 SAID CHANGING THE FLUID WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED THE PROBLEM. GM THEN TELLS ME THEY CAN NOT TAKE THE WORD OF ANOTHER MECHANIC BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GM CERTIFIED. I WILL NEVER BUY GM AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR. NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. I SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

1. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT SHUTTING IT OFF IF I LEAVE IT RUNNING AND PUT IT IN PARK LIKE AT A DRIVE-THROUGH ETC. HAVE NOT HAD IT CHECKED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE OUT OF WARRANTY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX. 2. THE REAR WINDOW HATCH WILL NOT OPEN PROPERLY. I HAD THE DEALER REPAIR ONCE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. 3. FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED ONCE AND IS ROARING LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. 4. THE BACK MIDDLE SEAT BELT FELL APART AND IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR. 5. THE VEHICLE GOES THROUGH BRAKES RATHER QUICKLY. HAS BEEN LESS THAN A YEAR AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NM

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING - VEHICLE IS IN PARK - VEHICLE WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK AND GO INTO GEAR. YOU HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO GET IT TO COME OUT OF PARK. *JB

Mileage: 5,000

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO ROLLED FORWARD WHILE ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE IGNITION SWITCH ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALREADY STARTED. THE REAR HATCH COULD NOT BE OPENED BY THE BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON AND IN PARK THE GEAR SELECTOR COULD NOT BE MOVED INTO DRIVE UNLESS THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF THEN TURNED BACK ON. THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. AN ODOR WAS COMING FROM THE VENTS WHEN THE A/C WAS ON. *NM

VEHICLE IS AUTOMATIC BUT STILL ROLLS BACKWARD IN DRIVE. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I'VE DRIVEN FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS AND NO OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN THAT WAS AUTOMATIC DID THIS.

Mileage: 13,061

2003 PONTIAC AZTEC FREELY ROLLS FORWARD(AS IF IN NEUTRAL) WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE, WHILE ON A GRADE, AND ALSO FREELY ROLLS BACKWARD(AS IF IN NEUTRAL) WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS IN DRIVE, WHILE ON A GRADE. DEALERSHIP AND GM CONSIDER THIS NORMAL OPERATION. MY HUSBAND AND I DO NOT WE CONSIDER THIS TO BE EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR ANYONE WALKING OR DRIVING IN FRONT OR BEHIND US ON A GRADE WHERE YOU MAY HAVE TO STOP AND GO.*AK

Mileage: 8,900

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION GEAR WAS STUCK IN DRIVE,DRIVER LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION. *AK