Pontiac Aztek wipers problems

Filed Nov 1, 2009 · Visibility · 47,890 miles · VA

1. Failure occurs when the windshield wipers are activated (inclement weather, windshield washer). 2. The wipers bind together and lock up on the way back to rest position. The binding happens frequently, and this incident is approximately the third time this has happened on this vehicle. There is constant risk the wipers could bind at any time during wiper operation. Consequences include loss of forward visibility which could result in an accident, vehicle fire due to motor burning out while wipers are stuck (motor tries to move wipers to rest position even when wipers are switched off), or personal injury or death if struck while getting out of the vehicle at the side of the interstate in heavy rain or snow to unbind the wipers. 3. Corrective action: the driver must immediately stop the vehicle on the side of the interstate in heavy rain or snow and get out of the vehicle to manually unbind the wipers to restore forward visibility and to remove risk of vehicle fire due to windshield wiper motor burnout. Wipers were replaced at the dealer, but incident recurred. Wipers were replaced again at auto part store and correct blade sizes were verified to be correct, but incident recurred.

Filed Oct 8, 2008 · Visibility · 127,332 miles · GA

While driving my wipers stopped working while in the rain. Please refer to odi id#10100739. I almost crashed my car because I could not see. I had to constantly flick button on and off to get it to start back up.

Filed Jul 24, 2008 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · NY

I have a 2002 pontiac aztek I cannot drive, we believe the problem is the body control module. 3 mos. In shop, technician called pontiac, dealerships, searched online trying to isolate the problem. I stumbled on www.edmunds.com, was stunned by the #'s of azteks with this problem. The symptoms leading to failure of the bcm-back hatch won't open-key nor button. Eventually it begins working again, but the hatch pops open randomly while the car is in motion, the door locks start turning on and off, the air conditioner blows warm air, the fan won't work. All while the car is in motion. Also, the doors will not lock, the windows will not roll down. The check engine light alternately flashes with a security warning, the odometer quits working. When you turn the car off, all the lights stay on until the battery is drained. None of the dashboard controls work, the only way to turn the lights off and disengage the other electronics is to disconnect the battery. Taking it in for diagnostics produces no results, there is no reading from the computer that will tell a technician what the problem is. Having this failure is a safety issue, a child could open the back doors while the car is in motion, the inability to lock the car is a safety risk to all, the back hatch opening while in motion randomly is also a safety concern. Another issue with the aztek is to open the back hatch with a key requires power to that particular lock, if the lock isn't getting power from the battery, it will not open. I think there are serious safety issues that pontiac should take responsibility for. You can read the number of posts on the edmunds.com website...this is only one site, I am sure there are many others. There is a windshield wiper issue, they will quit working, get tangled during a heavy snow or rain storm.

Filed Aug 14, 2007 · Brakes, Electrical · OK

I was finding antifreeze in my oil. Took to the shop and had to have the intake gasket and the manifold gasket replaced. Also had to have a new thermostat and pvc valve. It cost almost $900.00. This is not the only problems have had to have the front wheel bearings replaced 2 times and brake shoes 2 times. Also had to have the heater fixed. Now the AC does not work. Had to have the window control unit replaced on the driver side. Had to have computer components replaced because the battery went bad with no notice. And now the windshield wipers do not work. To fix this problem is going to cost me $200 that is just for the whole motor and connecting rods. Because it is a factory only part. All together I have paid almost $2,000.00. The AC is the condenser which is another $300.00. I have had and loved gm vehicles for awhile. But this kind of thing has never been a problem.....something has got to be done.

Filed Feb 3, 2005 · Visibility · 29,473 miles · WI

Both wipers flew off the vehicle while driving 45 -50 MPH in inclement weather. The consumer had to pull off the road due to severe visibility problems. The dealer was notified.

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 Sep 29, 2004 · Visibility · FL

Whie driving in a rain storm windshield wiper worked intermittently. They got stuck half way in the middle of the windshield.

Filed Apr 29, 2004 · Visibility · NY

Difficulty seeing out the rear window due to the spoiler and lack of a windshield wiper. *ph that gave consumer difficulty in seeing incoming vehicles especially during the evening hours.

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 Apr 3, 2004 · Brakes · 16,473 miles · NM

My rear brakes had to be changed the first time at 13,590 miles and I was told it was not covered under my warranty my brakes then had to be replaced on the rear again at 16,473 and since then my brakes have been pads and rotors and brakes have been like changing oil every three thousand miles . I have also had to have my body control module replaced my security control module and my radio ,fuel sensor and windshield wiper sensor and brakes again I currently have a compressor that needs replacement and a air conditioner and heater that are no longer working I have called the bbb auto line and filed two complaints with them and numerous complaints to my dealer and gm I have been offered free oil changes and tire rotations and extended warranty on a car that is an accident waiting to happen .my hatch does not work correctly I have the ticking noise in my engine and my dash board lights are on or off depending on the moment . I am amazed at how many of these vehicles and there dealers say they will repair and fix the problem then the moment it is out of the shop it is there again . I think it will take a tragic accident for pontiac or gm to realize that these vehicles are very dangerous to the family's who own them I have to small children and this is my transportation I would hope it would not have to take a horrible accident before people listen to what we have to say . I am very concerned for the safety of my self and my children and anyone who owns one of these .