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U.S. public vehicle records

Suzuki RENO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

173 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

53,850 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 148 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 46 of 173 complaints (26.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting5934.1%
Electrical and battery issues158.7%
Engine operation137.5%
Braking behavior105.8%
Steering behavior74.0%

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.

Power Train
46
Air Bags
36
Electrical System
31
Exterior Lighting
23
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
20
Vehicle Speed Control
19
Engine
14
Air Bags:Frontal
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train46
Air Bags36
Electrical System31
Exterior Lighting23
Power Train:Automatic Transmission20
Vehicle Speed Control19
Engine14
Air Bags:Frontal8

Power Train: 46; Air Bags: 36; Electrical System: 31; Exterior Lighting: 23; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 19; Engine: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
27
25,000 to 49,999
37
50,000 to 74,999
38
75,000 to 99,999
25
100,000 to 149,999
19
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00027
25,000 to 49,99937
50,000 to 74,99938
75,000 to 99,99925
100,000 to 149,99919
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 2

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 25 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.

2005
2
2006
6
2007
5
2008
10
2009
7
2010
14
2011
24
2012
30
2013
21
2014
25
2015
13
2016
5
2017
7
2019
3
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20052
20066
20075
200810
20097
201014
201124
201230
201321
201425
201513
20165
20177
20193
20241

2005: 2; 2006: 6; 2007: 5; 2008: 10; 2009: 7; 2010: 14; 2011: 24; 2012: 30; 2013: 21; 2014: 25; 2015: 13; 2016: 5; 2017: 7; 2019: 3; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 59 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 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 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 10166658 · 2006-08-27 (August 27, 2006)

1. CAR HESITATES TO START IN THE MORNING AND STALLS 2. CAR DEALER STATES IT NEEDS A SOFTWARE PART. 3. PART INSTALLED AND NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER THAT AS WELL. CAR LEAKED GAS, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, CAR AGAIN WOULD HESITATE TO START AND WOULD STALL. DEALER PUTS NEW COMPUTER IN THE NEW CAR AND THE CAR RUNS WORSE THAN IT DID BEFORE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR WOULD STALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAR LOOSES STEERING WHEN IT STALLS. ALMOST IN A FEW ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE KEEP RE-FLASHING THE COMPUTER AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166658 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10222490 · 2008-03-27 (March 27, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI RENO. THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PLACED IT IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE CHECKED THE MANUAL AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS IF IT WOULD SHUT OFF. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST INDICATED THAT THE RANGE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED, THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN U…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222490 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 ↗

Owner report 10381874 · 2011-02-06 (February 6, 2011)

2006 SUZUKI RENO, UNIT 1 WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC AT GATE 218 ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE, UNIT 2 STRUCK UNIT 1 IN THE REAR. THE DRIVER OF UNIT 2 STATED HIS BRAKES FAILED AND COULD NOT STOP IN TIME. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0779-91) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF . UPDATED 03/03/11 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10381874 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10167209 · 2006-09-01 (September 1, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIFT INTO THE OTHER LANE. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167209 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

2004
1
2005
3
2006
4
2007
2
2008
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20041
20053
20064
20072
20081

2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 1

Year-by-year records

Suzuki RENO model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200401Not available
2005323+2
2006634+1
2007552-2
2008231-1