2006 Suzuki GRAND VITARA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
161 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
46,352 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 132 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 40 of 161 complaints (24.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 16.8% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 14.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.5% |
| 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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 40 |
| Exterior Lighting | 24 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Steering | 18 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 |
| Seat Belts | 9 |
| Seats | 8 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 |
Air Bags: 40; Exterior Lighting: 24; Electrical System: 23; Steering: 18; Vehicle Speed Control: 10; Seat Belts: 9; Seats: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 34 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 34; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 29 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2011 | 27 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 20 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 9; 2007: 9; 2008: 6; 2009: 12; 2010: 31; 2011: 27; 2012: 9; 2013: 20; 2014: 11; 2015: 14; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2020: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 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 10170107 · 2006-10-06 (October 6, 2006)
REFERENCE: 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, CONTINUING REAR BRAKE PROBLEM PLEASE HELP ME SECURE A SAFE FIX FOR MY CAR AND ANY OTHERS DRIVERS / PASSENGERS THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK DUE TO THIS REAR BRAKE DEFECT. THE REAR BRAKES: THE LAST WARRANTY REPAIR DID ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH A MORE PRONOUNCED NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF NO STOPPING CORRECTLY DURING A RECENT SUDDEN STOP. DURING THE SUDDEN STOP THE REAR BRAKES WERE VERY NOISY AND VIBRATED THE WHOLE VEHICLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189627 · 2007-05-03 (May 3, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES PRODUCED A LOUD SCRUBBING AND SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING 45 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES TO HAVE THE FAILURE REPAIRED, BUT IT RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE ,AND IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE, VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,491. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,491 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10209896 · 2007-11-26 (November 26, 2007)
I PURCHASED A SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IN JULY OF 2006. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE, 4 WEEKS AT THE MOST, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALER FAULKNER SUZUKI (HARRISBURG, PA) AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR MALFUNCTION. THEY CHANGED THE SENSORS. BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEREAFTER, APPROXIMATELY EVERY 4 TO 8 WEEKS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - TO WHICH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT FAULKNER RESPONDED BY CHANGING THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND REPLACING THE ASSOCIATED COMPUTER. ALSO OF NOTE, THEIR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10209896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10212533 · 2007-12-21 (December 21, 2007)
2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 6,500 MILES STEERING COLUMN. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR STEERING COLUMN BEING LOOSE. TOLD US THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY IT GOT LOOSE BUT THEY TIGHTENED UP. THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING STEERING COLUMN COLLAPSED ONTO LAP CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF CAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10213498 · 2008-01-02 (January 2, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHIFTING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE STEERING BOLTS. TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING COLUMN FELL ON THE FLOOR CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. A FORMAL COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF PAIN IN HER NECK AND BACK. UPDATED
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10213498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10218291 · 2008-02-08 (February 8, 2008)
2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WITH RECALL ON TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. DEALER TRIED A COMPUTER UPGRADE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WHICH DID NOT WORK. *KB UPDATED 05/15/08. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10218291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262658 · 2009-03-21 (March 21, 2009)
ON 3/20/2009 APPROXIMATELY 7:30 PACIFIC TIME-MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD TWO COMPLETE BREAKDOWNS WITHIN TWO AND 1/2 MONTHS. IN THE PREVIOUS REPAIR FROM THE PROBLEM DATED JANUARY 3RD 2009, [PREVIOUS ODI NUMBER 10258356], IT WAS FOUND THAT A TWO PART GEAR WHICH DRIVES THE CAM BROKE RESULTING IN BENT VALVES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND THUS REPLACED.(THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY IT BROKE) A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF OTHER PARTS WERE REPLACED AS WELL. THE HEADS WENT TO A MACHINE SHOP…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10426813 · 2011-09-22 (September 22, 2011)
AT APX. 10000 MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE CAR, AND DID NOT GO OUT. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER; WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR HAD FAILED IN THE SEAT, AND WOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AT APX. 25000 MILES, THE AIR BAG LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON. THE CAR WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE SEAT HAD FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAD HAPPENED, TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185778 · 2007-03-21 (March 21, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, HAS HAD SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES SINCE SHE'S PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LAST YEAR. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS HER AIR BAG SENSOR; SHE STATED THAT WHEN THERE IS SOMEONE SITTING ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE THE AIR BAG SENSOR CONSTANTLY TURNS ON AND OFF. SHE HAS STATED THAT SOMETIMES IF YOU SIT IN THE SEAT A CERTAIN WAY THE AIRBAG SENSOR WORKS. SHE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHANGED THE COMPUTER IN THE VEHICLE ON ONE OCCASION. THE SEAT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND SH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10185778 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268923 · 2009-05-16 (May 16, 2009)
MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAS A BROKEN POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY. THE REASON IS THAT THE MANY 2006 MODELS OF THE GRAND VITARA USED A METAL PULLEY WRAPPED WITH A PIECE OF PLASTIC AROUND IT. THE PLASTIC HAS CRACKED, AND ACCORDING TO SUZUKI, IT IS NOT FREE TO REPLACE IT. SINCE 2007, SUZUKI HAS STARTED USING A ALL-SOLID METAL TENSIONER PULLEY AFTER REALIZING THAT PLASTIC TENDS TO BREAK MORE OFTEN. ACCORDING TO SUZUKI, A BROKEN TENSIONER PULLEY WILL LEAD TO IMMEDIATE AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THIS COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS WHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268923 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456562 · 2012-04-26 (April 26, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 15 MPH WHEN BLUE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST, ALONG WITH THE SMELL OF FUEL. THE CHECK ENGINE AND EG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMNATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT A FAILURE IN THE GROUND WIRE FOR THE FUEL INJECTOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 77,069.
Owner-reported narrative. 77,069 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456562 at NHTSA ↗