NHTSA Complaint #10175571 — 2004 PONTIAC AZTEK

I OWN (2) AZTEK'S, A 2002 AND A 2004. I RECEIVED A LETTER IN SEPT 06 STATING THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH FRONT BEARINGS WEARING PREMATURELY ON 2002 AZTEK'S. THE LETTER STATED THAT THEY WILL REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE BEARINGS WITHIN (5) YEARS OF DATE OF PURCHASE OR 60,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. SINCE MY 2002 AZTEK IS LOCATED AT MY VACATION HOME, IT HAS ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT EXHIBITED THE WORN BEARING SYMPTOMS. HOWEVER, MY 2004 AZTEK DID HAVE THE BEARING ISSUE AT 48,000 MILES. I CALLED PONTIAC AND THEY SAID THEY WOULDN'T COVER THE EXPENSE BECAUSE IT IS NOT WITHIN THE VIN RANGE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY EXPECTED THE RECALL TO BE EXPANDED TO LATER MODEL AZTEKS AND TO KEEP MY RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT AT A LATER DATE. I HAVE SINCE TRIED TO RECOUP MY MONEY TO NO AVAIL. BEWARE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YEAR AZTEK YOU HAVE, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY EXPERIENCE THE PREMATURE BEARING WEAR BEFORE 50,000 MILES. MAKE SURE YOU ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS YOU EXPERIENCE THE SYMPTOMS, HUM GROWL OR GRINDING COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. TALKING WITH PONTIAC CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE IS A JOKE. THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT LOSING A CUSTOMER. NO WONDER THE AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS KEEP LOSING MARKET SHARE. *JB