Suzuki VITARA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
99 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
53,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 99 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 17.2% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 10.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Suspension:Front: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 9; Suspension: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 68 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 21 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 21; 2001: 11; 2002: 16; 2003: 12; 2004: 11; 2005: 12; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 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 10042021 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN CRUISE MODE. WHEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ACTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE GAS PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 42,214 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053379 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
BRAKE LIGHTS KEPT BLOWING OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED SIX TIMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233633 · 2008-07-09 (July 9, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IT REMAINS IN A FIXATED POSITION. HE INSPECTED THE STEERING FLUID AND CONCLUDED THAT THE LEVELS WERE NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V324002 (STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR), THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MI…
Owner-reported narrative. 138,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233633 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744004 · 2001-04-13 (April 13, 2001)
WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE RED LIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS A RESULT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020833 · 2003-06-01 (June 1, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT EASILY GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720056 · 2000-03-13 (March 13, 2000)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, GRINDS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 862625 · 2000-05-26 (May 26, 2000)
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED MORE THAN 30 DAYS AGO & IT ALREADY HAS STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT SHAKES REAL BADLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 862625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10037262 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
MY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE A 200 SUZUKI VITARA, AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTHS I NOTICED IT WASN'T SHIFTING JUST RIGHT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. RIGHT AWAY ALSO I NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE SAME ANSWER. FINALLY AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE FORCED TO TO REALLY DEAL WITH THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN THAT NEXT DAY. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP MY VEHICLE STALLED. I CALLED A TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10037262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121073 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
DT: RAN OFF THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ONTO THE SIDEWALK. CONSUMER HIT AN ELECTRICAL BOX AND STREET SIGN. THE CAR STOPPED AND THE POLICE AND EMV CAME. THE POLICE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION. CONSUMER DID HAVE PREVIOUS BACK PROBLEMS AND DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121073 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 4 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1999: 4; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 1