NHTSA Complaint #10102122 — 2001 PONTIAC AZTEK

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.