2005 Suzuki FORENZA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
156 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
48,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 124 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 156 complaints (20.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 16.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 14.7% |
| Engine operation | 13 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 7.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 32 |
| Electrical System | 28 |
| Air Bags | 26 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
Exterior Lighting: 32; Electrical System: 28; Air Bags: 26; Power Train: 16; Engine: 12; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 39 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 29 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 29; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 9 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 19 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2005: 14; 2006: 18; 2007: 19; 2008: 16; 2009: 6; 2010: 10; 2011: 9; 2012: 10; 2013: 8; 2014: 9; 2015: 19; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 13 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 10167380 · 2006-09-05 (September 5, 2006)
SUZUKI AUTOMOTIVE OF CERRITOS AND SANTA ANA HAVE FAILED TO TIMELY REPAIR AND/OR INSTALL DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE PARTS ON MY 2005 FORENZA. DEFECTIVE/DAMAGED PARTS INCLUDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES, AIR BAG HARNESS/WIRING, AC KNOBS, STEREO BUTTONS ATTACHED TO STEERING WHEEL. FURTHER, SUZUKI HAS FAILED TO PROPERLY CORRESPOND WITH ME CONCERNING THESE ISSUES. MOST CONTACTS WERE INITIATED BY ME. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 17,437 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184870 · 2007-03-12 (March 12, 2007)
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. ONLY HIGH BEAMS WORK. ALL FUSES GOOD, REPLACED BULBS, STILL GOOD AND TO THIS DAY STILL UNFIXED. NO SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN JONESBORO ARKANSAS TO TEST ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO FIND OUT WHY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT OPERATE. NO RUNNING DAY LIGHTS EITHER. DAY LIGHT SWITCH SAYS ON BUT IS NOT ON. CONTINUING PROBLEM AND DO NOT DRIVE CAR AT NIGHT. *JB EMAIL INTERVIEW UPDATE (MAY 7, 2007):THE DEALER HAD TO TAKE THE DASHBOARD APART AND GET TO THE WIRING BEHIND THE FIREWALL. (THE AREA BEHIND THE GAUGES). THE LOW BEAM WIRING WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126450 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)
DT: CALLER HAS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. CAR JERKS WITHOUT WARNING BECAUSE THE ADAPTIVE TRANSMISSION LEARNING SOFTWARE IN THE COMPUTE IS DEFECTIVE. CALLER SAYS THE ADAPTIVE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS AFFECTED BY THE COMPUTER PROBLEM, AND THE CAR HUNTS BETWEEN GEARS, AND THAT IS WHY IT JERKS. CALLER IS CONCERNED ABOUT HIS FAMILY BEING IN THIS CAR. DEALER SAID THEY HAVE NO FIX AT THIS TIME, DEALER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. CALLER DID E-MAIL MANUFACTURER AND IS WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 992 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126450 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144874 · 2005-12-09 (December 9, 2005)
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ONE MONTH PRIOR TO PROBLEM. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY HUNTS FOR GEARS, SHIFTING ABRUPTLY AND SHARPLY WITHOUT PROVOCATION. AT 2,950 MILES, THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE BEGAN TO GROAN. WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE WOULD REV BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF TRANSMISSION WAS NOT ENGAGED. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD, VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY AND TRANSMISSION WOULD ENGAGE, BUT CONSTANTLY SHIFT EARLY OR LATE AND HUNT BETWEEN GEARS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO SOLVE PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,935 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145982 · 2005-12-23 (December 23, 2005)
HAVE A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. BOUGHT IT JUNE OF 2005. FOR THE TIME THAT I HAD THE CAR IT HAD LITTLE PROBLEMS AT TIMES. BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 5 MILES ON IT. SUZUKI DEALERSHIPS ONLY LOOK AT YOUR CAR BY APPOINTMENT ONLY AND WHEN THEY DO LOOK AT IT THEY CLAIM NOTHING WAS FOUND. THE CAR HESITATES AND DOWNSHIFTS HARD AT TIMES. IN THE MORNING THE CAR HAS HARD STARTS WHEN COLD. THE EXHAUST MAKES NOISE AND TRANSMISSION DOES TOO. THE CLAIMS ARE THAT IT IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT CAR AND NORMAL. RECENTLY I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK AT AN INTERSECTION BECAUS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151341 · 2006-02-27 (February 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM REMAINS.
Owner-reported narrative. 113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150648 · 2006-02-20 (February 20, 2006)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA AUGUST 25, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS DECEPTIVELY PRESENTED AS HAVING A "MAINTENANCE-FREE TIMING CHAIN" PRIOR TO PURCHASE. ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY THE SELLING DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD 9759 MILES AT THE MOST RECENT MAINTENANCE INTERVAL. LESS THAN 20 MILES LATER, WHEN PROCEEDING FORWARD FROM A REDLIGHT, ASCENDING A BRIDGE, FOR NO APARENT REASON WHATSOEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED ALONG WITH ALL POWER ASSISTED ACCESSORIES INCLUDING STEERING AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS INTO ONC…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163604 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY VEHICLE MAKES A TERRIBLE SOUND WHEN IT IS TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY AND SUZUKI REPLACED IT. THE REPLACED PART CONTINUED TO MAKE THE SAME SOUND SO I BROUGHT IT IN AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT SUZUKI WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE A NEW PART, ONLY THAT THEY NEEDED TO "LUBE THE HELL OUT OF IT." THE LUBING HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SUZUKI WILL NOT, OR CANNOT FIX. IT IS A SUB-PAR PRODUCT THAT NEEDS A REPAIR, NOT A BAND-AIDE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126035 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
DT: THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN OVER THE LAST 8-9 MONTHS FOR A METAL TO METAL SOUND IN THE SECONDARY BRAKING SYSTEM. DEALER SAID IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. THE CALIPERS ON THE SECONDARY BRAKING SYSTEM THAT OPERATESD THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IN THE REAR. IF THE PADS DISLODGED IT WOULD CAUSE THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AROUND 10-15 TIMES. CONSUMER'S FATHER, STEVE HERMAN, HAS FILED THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF THE OWNER WHO WAS AWAY AT COLLEGE.*A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133510 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
DT: THE AIRBAG SENSOR FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ACCORDING TO THE HANDBOOK, ANY CHILD UNDER 54 POUNDS THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT SHOULD COME ON. YESTERDAY THE CHILD WAS SEATING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON, AND TODAY THE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH SHOWED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR A BRAKE PROBLEM IN THE PAST, CONSUMER WAS VAGUE AS TO WHAT EXACTLY WAS WRONG OTHER THAN THE BRAKE TRAIN, AND THERE WAS A CD WEDGED UNDER THE AIR BAG COMPAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 771 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10629905 · 2014-09-01 (September 1, 2014)
RECURRING EVENT AIR BAG LAMP KEEPS TURNING ON NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT HAD IT REPLACED TWICE SUZUKI DEALER WAS OFF FOR YEARS, NOW HAS COME BACK AND STAYED ON FOR MONTHS. ON 3/20/2014 CAR SPUTTER LOST POWER WAS ABLE TO PARK IT IN A PARKING SPACE NOT ABLE TO TURN BACK ON, PROBLEM FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. 8/28/2014 RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, MY SUZUKI FORENZA 2005 LOST COMPLETE POWER: WHEN CHECKED THE BELIEVED PROBLEM IS 4-3 SHIFT MALFUNCTION P1884 MANUFACTURER CONT TRANS AND P0700 TRANS CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO GET A …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,723 miles reported. Look up ODI 10629905 at NHTSA ↗