Suzuki XL-7 problems and owner complaints

FIRST OCCASION APPROX 1/04 - BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY ON ITS OWN. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND STILL COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE-HAD TO PUT CAR IN PARK TO STOP. IF SOMEONE WAS IN BACK OF ME I WOULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. SIMULTANEOUS WITH THIS INCIDENT, I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM SUZUKI FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM AND TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL SERVICE. SECOND OCCASION, 3/25/04 - WAITING IN LINE TO GO INTO CAR WASH WHEN CAR DID THE SAME THING-ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME, …

Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064120 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065218 at NHTSA ↗

NO EVENT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE OF THE COMPRESSOR IT JUST STARTED TO SQUEAL ONE DAY. THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN ABOUT MARCH IN MY SUZUKI XL-7 2002 WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON THE HEAT AND THE FAN WOULD NOT PUMP OUT THE HEAT AND IT MADE A LOAD SQUEALING NOISE. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AND NOT ONLY DID THAT GO OUT BUT WHEN IT DIED IT CREATED METAL SHAVINGS WHICH WERE SUCKED INTO TWO OTHER PARTS. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS RARE THAT A COMPRESSOR SHOULD GO OUT AT 63,000 MILES AND IT COULD EFFECT THE POWER S…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10241923 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI XL-7. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE AIR CONDITIONING SHUT OFF AND SHE EXITED OFF THE INTERSTATE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT ALLOW HER TO TURN PROPERLY. SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ISSUE MAY HAVE BEEN THE POWER STEERING. SHE PURCHASED FLUID, BUT ANOTHER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BELT FAILED. THE CONTACT WENT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268646 at NHTSA ↗

LETTER OF COMPLAINT AND FRUSTRATION ON THE POOR QUALITY OF 2003 SUZUKI XL-7 AND SUBSEQUENT PATHETIC LACK OF SERVICE AT THE DEALER. *TS ***NAR*** THE MOLDING ON THE RUNNING BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE CAME OFF. ALL THE SEAT BELTS EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOCK FOR NO REASON. ONCE LOCKED THE SEAT BELTS CAN NOT BE LOOSENED. THE SEAT BELT HAS TO BE UNBUCKLED THE ALLOWED TO RETRACT FULLY BEFORE IT WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY. WHEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE IN AUTO MODE THE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED. A …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10159467 at NHTSA ↗

THE SUV MADE A STRANGE SOUND ON SUNDAY MORNING AS WE ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT UP AND GO TO CHURCH (SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2006)..AFTER CHURCH IT MADE ANOTHER STRANGE SOUND WE MADE IT HOME AND THE POWER COMPLETELY WENT OUT IN OUR DRIVEWAY...(2) ON MONDAY (LABOR DAY, SEPTEMBER 4,2006)..I TOOK THE BATTERY OUT AND WENT TO TWO AUTO PARTS STORES TO HAVE IT TESTED...FINALLY GETTING A NEW BATTERY AT AUTOZONE (AT MY PERSONAL EXPENSE)...THE OLD BATTERY WAS NO GOOD..THEN PUTTING THE BATTERY BACK IN THE SUV STARTING IT UP AND NOTICING THAT THE GAS HAND REGISTERED ALM…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167440 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2001 SUZUKI XL-7 THE AC COMPRESSOR STARTED MAKING A NOISE WHEN YOU TURNED IT ON. AND THEN ONE DAY WE WHERE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I TURNED THE AIR ON AND MY VEHICLE DIED. WE COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO START IT, BUT NOTHING. SO, I TURNED THE SWITCH OFF TO THE AIR AND THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK. I HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR WHICH WAS NOT CHEAP. AND NOW IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THE SAME NOISE I BEFORE. WHICH I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER 900.00 TO REPLACE THIS ONE. AND SUZUKI REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. I ALSO TOLD THEM ABOUT THE VEHICLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 55 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215258 at NHTSA ↗

The contact owns a 2003 Suzuki XL7. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The failure also occurred right after starting the vehicle. During the failure, the vehicle lost braking and power steering functionality. The contact stated that the vehicle coasted to a stop and she was able to restart the vehicle. Additionally, several unknown warning lights illuminated off and on during the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and …

Owner-reported narrative. 204,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11477577 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND WAS RELATED AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 112,630.

Owner-reported narrative. 112,630 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281002 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT NY 2003 SUZUKI XL7 IN MARCH 2006 . I WAS PUTTING GAS IN WHEN THE FUEL TANK DOOR FELL OFF. BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP HE SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED BUT COULD GET ME A NEW ONE AND PAINT IT FOR ABOUT $100.00. WHY I JUST BOUGHT IT LESS THAN 4 WEEKS AGO USED BUT I DIDN'T EXPECT IT. I WAS SHOCKED AND SO DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE I REALLY LIKE THIS VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162531 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING.*MR THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT OCCASIONALLY AND LEAK COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COOLANT, RADIANT, THERMOSTAT AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED AND WHITE SMOKE COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL VIBRATED AND NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING. THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091761 at NHTSA ↗

SUBTLE BUT NOTICEABLE VIBRATION FELT IN REAR AXLE; WHILE UNDER TOW (BEHIND MOTORHOME) RIGHT REAR WHEEL (TIRE, WHEEL, HUB) SEPARATED FROM AXLE AND LEFT VEHICLE. VEHICLE DRIVETRAIN WAS IN MFG RECOMMENDED POSITION FOR TOWING (TRANSMISSION IN D, TRANSAXLE SET TO N). HEAT GENERATED FROM FAILURE (POSSIBLY BAD WHEEL BEARING) LED TO FIRE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY POLICE. SUZUKI REFUSED TO WARRANTY THIS FAILURE UNDER THEIR 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN COVERAGE. SUBSEQUENT TO REAR-END REBUILD FROM THIS INCIDENT, A SIMILAR VIBRATION WAS FELT AGAIN ON RIGH…

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148290 at NHTSA ↗