2003 Suzuki AERIO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
25,481 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Wheels:Rim is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 36 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 13.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Wheels:Rim | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
Wheels:Rim: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Driveline: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 11; 2005: 8; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels:Rim leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10073297 · 2004-05-28 (May 28, 2004)
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SUZUKI AERIO WITH MY INFANT GRAND DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND THE RIM SNAPPED IN 2 PIECES AND THE WHOLE WHEEL FELL OFF AND THE CAR SLIP 175 FEET ON THE ROTOR. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR ALL THE DAMAGES INCLUDING THE BODY WORK. I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER 30 DAYS NO RENTAL CAR AND MY DAUGHTER'S BACK WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP AND GOING OUT AND NO ONE SEEMS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109314 · 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
VEHICLE TENDED TO SHAKE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND STEER THE VEHICLE . ALSO, VEHICLE HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TAKEN FOR REPAIRS TWICE, BUT THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164609 · 2006-08-05 (August 5, 2006)
I OWN A 2003 AERIO SUZUKI SX 5-SPEED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT'S BEEN POPPING OUT OF 5TH GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. THEY SAID THEY TEST DROVE IT AND COULD NOT "DUPLICATE CONCERN". THE VERY RUDE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME EVEN IF PROBLEM WAS FOUND THEY DO NOT HAVE EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR IT AND TO TAKE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE. SHE ALSO MADE A COMMENT ABOUT NOT NEEDING "FREE WORK",LEADING ME TO BELIEVE BECAUSE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO EXTENSIVE WORK FOR FREE!! I CALLED SUZUKI AND THEY SAID MOST …
Owner-reported narrative. 54,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10215896 · 2008-01-24 (January 24, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V307000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER IS GIVING THE CONTACT THE RUN AROUND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS THE PART, BUT THE DEALER STATED OTHERWISE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS NOT RETURNED HIS PHONE CALLS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN CALLING TO CONFIRM THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10215896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067985 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
AT APPROX. 23,000 MILES FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. WITH IN 20 MILES AFTER REPAIR FAILED AGAIN, AND HAS DONE SO FOR THE NEXT FIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE DEALER & OR SUZUKI REPRESENITIVES DON'T NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS SITUATION, ON THIS 2003 SUZUKI. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I FEEL THEY ARE STALLING HOPING TO WARE ME DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190366 · 2007-05-10 (May 10, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED AS TIME PROGRESSED. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161046 · 2006-06-29 (June 29, 2006)
APPROXIMATELY IN JUNE 2005 A NOISE AND VIBRATION DEVELOPED WHEN RUNNING THE A/C AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE S-BELT TENSIONER, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, AT CRAWFORD SUZUKI ON AIRWAYS BLVD. IN EL PASO, TEXAS.ON JUNE 12, 2006, WHILE RETURNING FROM TUCSON, AZ, MY WIFE NOTICED A VIBRATION AND NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO CRAWFORD SUZUKI ON 6/15/2006 (SMCS345882). AFTER THE CAR WAS EXAMINED BY THE TECHNICIAN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MISALIGNED, FACTORY INSTALLED POWER STEERING BRACKET. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICEMAN ABLE AGUIRRE, I WOULD HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10161046 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372230 · 2010-12-23 (December 23, 2010)
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS AND IT SEEMS IT NEVER ENDS. SERIOUS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSES A LOT OF INCONVENIENCES FOR A SINGLE MOTHER LIKE ME, TAKEN TO SOME SHOPS, MONEY WASTED ON NOTHING BECAUSE IT SEEMS THIS IS ONE OF THE WEAKEST AND WORST PROBLEMS A SUZUKI AERIO 2003 COULD HAVE. CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ! *LN
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10136165 · 2005-09-12 (September 12, 2005)
I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BIRMINGHAM SUZUKI BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR IT WOULD MAKE A POPPING NOISE. THEY REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACKING PINION AND THE TIE ROD. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CARE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED IT. I TOOK MY CARE BACK IN ON SEPT. 6, 2005 BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE REPAIR SHOP AT BIRMINGHAM SUZUKI INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT MY ECM HAD LOOSE WIRING. THEY PUT IT BACK IN AND THEN THE CAR RAN FINE. THE EXTENDED W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136165 at NHTSA ↗