NHTSA Complaint #10064211 — 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK

WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 PONTIAC AZTEK LAST JULY (03). THIS JANUARY, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL GM DEALER FOR REPAIR, AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD SEPARATED INTERNALLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON 2/4/04. A FEW WEEKS LATER, NOISE RETURNED. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED TODAY (3/29/04). THIS VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON IT. ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID ANOTHER AZTEK WITH LOW MILEAGE HAD TO HAVE ONE BEARING REPLACED TWICE. COULD GM HAVE GOTTEN A DEFECTIVE BATCH OF BEARINGS, OR IS THERE POSSIBLY SOME DESIGN FLAW THAT CAUSES THE BEARINGS TO WEAR OUT ABNORMALLY QUICKLY? FOR THE MOST PART, I LOVE THIS VEHICLE, BUT THERE ARE TWO OTHER ISSUES WITH IT WHICH COULD MAKE IT LESS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE 'SPOILER' BETWEEN THE SLANTED AND VERTICLE PARTS OF THE BACK WINDOW DOES IMPAIR REARWARD VISION (I USUALLY USE THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS TO CHECK BEHIND ME BECAUSE OF THAT FACT). ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MOVE MORE SLOWLY, EVEN IN THE FAST POSITION, THAN MOST VEHICLES WE'VE OWNED, WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY EVEN IN MODERATE RAINFALL.*AK