Suzuki AERIO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
115 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
23,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 80 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 115 complaints (11.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 22.6% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 13 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Wheels:Rim | 5 |
Tires: 13; Air Bags: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 6; Suspension: 6; Power Train: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Wheels:Rim: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (42). 35 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 | 5 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 19 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 5; 2004: 15; 2005: 16; 2006: 19; 2007: 23; 2008: 10; 2009: 4; 2010: 6; 2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10042355 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
BRAKE CALIPER HAS A HOLE AND LEAKS, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE . *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042355 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049928 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053357 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING AND OR POPPING NOISE. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFTER THAN NORMAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND PULSATION IN THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL. SUZUKI ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE OF HOW TO RESOLVE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME WHEN TRAVELING AT CERTAIN ANGLES BOTH ON AND OFF RAMP. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 8,004 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053357 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 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 ↗
Owner report 10210544 · 2007-11-27 (November 27, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI AERIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE WAL-MART MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY EXPANDED AND COULD EXPLODE. HE TESTED THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT THE CRANKS TESTED AT 300, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT 750. THE ENGINE LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID $76 FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND STATED THAT THE BATTERY…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210544 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 0