2003 Suzuki GRAND VITARA XL-7 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
13,103 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 38.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Anti-Theft Devices | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Anti-Theft Devices: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 6; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10039280 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FAILED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED AND THE CAR WAS DIRECTED OUT OF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS TO MAKE IT STOP. *JB THE DISTANCE WAS MEASURED AND IT WAS 75 FEET FROM THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO THE POINT THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR WAS GOING 35-40 MPH. THE DRIVER FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO STOP BY PULLING THE HAND BREAK BUT THE CAR HIT THE BUMPER HIT THE REAR OF PICK UP TRUCK IN FRONT AND THE TOW HITCH OF THE PICK UP TRUCK C…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073461 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214784 · 2008-01-14 (January 14, 2008)
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM THE PARK IT WAS RAINING A LITTLE BIT SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL STAR GOING THE LEFT, I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR FALL DOWN AND THE CAR STOP COMPLETELY, I CHECK THE WHEEL AND IT WAS ABOUT TO COME OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214784 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 765625 · 2002-08-14 (August 14, 2002)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THIS WAS INCONSISTANT BUT RECURRING PROBLEM WHICH USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP UNDER ACCELERATION AND NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR UNTIL STOPPED ACCELERATING. THIS CIRCUMSTANCE CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE ANALYST AND TECHNICIAN COULD NOT CONFIRM THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM , BU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 765625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353728 · 2010-09-03 (September 3, 2010)
I HAD BOUGHT A USED SUZUKI AUTO FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CARS. IN MID-JUNE 2005 I WAS RETURNING TO PHILA. ON I-95 AFTER TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO CAMP IN MASSACHUSETTS. JUST OUTSIDE DARIEN, CONN. ALL THE POWER ON THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AN 18-WHEELER WAS BARRELING DOWN ON ME IN THE CENTER LANE BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THE LANE TO MY RIGHT WAS EMPTY AND THE SHOULDER WAS WIDE ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL OVER. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN DARIEN AND HAVING A REPAIR SHOP TOW THE CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID THERE HAD BEEN A BLOWN FUSE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE A…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353728 at NHTSA ↗