2005 Suzuki RENO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
38,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 32 complaints (40.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.1% |
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 | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Air Bags: 13; Exterior Lighting: 5; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 10 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 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 7; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10157356 · 2006-05-04 (May 4, 2006)
CONSUMER 2005 RENO S USED 35 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE FIRST 688 MILES. THE WINDOW STICKER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD RECEIVE 22 MPG CITY AND 30 MPG HIGHWAY. *TS THE VEHICLE GETS ON AVERAGE 19 MPG. THE CONSUMER HAS COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND EXTERIOR WORKMANSHIP. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 590 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157356 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173492 · 2006-11-14 (November 14, 2006)
I GOT MY CAR IN MAY, 2006. IT WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP ONLY SIX DAYS AFTER. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR WOULD JERK WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS (ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC). OVER ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME, IT GOT MUCH WORSE AND I HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED. I BROUGHT IT BACK THREE MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 4TH TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK, IT WAS SO BAD THAT NOT ONLY WAS IT JERKING WHILE SHIFTING, BUT WHILE STAYING AT A STEADY SPEED AS WELL. FINALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,627 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457545 · 2012-05-05 (May 5, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING EARLY IN THE EVENING AND DRIVING IN A WELL LIT 15 MPH ZONE JUST AFTER DUSK. PEOPLE ON THE SIDEWALK STARTED POINTING AT MY CAR. WHEN I TURNED UP THE SIDE STREET I REALIZED I HAD NO HEADLIGHTS! I FOUND OUT THAT MY HIGH BEAMS STILL WORKED AND I DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED FOR FUSES, RELAYS, AND BULBS BY MY MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD IT WAS IN THE WIRING. I CAME HOME AND CHECKED THE COMPUTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF. THIS COULD HAVE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515001 · 2013-06-04 (June 4, 2013)
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON.VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE RENO AND FORENZA. THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH SEAT SENSORS/WIRING AND CLOCKSPRINGS. SUZUKI HAS LONG KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM ,BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON THE XL7 AND GRAND VITARA FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO READ OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES W/ INJURIES IN WHICH AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SUZUKI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10332285 · 2010-05-26 (May 26, 2010)
I WANT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT/INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2005 SUZUKI RENO AIRBAG SYSTEM. I BELIEVE MY CASE TO BE IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE. THE DRIVER HAD BEEN AT A 4-WAY STOP IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, STARTED IN FIRST GEAR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW AND THE CAR WAS THROWN INTO A CURB. IT APPEARS THAT THE CURB GOT BETWEEN THE RIM AND THE BLOWN TIRE AND ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO USE THE BRAKES TO STOP HE COULD NOT GET TRACTION...LIKE BEING ON A RAILROAD TIE. THE CAR HIT A MAILBOX AND THEN WAS PROPELLED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CAR HIT SLIGHTL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10332285 at NHTSA ↗