Suzuki Grand Vitara Complaints

639 consumer complaints on file.

#10315503March 2, 2010
WHEELS
VEHICLE FEELS UNSTABLE, TENDS TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. SUSPECTED TIRES ISSUE. TIRE CENTER TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL HUB IS LOOSE AND HAS A HUGE PLAY AND RECOMMENDED TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A SUZUKI SERVICE CENTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314923February 28, 2010
STEERING
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313372February 23, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. AS THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STARTED THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF IT IS GETTING READY TO TAKE OFF. AFTER SHIFTING THE VEHICLE IN GEAR, IT FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. THE SUZUKI MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND CLAIM#2-224423334 WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,888. UPDATED 03/26/10. *LJ UPDATED 07/19/10*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312651February 22, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AT A STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO REV WITH THE RPM LEVELS VIGOROUSLY FLUCTUATING. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE JUNE 2009. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,330. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310049February 12, 2010
STEERING
THERE IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2006, 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER, DUE TO ITS DEFECTIVE DESIGN, CAN FALL APART AT ANYTIME. THAT PARTICULAR PART HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED, DUE TO MANY FAILURES, AND THE NEW PART SUBSEQUENTLY UTILIZED IN THE LATER MODELS OF THAT VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE BY SUZUKI TO RECALL THE VEHICLE OR INFORM IT'S OWNERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER BREAKS APART, THE POWER STEERING IS IMMEDIATELY DISABLED AND THE DRIVER IS FACED WITH A VERY SUDDEN, SEVERE INCREASE IN EFFORT, REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. MANY PEOPLE WOULD PANIC IN THAT SITUATION AND COULD VERY LIKELY HAVE A COLLISION. AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HAD ME BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIR MANAGER MENTIONED TO ME THAT HE HAD AT LEAST 20 FAILURES OF THAT COMPONENT OCCUR WITHIN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I CALLED SUZUKI, BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR COST NOR EVEN GIVE THE SLIGHTEST HINT OF WANTING TO RECALL THAT MODEL & YEAR VEHICLE. FYI, THE ORIGINAL TENSIONER CONSISTED OF A METAL PULLEY WHEEL WHICH HAD A PLASTIC ?U? SHAPED RIM MOLDED ONTO THE OUTSIDE OF THE PULLEY. THE FUNCTION OF THE PLASTIC RIM IS TO HOLD THE POWER STEERING BELT IN PLACE. THE FAILURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED ARE DUE TO THE PLASTIC RIM FALLING OFF OF THE PULLEY (DUE TO DETERIORATION OR FATIGUE), LOOSENING THE BELT AND THUS NO LONGER TURNING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE NEW COMPONENT IS NOW DESIGNED AS ONE PIECE AND IS ALL METAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303622February 1, 2010
STEERING
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2.7L SUV ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY LOST IT'S OUTER RING WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOSS OF THIS RING CAUSED THE BELT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, NOT JUST POWER STEERING, BUT OF STEERING ALTOGETHER BECAUSE THE BELT SLIPPAGE WAS CAUSING INTERMITTENT PUMPING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING FLUID CAVITATION AND MAKING THE WHEEL IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BY SHEER LUCK I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR OFF OF THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT CRASHING. SUZUKI KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE 2006 AND 2007 GRAND VITARA POWER STEERING PUMP TENSIONER PULLEYS AND HAS EVEN RELEASED A REVISED PART THAT USES A METAL OUTER RING ON THE PULLEY INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC ONE. THE PART WAS $180 AFTER TAX, AND TOOK AN HOUR OF LABOR TO INSTALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297846January 2, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TIRES
EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES ON MY VEHICLE FOUR TIMES IN THREE YEARS AND ALL SUZUKI WILL SAY IS IT IS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM AND A WEAR PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON TIRES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE THAN I CAN AFFORD. AND MY TIRES KEEP GOING BALD WITHIN 12K MILES OR LESS AND I HAVE PUT THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT SUZUKI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE TIRES. HOW MANY TIMES DOES IT TAKE TO ROTATE TIRES AND GET ALIGNMENTS ON A NORMAL WORKING VEHICLE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TIRES WEARING OUT TO BALD AND THREADBARE BEFORE A 3K MILE ROTATION IS DONE ON THEM. VEHICLE ALSO SKIDS ON WET ROADS AND ALIGNMENTS KEEP GOING OUT ON VEHICLE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED ANY MORE. ALSO IF VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN FIRST STARTING TO DRIVE VEHICLE. MECHANICS SAID BRAKES ARE FINE BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HELP US FOLKS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING TIRES EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296296December 17, 2009
TIRES
I WAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I LOST ALL GEARS ON MY CAR. I STARTED TO ROLL BACK. I AM ALSO GOING ON MY FOURTH SET OF TIRES ON THIS CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SEEMS TO THINK THIS IS NORMAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294320December 2, 2009
AIR BAGS
WE OWN A 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. WE HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERS 5 TIMES IN 4 MONTHS. WE ARE TOLD WE NEED TO WATCH HOW WE SIT IN THE SEAT, AND DO NOT RECLINE THE SEAT, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE NO CODES SHOW UP ON THE COMPUTER. THEY STATE THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK WITH THE LIGHT ON BUT CAN NOT FIX IT. IT IS INTERMITTENT SOMETIMES STAYS ON. HAS STAYED ON AT THE DEALERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292252November 15, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
( CORRECTED REPORT ) MY WIFE HAD JUST FILLED THE TRUCK UP AT SHEETZ..I WENT TO PULL IT UP AND AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN GEAR IT TOOK OFF...WENT ABOUT 70 FEET INTO A PARKED CAR AND BRICK WALL..BRAKES WERE EITHER INEFFECTIVE OR NOT WORKING..MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR EVENT THE DAY BEFORE BUT IT WAS BRIEF AND WE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT.. THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN !! I WAS NOT INJURED AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM THE STEET RIGHT IN FRON OF ME!! I FOUND NO RECALLS OF THIS VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET AND NO SIMILAR REPORTS..BUT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY KILLED SOMEONE OR BEEN KILLED..ACCIDENT IS REPORTED WITH WEST HILLS POLICE JOHNSTOWN PA .. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292249November 15, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE HAD JUST FILLED THE TRUCK UP AT SHEETZ..I WENT TO PULL IT UP AND AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN GEAR IT TOOK OFF...WENT ABOUT 70 FEET INTO A PARKED CAR AND BRICK WALL..BRAKES WERE EITHER INEFFECTIVE OR NOT WORKING..MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR EVENT THE DAY BEFORE BUT IT WAS BRIEF AND WE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT.. THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN !! I WAS NOT INJURED AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM THE STEER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!! I FOUND NO RECALLS OF THIS VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET AND NO SIMILAR REPORTS..BUT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY KILLED SOMEONE OR BEEN KILLED..ACCIDENT IS REPORTED WITH WEST HILLS POLICE JOHNSTOWN PA .. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292251November 15, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY WIFE HAD JUST FILLED THE TRUCK UP AT SHEETZ..I WENT TO PULL IT UP AND AS SOON AS I PUT IT IN GEAR IT TOOK OFF...WENT ABOUT 70 FEET INTO A PARKED CAR AND BRICK WALL..BRAKES WERE EITHER INEFFECTIVE OR NOT WORKING..MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR EVENT THE DAY BEFORE BUT IT WAS BRIEF AND WE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT.. THROTTLE WAS STUCK WIDE OPEN !! I WAS NOT INJURED AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO STEER AWAY FROM THE STREET RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!! I FOUND NO RECALLS OF THIS VEHICLE ON THE INTERNET AND NO SIMILAR REPORTS..BUT IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I COULD HAVE VERY EASILY KILLED SOMEONE OR BEEN KILLED..ACCIDENT IS REPORTED WITH WEST HILLS POLICE JOHNSTOWN PA .. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10286671October 7, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHEN SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE HESITATING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE AFTER REPEATED BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE WHEELS WERE MISALIGNED. FOUR NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED WHICH INCLUDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE RESURFACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,251.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283299September 8, 2009
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS MISSING A LUG NUT ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND INSPECTED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE LUG NUT SHEERED OFF OF BOLT AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT NO COST. ONE YEAR LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE LEFT REAR TIRE LUG NUT SHEERED OFF OF THE TIRE; HOWEVER, A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE LUG NUT HAD NOT SHEERED OFF OF THE BOLT AND BILLED THE CONTACT $60.00 TO REPAIR THE TIRE . THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,594.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10283078September 7, 2009
SUSPENSION
WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF BUYING MY NEW 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, NOTICED EXCESSIVE TIRE WIRE AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. WHEN REPLACING TIRES, REAR TIRES ARE WORN TO THREADS AND CORDS WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS TIME OF BEING PUT ON, FRONT TIRES ARE WORN ON THE INSIDE, EXTREME INSTABILITY IN HANDLING THE VEHICLE ON WET AND DRY ROADS, FRONT END VIBRATION, DOCUMENTATION PROVIDING FACT THAT MY 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED AND BROUGHT INTO SPEC., FRONT CAMBER ECCENTRIC BOLTS THAT SHOULD OF BEEN INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURE ARE MISSING, TIRES ALWAYS SMELL LIKE THEY ARE BURNING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED 3 TIMES BUT IS NOT ABLE TO STAY ALIGNED. THE LAST ALIGNMENT AND NEW SET OF 4 TIRES WAS DONE ON 9/7/2009 AND IS WHEN THE MISSING FRONT ECCENTRIC BOLTS AND NUT ON THE RIGHT REAR A ARM WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS ALSO WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WAS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED ARE BROUGHT INTO SPEC. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. WITH AN ALIGNMENT AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PROBLEM, CROSSING THE THRESHOLD INTO LOSS OF CONTROL IS A VERY HIGH RISK FOR ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10272793June 3, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE TENSIONER PULLEY WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZED THIS ISSUE AND REPLACED THE TENSIONER PULLEYS FROM PLASTIC TO METAL ON ALL MODELS AFTER 2006. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10268923May 16, 2009
STEERING
MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAS A BROKEN POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY. THE REASON IS THAT THE MANY 2006 MODELS OF THE GRAND VITARA USED A METAL PULLEY WRAPPED WITH A PIECE OF PLASTIC AROUND IT. THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED, AND ACCORDING TO SUZUKI, IT IS NOT FREE TO REPLACE IT. SINCE 2007, SUZUKI HAS STARTED USING A ALL-SOLID METAL TENSIONER PULLEY AFTER REALIZING THAT PLASTIC TENDS TO BREAK MORE OFTEN. ACCORDING TO SUZUKI, A BROKEN TENSIONER PULLEY WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHEN POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. HAVING REALIZED THIS DESIGN FLAW, SUZUKI IS STILL NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC-COVERED TENSIONER PULLEY FOR FREE, ASKING ME FOR $200 FOR THE REPLACEMENT. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN WHERE I AM NOT AT FAULT. I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE TECHNICIAN IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD'VE DONE TO PREVENT IT, AND HE SAID NO. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES IF LEFT IN IT'S CURRENT STATE. I FEEL LIKE THIS TYPE OF DESIGN FLAW SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SUZUKI TO CORRECT, AND NOT THE CONSUMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10267349April 30, 2009
STEERING
STARTED MY CAR AND THERE WAS A LOUD ODD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AFTER A LITTLE INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING TENSIONER (WHICH ON EARLY 06 MODELS SUCH AS MINE WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC) HAD CRACKED CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AS WELL AS AN END TO MY POWER STEERING. THE CAR IS WITHOUT POWER STEERING. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO FIX IT AS IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THIS SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MULTIPLE EARLY MODEL 06 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA OWNERS. SUZUKI FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH LATER 06 MODELS AND ON NEWER MODELS BY CHANGING THE TENSION PULLEY FROM PLASTIC TO STEEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263756March 31, 2009
STEERING, SUSPENSION, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, AIR BAGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWAY BUSHINGS ON HER FRONT AND REAR TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES ON HER VEHICLE BECAME WORN AT 20,000 MILES AND THE REPAIR TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE AIR PRESSURE INDICATOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE ON THE TIRES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND DOES NOT DIM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 40 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. U PDATED 04/24/09. *LJ THE LATCH ON THE BACK DOOR WAS LOOSE. UPDATED 04/29/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263755March 31, 2009
TIRES, EQUIPMENT, POWER TRAIN
PALANCA DE CAMBIO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Suzuki Grand Vitara