Suzuki Esteem Complaints

121 consumer complaints on file.

#10386680March 7, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POT HOLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE AXLE AND THE A-FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384308February 24, 2011
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,524. ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381122February 8, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL COMPLETELY FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS OFFERED TO THE OWNERS OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE BUT THE WARRANTY WAS VOIDED DUE TO THE MILEAGE LIMITATIONS OF THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369432December 7, 2010
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IN 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM CRACKED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH. CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT, SINCE IT HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY STOP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER I FOUND OUT THAT RUSTING WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT YOU COULD POKE A HOLE IN THE CROSS MEMBER BY SIMPLY PUSHING A SCREW DRIVER ON TO THE SURFACE OF THE CROSS MEMBER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348235August 9, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER TO CALL NHTSA. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346277July 30, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON. SUBFRAME AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED WHILE COMING TO A STOP.. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND IS BEING REPAIRED FOR A COST OF $1000. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, BUT IF THESE PARTS HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS VEHICLE IS RECALLED OR AT LEAST OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344528July 21, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. STEERING WAS SUDDENLY OFF CENTER SO I HAD AN ALIGNMENT COMPLETED WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY OFF CENTER AGAIN. A FEW BLOCKS FURTHER (I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT THE TIME, AT SLOW SPEEDS) THE FRONT PASSENGER SUB-FRAME BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL TO SLOPE AND THE SUSPENSION TO PULL OUT FROM THE TRANSMISSION, IMMEDIATELY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM SURE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURS AS I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH AND BREAKING. WHILE THERE WERE SMALL RUST SPOTS ON THE BOTTOM OF ONE OF THE DOORS, THE CAR WAS NOT AT ALL RUSTY. DUE TO EXPENSE TO REPAIR, I SOLD THE CAR TO THE HORSEHEADS, NY PICK-A-PART USED CAR PARTS LOT AND PURCHASED A NEW CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339934June 24, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1) DRIVING FROM ALABAMA TO OHIO - ALIGNMENT FELT "OFF" 2) FRAME RUSTED AND DROPPED NEAR RIGHT-FRONT WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING/TURNING 5 MPH IN PARKING LOT 3) JUNK CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335859June 11, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHILE MOVING OFF THE ROADWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER, THE GRINDING NOISE BECAME MORE SEVERE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT K FRAME WAS SEVERELY ROTTED AND THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD RIPPED THROUGH THE MAIN FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314822February 27, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE OUTSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES BREAK INSIDE THE DOOR WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. THEN TO ENTER THE CAR ANOTHER DOOR MUST BE USED. THESE HANDLES ARE VERY WEAK, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE REPLACED FOUR ON THE DRIVERSIDE FRONT DOOR, TWO ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT DOOR, AND ONE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE REAR DOOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293783November 28, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS WITH A LOT OF EXPERTISE. I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM TWO YEARS AGO. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND I BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR CAR BECAUSE IT WAS FROM VIRGINIA AND WAS IMMACULATE NOT LIKE THE CARS FROM THE RUST BELT HERE IN MICHGAN. SHE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT ALL OF A SUDDEN, VIOLENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING PULLED VERY HARD. SHE CALLED ME I TOLD HER TO STOP THE CAR AND LET ME INSPECT IT. SHE GOT IT TO A SAFE AREA AND ALSO TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS "BENT IN". I INSPECTED IT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE CROSS FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE TWO A FRAMES TO THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR HAD COMPLETED RUSTED OUT AND DETACHED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS ALMOST GONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE TOO. ALL OTHER SURROUNDING METAL FRAMES AND THE CAR BODY ITSELF WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT THIS CROSS FRAME WAS VERY OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND ROTTED OUT CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING LOSS. AGAIN, THIS PARTICULAR PART IS DEFECTIVE TO THE MOST CASUAL OBSERVER AS EVERYTHING AROUND IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND WHEN THIS MAIN FRAME PART FAILS IT HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF TOSSING THE CAR VIOLENTLY ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY DAUGHTER IS AN EMT USED TO DRIVING AN AMBULANCE AT HIGH SPEED AND IS AN EXCELLENT DRIVER. A LESSER DRIVER MAY HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME. THE CAR IS HERE AND CAN BE INSPECTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292502November 17, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
98 SUZUKI ESTEEM CROSS MEMBER(ENGINE CRADLE) ON THE SUZUKI ESTEEM THE ENGINE CRADLE OR CROSS MEMBER ROT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE CAUSING INTO AN ACCIDENT ,CROSSMEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE SUPPORTS LOWER CONTROL ARMS WHICH IF THE CROSSMEMBER LET GO WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO POSSIBLE CRASH IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A AUTO MECHANIC EVERY SINGLE SUZUKI ESTEEM THAT HAVE COME TO MY SHOP FOR STATE INSPECTION HAS FAIL DUE TO THE CROSS MEMBER THIS INCLUDES 98 TO 01 SUZUKI ESTEEM ,EVERY SINGLE CAR AT JUNKYARDS ARE RUSTED OUT WHICH MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR A CUSTOMER TO GET A USED REPLACEMENT FOR A CHEAPER PRICE ,,,I BELIEVE THAT FACTORY OR DEALER SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AS A SAFETY RECALL SINCE THIS CAN PUT IN DANGER ALOT OF PEOPLE ,,THANKS AND I HOPE THIS WILL BE TAKE ON CONSIDERATION RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHICH HIS CAR CROSS MEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE LET GO AND WE CANT FIND A USED ONE ANYWHERE ALL JUNKYARDS STATE THAT IT IS A COMMON THING ON SUZUKI ESTEEMS ...ALL DEALERS SHOULD SEND A LETTER TO ALL ESTEEMS OWNER TO GET THE CROSS MEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE REPLACED AT NO COST. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285996October 1, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM FRONT RIGHT WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST INSIDE FENDER CAR PULLING TO RIGHT K FRAME CROSSMEMBER ROTTED PART REPLACED BY SUZUKI DEALER OLD PART IS AVAILABLE PART AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279480August 5, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART THAT SUPPORTS THE A-FRAME WAS RUSTED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259958February 25, 2009
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUBFRAME ON A 2001 SUZUKI, ESTEEM CRACKED. CALL SUZUKI DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. WHICH I THINK THERE SHOULD BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS NOT THAT OLD TO HAVE DOES KIND OF PROBLEMS. PART AND LABOR WILL BE REALLY EXPENSIVE CLOSE TO A $1,000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. WHEN I TALKED TO THE PERSON IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT, TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE SAME PART FOR REPAIR LATELY, THIS IS WHY I THINK IS A RECALL ISSUE AND SUZUKI SHOULD WARRANTY THIS KIND OF PARTS THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOR A REALLY LONG TIME I SUPPOSE. PLEASE HELP!!!!! I STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE CAR BECAUSE OF COSTLY REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10251398December 10, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, WHEELS
SOLE OWNER 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON WITH ROTTED K-FRAME AND RUSTED WHEELS. SUZUKI WILL ONLY COVER K-FRAME PART AND DEALER WANTS $390. FOR LABOR. ARE THERE OTHER SUZUKI VEHICLES WITH REPORTED ROTTED K-FRAMES?. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2002. THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTED FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248931November 16, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION OF 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM GLX WAGON I HAVE THIS VEHICLE AND RUNNING OK FOR 5 YEARS. WHEN I DID MY ANNUAL CHECK UP THIS WEEKEND, IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS BEEN RUST-THROUGH AND FORMED A CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS. BY VISUAL INSPECTION, THIS MEMBER IS HIGHLY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER PARTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DID MY INSPECTION WAS SURPRISED THAT I WAS STILL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IF I HIT A POTHOLE ON THE ROAD AND THIS SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER COULD EASILY BREAK AND WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I COULD BE KILLED. I DID A LITTLE SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN SIMILAR MODELS OF SUZUKI VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIES ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIES INJURIES AND FATALITIES NOT ONLY OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND OUT OF THIS ISSUE IF I HADN'T DONE THE ANNUAL CHECK UP. A SIMILAR CORROSION PROBLEM WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 1999-2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER AND GM INITIATED A RECALL ON THIS. I WILL TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT BUT I FEEL I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO LET OTHER OWNER KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY SAVE SOME LIVES. THANK YOU. WEI TU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242615September 12, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON FRONT CROSS MEMBER FRAME RUSTED OUT. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240216August 29, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WALKED NEAR THE VEHICLE, HE WOULD SMELL GASOLINE. HE STATED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM OUTSIDE OF THE PIPE ONTO THE GROUND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,700 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATE 10/01/08 *CW UPDATED 10/03/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226715May 5, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER WHEEL WENT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SUB- FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. UPDATED 05/20/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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