Pontiac Aztek fire or smoke problems

Filed Mar 17, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · OH · fire

Tl* the contact owned a 2003 pontiac aztek. After the contact turned the engine off, black smoke and flames appeared under the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the flames. A fire report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN and failure mileage were unavailable.

Filed Nov 4, 2015 · Engine · 204,000 miles · SD

I have not driven my vehicle for 2 months because my mechanic told me my valve cover gaskets were leaking on to my exhaust manifold and that it why it was smoking when we stopped. I talked to my local gm dealer and they said it is not part of the recall so they could not help, so I have three choices let it sit in my driveway, pay several hundred dollars to get it fixed or drive it till it starts on fire. It has the 3800 motor like all the other cars in the recall. I can get a letter from my mechanic if needed.

Filed Nov 20, 2008 · Fuel system · 127,000 miles · MI · fire

Car caught on fire and totalled my car. My home almost burned to the ground.

Filed Aug 7, 2007 · Engine, Visibility · 13,745 miles · MI

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 pontiac aztec. She stated that the condenser would not blow cold air when engaged. The dealer stated that there was a hole in the condenser. The condenser has been replaced on four occasions. The manufacturer offered her a voucher for a new vehicle. As of august 7, 2007, the failure has not been rectified. The failure mileage was 13,745 and the current mileage was 92,000. The consumer was told that brackets were punching holes in the condenser. After the last condenser replacement, the consumer smelled something burning and noticed anti-freeze leaking only when the air conditioner was on. The consumer returned to the dealership and was informed that a new radiator was needed and there was a problem with the intake. The consumer was then told the intake was ok, but a radiator was still needed. Updated 09/11/07. The blower motor was also replaced. Updated 09/11/07.

Filed Sep 7, 2005 · Electrical · TX · fire

2003 pontiac aztec, caught on fire and the vehicle had been sitting 14 hours I only had the aztec for just about 2 weeks, the fire starting under the hood in an electrical box the SUV was a total, mean while I lost my down payment of 1,000 and is still left with out transportation the insurance company paid off the loan which left me a balance owed now, responsible for the deductible and again the loss of my down payment and no car this has been an nightmare for me it has been 3 months and I still feel I should have been awarded an down payment the fire was the manufacturing fault and the insurance went only after the book value and me as a customer well nothing but misery and pain. Janice.

Filed Apr 15, 2005 · Electrical · 18,000 miles · PA · fire

2003 pontiac aztek.....events leading to failure- flickering lights, unusual odor. Smoke in the interior of the automobile coming from under driver's seat. Within minutes, flames came through the middle of the driver's seatand automobile became engulfed in flames, vehicle was destroyed. It was unsalvable.

Filed Dec 4, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 52,000 miles · MN

I purchased my 2001 pontiac aztek in november of 2003. Since then it was diagnosed with a leaking gasket requiring a repair of $750, which I have since discovered is not an usual problem with this vehicle. I have also noticed some very odd things about this vehicle: 1.when on an incline, once I remove my foot from the brake pedal the vehicle immediately starts to roll back, which risks me striking anything behind me. This requires me to put my left foot on the brake and my right foot on the gas and simultaneously lift off the brake as I begin to accelerate. I have never encountered this problem in an automatic transmission. 2.when on a level surface as soon as the brake pedal is released vehicle will accelerate on its own prior to applying gas. 3.steering is very difficult to control in even the slightest wind, and often feels like it will veer off the road. I have not experienced this to that extent in any other vehicle I have ever owned, including mini vans, full size vans, cars or trucks. 4.vehicle has an intermittent burning smell as yet unable to be identified by a mechanic, although they have hypothesised that it might be the result of the underside of the car being lower to the ground in some areas and more prone to catch debris on the road, for example plastic bags, which then stick and melt to it.

Filed Nov 30, 2004 · Visibility · 28,000 miles · NJ · fire

A few weeks ago the windshield wipers stopped working on my 2003 pontiac aztek, after shutting the vehicle off and restarting the vehicle the wipers began to work. Wednesday, november 24th, while driving in the rain my windshield wipers stopped working once again. While trying to shut the wipers on and off to correct the problem I noticed smoke coming from the dashboard, smoke then filled the passanger compartment. I pulled the vehicle off the road and opened the hood, the windshield wiper motor was charred appearing to have been on fire. The fire department was notified and responded. The fire department verified any fire that exsisted was extinguished. Upon further inspection it appears an electrical harness is damaged. Vehicle was towed to the dealership. The dealership claims this problem is not coved under warrenty because a emergency responce siren was installed in the vehicle, this item was not operating at the time of the fire. I am still waiting for the full damage report from the dealership. It does not appear they are willing to honor the vehicles warrenty on this item.

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Electrical · 24,000 miles · FL · fire

On 2/8/2004 consumer started the vehicle and turned the windshield wipers on. The windshield wipers stopped operating and began to smoke. The vehicle caught on fire due to a malfunction in the windshield wiper motor which was replaced by the dealer. Two weeks after being repaired the windshield wipers failed twice during inclement weather, causing poor visibility to the driver while on the highway. *ak the vehicle had an electrical fire. The windshield wipers wires were burnt up making a hole in the windshield fluid container. The consumer requested reimbursement for missing work, stress, and car payment. *sc

Filed Mar 17, 2004 · Fuel system · 31,000 miles · NC · fire

Fuel tank filler sprayed fuel onto exhaust pipe while under normal interstate driving conditions. My wife smelled an electrical burning smell about 10 minutes prior to the fire while fueling at a service station. She dismissed it since there was a nearby construction crew that was burning trash in barrels. She thought perhaps it was something they were burning. After a visual inspection of the vehicle, we continued on.