3. Pontiac Aztek (2002 facelift)
The Pontiac Aztek was already infamous for its polarizing appearance when the 2002 facelift attempted—and notably failed—to address consumer criticism.
Instead of substantially refining the crossover’s quirky styling, Pontiac merely offered minor tweaks, such as body-colored cladding and slightly less awkward front-end accents.
Unfortunately, these superficial updates did little to improve public perception.
Critics and consumers alike regarded the Aztek as an aesthetic misstep, and the half-hearted facelift reinforced its status as one of the automotive world’s biggest design flops.
Sales remained dismal, and the Aztek ultimately became a cautionary tale about the risks of unconventional design choices.