Suzuki Grand Vitara Complaints (2008)
42 consumer complaints on file.
- #10595079May 30, 2014AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V405000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 08/28/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO ALLOW A LOCAL SHOP TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS TOO FAR AND COSTLY TO TRAVEL. UPDATED 09/1/2014 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10569304March 14, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT BULBS NEED TO BE REPLACED ON A REGULAR BASIS (AT LEAST TEN SO FAR) AND THE PLASTIC IN THE BASE IS MELTED (COULD CAUSE A FIRE). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10562026January 28, 2014EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULBS 8 (DRIVER), 6 (PASSENGER). ALSO, CANNOT SEE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD WHEN ONLY USING LOW BEAM. THIS IS A HAZARD! TIRED OF REPLACING BULBS EVERY 6 MONTHS. THEY AREN'T CHEAP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10554614December 3, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE HAD A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS IN THAT TIME I CAN NOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU THE COUNTLESS I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS IN THE HEADLIGHTS. ITS OBVIOUS FROM WHAT I'VE READ THAT THIS IS ON GOING ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF MAKE AND MODEL CAR. ITS OBVIOUS THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED TO REPLACE THESE HEADLIGHTS ALL TOGETHER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10551757November 11, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE BEEN REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT BULBS IN MY VEHICLE NEARLY EVERY 6 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. LAST YEAR I REPLACED THE RT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY UNIT AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THE HOUSING UNIT WAS BURNED AND WOULD NOT SEAT PROPERLY INTO THE ADAPTER. REPLACING THE ADAPTER WAS NOT AN OPTION, SO I INCURRED LABOR AND PARTS EXPENSES. NOW IN THE SHORTER DAYLIGHT FALL SEASON, THE LEFT BULB HAS BLOWN AND THE ADAPTER WAS BEGINNING TO BURN, SO I REPLACED IT. I INSPECTED IT TO CONFIRM THE STATE OF THE UNIT AND IT WAS INDEED, ON ITS WAY TO ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION. THERE IS NO WAY, WHEN DRIVING NOR IDLE, TO KNOW THAT SUCH AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE IS DECAYING. I HAVE PURCHASED HL7 55WATT BULBS, WHICH ARE THE LOWEST WATTS AVAILABLE. I FEEL UNSAFE DURING INCLIMATE WEATHER, FALL AND WINTER SEASON DRIVING. THIS FREQUENT NEED FOR REPLACEMENT TO AVOID POTENTIAL CRASHES IS OF MAJOR CONCERN TO ME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10543986September 17, 2013AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SHE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND MINOR BRUISING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10543597September 14, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO BEGIN REPLACING LOW BEAM HEAD LAMPS, SEEMINGLY DURING RANDOM STARTS THE BULB WOULD BLOW OUT ON EITHER THE PASSENGER OR DRIVERS SIDE, WITH VERY LITTLE USE BEHIND IT. SOME LAMPS LASTED AS LITTLE AS A FEW WEEKS, OTHERS LASTED MORE THAN A YEAR, BUT THE BULBS NEEDED A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATE OF REPLACEMENT THAN ANY OTHER VEHICLE I'VE EVER DRIVEN. I HAVE REPLACED MULTIPLE LOW BEAM LAMPS - 6 DRIVER SIDE LAMPS, AND 8 PASSENGER SIDE IN ONLY 5 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE AND LESS THAN 20K MILES DRIVER PER YEAR. NO HELP FROM SUZUKI ON THE MATTER. AND I ONLY BUY QUALITY BULBS FROM BRAND NAME MANUFACTURERS AT REPUTABLE PARTS STORES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10512655May 18, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A STORE PARKING LOT AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THEN IN DRIVE TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT. WHEN ON THE STREET THE CAR WENT ACROSS THE STREET I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND IT STALLED. WHEN I MY PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO FORWARD IT DIDN'T RESPOND. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD THREE TIMES ON ITS OWN AND THEN STOPPED REPEATING THIS AGAIN, BUT NOT A THIRD TIME BECAUSE I SHUT THE CAR OFF. THEN I RESTARTED THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO COAST WITH HAZARDS ON TO MY HOUSE UNDER 10 MPH. O SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED THE AUTO MECHANIC. THE THROTTLE SENSOR WENT. SO MY CAR NOW STAYS AT THE STATION AWAITING A NEW SENSOR WHILE I AM WITHOUT A MEANS TO GET TO WORK. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I CROSSED THE STREET BECAUSE CARS WERE COMING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10508193April 14, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HAD TO CONSTANTLY REPLACE DRIVERS SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT 6 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. NOW BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT WORK, BULBS ARE NOT BLOWN, AND FUSES ARE FINE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT SUZUKI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE UPWARDS OF $1200.00 OUT OF POCKET FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE 2 PAYMENTS TO GO AND I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. THAT'S IF IT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501302March 4, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER KEEP BLOWING HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ATLEAST 10 TIMES NOW. I CARRY EXTRA TO BE SAFE AND THIS IS GETTING VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10500818February 28, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. IN 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, WE HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS AT LEAST 6 TIMES. THIS IS DANGEROUS, IN ADDITION TO BEING EXPENSIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10468159July 29, 2012WHEELS, SUSPENSION
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. IT IS WEARING THE BACK TIRES DOWN TO NOTHING REALLY FAST AND MAKING LOUD ROARING NOISES. WHEN DRIVING IT THROWS YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD MAKING IT VERY POSSIBLE TO HIT ON COMING TRAFFIC. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE PARKED IT AND WILL NOT BE DRIVING UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10462738June 22, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, I NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE SO LOW THAT I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. I LITERALLY CANNOT SEE THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY ARE SO DIM-THEY KEEP BLOWING OUT AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAM LIGHTS ON AT NIGHT BECAUSE I AM AFRAID I WILL HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING. I AM BLINDED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC IF I DRIVE WITH THESE ON. THIS IS A GREAT SAFETY HAZARD-THESE LIGHTS SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I GOT MY SIXTEEN Y/O DAUGHTER THIS CAR AND I REFUSE TO LET HER DRIVE IT- I DRIVE IT. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES-STILL NOT ANY BETTER. PLEASE HELP. *TT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10461933June 16, 2012EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE JUST ENTERED THE MILEAGE OF THE LAST TIME THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED. MY 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA KEEPS BLOWING THE HEADLAMP BULBS. I HAVE REPLACED IT MORE THAN 10 TIMES WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY ABNORMAL SINCE MOST OF THE CARS USES THE SAME BULB EVEN FOR YEARS. AS I CAN SEE IN INTERNET FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BETWEEN SUZUKI OWNERS AND SUZUKI HAS DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE HELP. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10450849March 9, 2012SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, AIR BAGS
ESP LIGHT CAME ON, BROUGHT TRUCK TO DEALER, THEY SAY IT HAS A BAD HYDRAULIC BRAKE UNIT AT THE COST OF $1200, SUZUKI WON'T FIX IT EVEN THOUGH THEIR IS ONLY 15101MI ON VEHICLE. MOUSE INFESTATION DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF CABIN BODY VENTS LOCATED BEHIND REAR BUMPER COVER. THERE ARE NO GRILLS IN PLACE OVER THESE VENTS TO KEEP RODENTS OUT, THEY INFESTED THE TRUCK AND HEADLINER AREA URINATING ALL OVER THE CURTAIN AIR BAGS AND COMPROMISED THEM, I CALLED SUZUKI AND BASICALLY WAS TOLD I'M THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD THIS HAPPENED TO AND BASICALLY DID NOTHING, $4000 IN DAMAGE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10438613December 5, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,500.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10381577February 11, 2011AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN HE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION REPAIR CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10369588December 8, 2010EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AT NIGHT HE COULD NOT SEE BEYOND APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET WITH THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER HE DROVE AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS WHERE HE WAS TOLD THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MET FEDERAL STANDARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,000. UPDATED 02/08/11*LJ
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368364November 30, 2010AIR BAGS
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2008 ONLY 3 YEARS OF USE AND THE AIR BAG SYSTEM ALREADY WENT BAD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10283078September 7, 2009SUSPENSION
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