Suzuki Grand Vitara Complaints

639 consumer complaints on file.

#10262658March 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN
ON 3/20/2009 APPROXIMATELY 7:30 PACIFIC TIME-MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO COMPLETE BREAKDOWNS WITHIN TWO AND 1/2 MONTHS. IN THE PREVIOUS REPAIR FROM THE PROBLEM DATED JANUARY 3RD 2009, [PREVIOUS ODI NUMBER 10258356], IT WAS FOUND THAT A TWO PART GEAR WHICH DRIVES THE CAM BROKE RESULTING IN BENT VALVES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND THUS REPLACED.(THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY IT BROKE) A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE HEADS WENT TO A MACHINE SHOP FOR WORK TO BE DONE. ON MARCH 20TH AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30 P.M PACIFIC TIME, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM DINNER, AND UPON GOING UP A SHORT GRADUAL HILL, THE VEHICLE MADE A 'RATTLING' SOUND LIKE A CHAIN SLIPPING IN A GEAR. THE SOUND LASTED APPROXIMATELY 2 SECONDS AND THE ENGINE DIED IN NEARLY THE SAME MOMENT AS THE SOUND. I TURNED OFF THE KEY- I THEN TURNED KEY BACK TO ACCESSORIES TO SEE WHICH LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON. THE ENGINE, OIL AND BATTERY LIGHTS STAYED ON. I DID NOT TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER REPAIR SHOP. (3/21/09) 38800 APPROX. MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE DIED THREE WEEKS TO THE DAY FROM THE GETTING IT BACK FROM THE FIRST REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260810March 5, 2009
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVERS' SIDE OF MY CAR WAS HIT, AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, BY A CAR TRAVELING APPROX 50MPH. THAT CAR HAD RUN A RED LIGHT. MY SEAT BELT HAD COME UNDONE UPON IMPACT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10260553March 3, 2009
TIRES
JUST PLACED NEW TIRES ON MY CAR AS THE REAR RT., WAS WEARING BADLY ON THE OUTSIDE. 23000 MILES ON 2007. SUZUKI MCKINNEY, STATED THEY WERE AWARE THAT THIS HAPPENS, AND THEY NO LONGER HAD EQUIPMENT TO DO ALIGNMENTS. HAD ANOTHER SHOP ALIGN, AND THEY COULD NOT GET THE CAR WITHIN RECOMMENDED SPECS. SPOKE TO SUZUKI, AND MANAGER THAT WAS AWARE OF PROBLEMS, NO LONGER WORKS THERE, NEW ACTING MANAGER HAS NEVER HEARD OF PROBLEM. IN INTERNET SEARCHES, APPEARS THAT IT IS RAMPANT WITH THE 2006-2007 MODELS, WHICH APPEARS TO BE MECHANICAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259080February 17, 2009
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAS AN ESP SYSTEM AND THE BUTTON READ, "PUSH ESP OFF". THE SALESMAN STATED THAT ONCE THE BUTTON IS PUSHED OFF, THE INDICATOR WILL GO AWAY. THE INDICATOR ACTIVATES WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND OVER AND CANNOT BE STOPPED. DOT NHTSA NUMBER 2006-25801RIN2127-AJ7749CFR, PARTS 571, AND 585 FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS WERE REFERENCED. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM RECOMMENDS THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN OVERRIDE MECHANISM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IF THE ESP SYSTEM DOES NOT SHUT OFF, IT CAN BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN COMPLIANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESP BUTTON HAS NO OVERRIDE BUTTON. THE ESP BUTTON MANIPULATES THE MAJOR CONTROLS OF THE VEHICLE SUCH AS MAINTAINING TRACTION AND SKID CONTROL. UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10258356February 11, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SAT 1/3/09: 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA DIED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON MTN LOOP HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY DIED-NO WARNING-SPEEDOMETER FELL TO ZERO. ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON AFTER TRYING TO RESTART ENGINE. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO GET IT OFF OF THE ROAD. COULD NOT START IT LATER. HAD IT TOWED. 1ST REPAIR SHOP FOUND SPARK PLUGS GUMMED-REMOVED THE VALVE COVER. "REQUIRES REPLACEMENT GASKETS AND OTHER PARTS-IT APPEARS THE KEY FOR THE TIMING "CHAIN" BROKE AND CAME OFF-NEED TO DISMANTLE MORE OF THE ENGINE." THEY DID. THE DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE BENT VALVES AND THE BROKEN 2-PIECE GEAR". THEY DISCUSSED REBUILD VERSUS ENGINE REPLACEMENT BEING POTENTIALLY A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION. FOUND OUT THAT POWER TRAIN STILL UNDER WARRANTY. UNDER WARRANTY WERE REQUIRED TO SEND TO A DEALER SHOP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER SHOP-THEIR DIAGNOSIS-APPARENT PROBLEM IS TWO GEARS THAT WORK TO DRIVE THE CAM SEPARATED AFTER ONE GEAR BROKE. LEFT VALVES ARE BENT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MACHINE SHOP WORK IS REQUIRED ON CYLINDER HEAD. SUZUKI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER: CASE # 2-181089136-2-PIECE GEAR HAD A DISTINCTIVE CRACK. "THE ". ENGINE HEAD WAS SENT FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK IS BACK-2/10 WORK CANNOT START UNTIL 2/16 OR LATER. THEY HAVE SAID THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE LOWER ENGINE. DO NOT KNOW ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF BROKEN PARTS. VEHICLE STILL AT SHOP. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE SINCE 1/3/2009. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257981February 8, 2009
SUSPENSION:REAR
ON FEBRUARY ,1ST, 2009 , THE LEFT REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 GOING EAST NEAR VIDOR, TEXAS. WHILE GOING ~ 60 M/HR. LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT WAS SPINNING ON THE FREEWAY(2 LANES , CONSTRUCTION ZONE).THE CAR ALSO HAD SOME MINOR DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT AND REAR RIGHT BUMPER DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST THE FREEWAY DIVIDER. ALL 4 TIRES WERE INTACT, NO BLOW OUTS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A SUZUKI DEALER IN HOUSTON (DMONTROND SUZUKI 281-872-0934). MY INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTER DECIDED TO TOTAL THE CAR ON 2/6/09. I CONTACTED SUZUKI CORPORATION AT 800-934-0934 TALKED TO ORLANDO. ORLANDO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR AND ALL HE CAN DO IS TO GET INFORMATION AND GIVE ME A CASE NUMBER, I GAVE HIM THE SAME DETAILS IN THIS LETTER AND THE CASE NUMBER HE GAVE ME IS 2-183409403. I DID NOT HEAR FROM SUZUKI SINCE I FILED THE COMPLAIN ON 2/6/09. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254090January 7, 2009
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE VEHICLE HAS YOKOHAMA TIRES, SIZE 225/70/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ROARING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, SHE NOTICED WIRES STICKING OUT OF THE TREAD. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $517. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STILL HAS POSSESSION OF THE FAILED TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,021. UPDATED 2/17/09 *CN UPDATED 02/19/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253555January 2, 2009
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING IN POORLY ILLUMINATED AREAS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TOP TO MID PORTION OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE REDUCTION OF VISIBILITY INCREASES THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253296December 30, 2008
SUSPENSION, TIRES
I HAVE YOKOHAMA ON MY GRAND VITARA THAT ROARS WHILE DRIVING ,HAD THEM CHECKED FOUND OUT, IT WAS NOT ONLY THE TIRES BUT THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS, NOBODY WANTS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TRUCK IS 2007 GRAND VITARA WITH LESS THAN 36,000 MILES ,I'M GETTING THE RUN AROUND, THEY ARE PASSING THE BLAME!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250808December 5, 2008
SUSPENSION
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT ON THIS CAR. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF BACK TIRES IN LESS THAN 36,000 MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM... BUT JUST SOMETHING I SHOULD EXPECT WITH THE GRAND VITARA. HE ADVISED THAT THEY DO KNOW THAT THE CAR IS EATING UP BACK TIRES AT A VERY QUICK RATE, BUT THAT SINCE THEY KNOW THIS, THEY NOW EXPECT IT AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT AN ISSUE. I AM NOW REPLACING MY SECOND SET OF TIRES AFTER ONLY 15,000 MILES (MY FIRST SET WAS REPLACED AT 19000). THEY ARE COMPLETELY BARE AND UNSAFE. I AM APPALLED THAT INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE FOR THE SAFETY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS (AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD), THAT INSTEAD SUZUKI IS JUST ADVISING ME TO "DEAL WITH IT". I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY TIRES PROPERLY FILLED, CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE ETC. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT IT IS MAKING THESE TIRES GO BALD SO QUICKLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248323November 10, 2008
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE CONTACT HAS NEVER USED THE TIGER PAW SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, A TIRE BLEW OUT WITH A LOUD POP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE FENDER WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE TIRE AND HOW IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES EXCEEDED 200,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247754November 5, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON 15 SEP 2008, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND OUR 2 SMALL CHILDREN WERE IN THE REAR. A DRIVER IN A FORD PICKUP RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED US ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, NEAR THE REAR DOOR & REAR WHEEL WELL, NEAR WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR IS, AT APPR 30-35 MPH. NONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10246778October 27, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL AND GRINDING FROM FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL. YET WHEN I DRIVE MY 07 KIA I ALMOST SEND MYSELF THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD EVERYTIME I PRESS ON THE BRAKES (SAME THING APPLIES WHEN I DRIVE MY 1988 C2500) BECAUSE I'M SO USE TO HAVING TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND MULTIPLE TIMES. I'M SURE THIS ISN'T NORMAL. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T THINK THAT SAFETY IS A CONCERN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245846October 17, 2008
SUSPENSION:REAR
EXCESSIVE REAR TIRE WEAR AT 15,000 MILES, HAS 19,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND THE REAR RIGHT TIRE IS BALD. CALLED SOUTHWEST SUZUKI AND SPOKE TO MR. DOYLE. CLAIMS ITS MY FAULT FOR NOT ROTATING TIRES. FRONT TIRES ARE OK. THIS IS A BOGUS COPOUT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE TIRE WEAR BECAUSE THIS CAR IS NOT ABLE TO ROAST THE TIRES WITH THE ESP SYSTEM. SUZUKI NEEDS TO FIX THIS, I CAN NOT JUSTIFY BUYING TIRES EVERY 15,000 MILES . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242510September 16, 2008
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I HAVE A 2007 GRAND VITARA, IT HAD YOKOHAMA GEOLANDER G92 255/70 R16 TIRES. THE BACK TIRES WORE OUT BY 13000 MILES. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED I WAS OVER INFLATING THE TIRES. THE PROBLEMS IS THAT THE TSP LIGHT KEPT COMING ON SO I WOULD PUT AIR IN THEM AND IT WOULD GO OFF. I HAD A WARRANTY ON THESE TIRES BUT NO ONE WOULD HONOR IT BECAUSE I WAS TOLD I PUT TO MUCH AIR IN MY TIRES. I ARGUED WITH THEM STATING THAT THE TSP LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. EVEN THE FRONT TIRES HAVE WORN SIGNIFICANTLY AND HAS SOME BULDGING AND I NEVER PUT AIR IN THOSE ONES. I ENDED UP BUYING 2 NEW TIRES, NOT YOKOHAMA! EVEN AFTER I CHANGED THE TIRES THE TSP LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES AFTER FOR THE SAME, TSP LIGHT COMING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242513September 16, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TWO MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, GEAR SHIFT STICKING AND UNABLE TO SHIFT WITHOUT JAMMING IT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. TWO, THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS A FOUL ODOR WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR BOTH PROBLEMS. THE GEAR SHIFT FIRST OFF WILL POP OUT OF PLACE IF HIT EVEN IN PARK OR WHEN THE CAR IN NOT RUNNING AND IT STICKS AND HAS TO BE JAMMED INTO PLACE, I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND WAS TOLD COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM-NEVER FIXED. THE AIR CONDITIONING STINKS BADLY, THE ODOR IS OFFENSIVE, SMELLS LIKE A PORTA POTTY OR SOMETHING DEAD! I HAVE TAKEN IT IN 2 X FOR THIS. THEY PUT LYSOL IN THE COILS AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES. THE SECOND TIME I WAS TOLD TO SPRAY LYSOL OR BLEACH IN THE LEDGE AT THE TOP. THIS DOES NOT HELP AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239919August 27, 2008
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
VIBRATION IN REAR STARTED SOON AFTER I PURCHASED CAR. I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES SINCE FEBRUARY 2007 AND THEY FIXED THE REAR BALANCED THE DRIVE SHAFT AND PUT NEW TIRES ON,BUT THE VIBRATION IS STILL THERE. AS YOU GO 45 MPH AND THEN GO FASTER YOU CAN HEAR THE NOISE LOUDER. AFTER THEY PUT THE NEW TIRES ON THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS OK AND ALL THEY HEARD WAS ROAD NOISE. WHEN I ROAD TESTED THE CAR I HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238500August 16, 2008
TIRES
NEEDED TO REPLACE TIRES AT 14,000 MILES. NOW AFTER 6,000 MORE MILES, THE REAR TIRES ARE WEARING BADLY AGAIN. FOUND OUT TODAY THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL GRAND VITARA OWNERS IN MY AREA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235550July 23, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY STARTING THE VEHICLE. HE DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS GROUNDING OUT AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE CURRENT RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY OF THE FAILURES NOTED IN THE RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235107July 21, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING FUEL LOSS IN THE IGNITION SOURCE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT FUEL WAS NOT ENTERING THE IGNITION, CAUSING A NO-START CONDITION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL FOR THIS SAME FAILURE; THEREFORE, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED IF THE FAILURE IS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED AT HER HOME AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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