2005 Pontiac Aztek: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2005 Pontiac Aztek
On the 2005 Pontiac Aztek, the failure owners report most often is ABS module or sensor failure, with 6 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 72,500 miles. Overall it scores 74 out of 100, high risk for a 2005.
High risk for a 2005 — 40th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. 43 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2005 Pontiac Aztek
Owners have reported 21 named failure modes on the 2005 Pontiac Aztek, and the three most-reported carry 33% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
ABS module or sensor failure leads with 6 reports and about 1,500 per 1,000 vehicles.
Radiator or coolant leak follows with 4 reports, median 230,000 miles.
Fuel leak or fuel odor follows with 4 reports, median 90,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into fuel (8), brakes (6) and electrical (5).
The mileage the reports cluster at
39 of the reports on the 2005 Pontiac Aztek came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 72,500 miles.
Cumulatively, 36% by 50,000 miles, 64% by 100,000 miles and 87% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 4 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 100,000 and 110,000 miles, which alone holds 15% of the dated reports.
33% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 21. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 4 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 2 mention a crash. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.23, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: ABS module or sensor failure at $500–$2,400, radiator or coolant leak at $350–$1,900, fuel leak or fuel odor at $300–$2,500 and other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
28% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 6 | 5 | — | 100k | — | 1,500.0 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 4 | 4 | — | 232k | — | 1,000.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Fuel leak or fuel odor | fuel | 4 | 4 | — | 91k | — | 1,000.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 4 | 4 | — | 29k | — | 1,000.0 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 4 | 4 | — | 63k | — | 1,000.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 108k | — | 500.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 94k | — | 500.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 2 | 1 | — | 115k | — | 500.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 2 | 2 | — | 35k | — | 500.0 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 1 | — | 36k | — | 250.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 1 | — | 63k | — | 250.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 3k | — | 250.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 54k | — | 250.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 98k | — | 250.0 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 30k | — | 250.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 33k | — | 250.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 250.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 25k | — | 250.0 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 153k | — | 250.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 72k | — | 250.0 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 63k | — | 250.0 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 250.0 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2005 Pontiac Aztek draws about 10,750 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 100th percentile of complaint rates among 2005 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 4 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2005 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
ABS module or sensor failure
I purchased a new 2005 pontiac aztek on july 1, 2005. Seven days later, with 611 miles on the vehicle, it completely shut down while I was on the road. I was unable to restart the vehicle, turn on my hazard lights, or even remove the key from the ignition. When the tow truck arrived, the driver jiggled the wires leading to the battery. Although he said they didn't feel loose, the vehicle did start after that. I drove it to the dealership I bought the vehicle from, they tested it, and told me they could find no problems nor duplicate the problem. The problem occurred while I was stopped at a light. However, about five minutes prior, I was moving down the road when the anti-lock brake light suddenly came on and the radio station changed (without help from me). After about a second, the light went off and the radio returned to my original station. Five minutes later, stopped at a light, is when the vehicle shut down as described above.
Abs system failed to respond on 2005 aztek. *ts ***no answer required*** during an abrupt stop the ABS failed. As a result the vehicle ran through a red light and hit the side of a van which was coming through the intersection. The vehicle had been tot he dealer the week before to have the brakes checked and the found no problems. The air bags also failed to deploy during this accident. The consumer's vehicle was a total loss. *nm
Radiator or coolant leak
I was leaving school and I started to smell gas, so I stopped and checked to see if there was any leaking and there wasn't. A week had went by and I didn't smell the gas anymore but my radio and dash lights had quit working. So I had the fuses changed and the speedometer started working again but not the radio. Several months later my temp gauge started shooting all the way up to hot right after it was cranked. So I had it checked and my vehicle wasn't running hot. The one night I was driving home from town and my car shut off and a temp light was blinking. I popped the hood and my hoses from the radiator to the motor had busted from all the pressure built up. The next day I brought my car to a shop and had a new motor put in. And low and be-hold my transmission starts shifting really hard when I go to start off. I had it looked at but they couldn't find anything with it. But since ive been keeping the transmission fluid checked weekly it hasn't been doing it as much. But it still scares the crap out of me. *js
I was leaving school and I started to smell gas, so I stopped and checked to see if there was any leaking and there wasn't. A week had went by and I didn't smell the gas anymore but my radio and dash lights had quit working. So I had the fuses changed and the speedometer started working again but not the radio. Several months later my temp gauge started shooting all the way up to hot right after it was cranked. So I had it checked and my vehicle wasn't running hot. The one night I was driving home from town and my car shut off and a temp light was blinking. I popped the hood and my hoses from the radiator to the motor had busted from all the pressure built up. The next day I brought my car to a shop and had a new motor put in. And low and be-hold my transmission starts shifting really hard when I go to start off. I had it looked at but they couldn't find anything with it. But since ive been keeping the transmission fluid checked weekly it hasn't been doing it as much. But it still scares the crap out of me. *js
Fuel leak or fuel odor
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 pontiac aztek. The contact stated that there was a strong fuel odor coming in the interior and the exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but they could not detect if there was a fuel leak or why the fuel odor was so strong. The dealer was notified of the failure who offered no assistance. The manufacturer was also notified who stated that there were no recalls for the vehicle and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 66,000 and the current mileage was 70,000.
There was a strong fuel odor coming in the interior and the exterior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic but they could not detect if there was a fuel leak or why the fuel odor was so strong. This only seem to happen in the cold weather months the smelll is a lot stronger when the car is not moving but still running in traffic or warming up or at a stop light. *tr
Recalls on the 2005 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2005 Pontiac Aztek, affecting an estimated 4 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover fuel system, other:storage:tank assembly:pressure relief dev. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
742 vehicles 2007-03-12- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Fuel may leak, possibly resulting in a fire.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2005 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2005 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2005 — 40th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 5 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2002 comes out best at 60 and 2005 worst at 74, with 2005 itself at 74.
If the model year is negotiable, 2002, 2003, 2001 and 2004 score lower than 2005 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2001–2005 generation specifically, 2002 is the strongest year at 60 and 2005 the weakest at 74.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2001-2005 generation, 2002 Pontiac Aztek scores best at 60 and 2005 Pontiac Aztek worst at 74.
Where these figures stop being useful
43 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 43 reports, 39 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 91% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Pontiac Aztek?
The most-reported failures are abs module or sensor failure (6 reports, median 100,000 miles), radiator or coolant leak (4 reports, median 230,000 miles) and fuel leak or fuel odor (4 reports, median 90,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2005 Pontiac Aztek reliable?
It scores 74 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 40th riskiest of the 320 2005 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2005 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Pontiac Aztek is best?
Within the 2001–2005 generation, 2002 scores best at 60 out of 100 and 2005 worst at 74. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed