2003 Suzuki AERIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
25,481 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Wheels:Rim is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 36 complaints (13.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 13.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Wheels:Rim | 5 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
Wheels:Rim: 5; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Driveline: 2; Tires: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 11; 2005: 8; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Wheels:Rim leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10039263 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
PAINT CHIPS VERY EASILY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050386 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CLUTCH FAILED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED IT WAS CONSUMER'S PROBLEM, CLUTCH WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,194 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062286 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
ALUMINIUM RIM FAILURE ON 2003 SUZUKI AERIO - RIM MANUFACTURERED BY ENKEI.AUGHTER REALIZED SOMETHING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT ON CAR AND TOLD HER TO TAKE IT TO LOCAL TIRE SHOP WE TRADE AT.TIRE SHOP SAID SHE COULD HAVE GOT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF SHE HAD NOT TAKEN IT IN.RIM CRACKED ON INBOARD SIDE AND CHUNK CAME OFF.TIRE DEALER SAID APPEARS RIM HAD STRESS CRACK AND PIECE CAME OFF, RECOMMENDED THAT WE HAVE IT CHECKED BY A METALURGIST.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062286 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065429 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)
GEAR DOESN'T SHIFT UNTIL REACHING 60 MPH. DEALER STATES THAT IS NORMAL PROCEDURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067985 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
AT APPROX. 23,000 MILES FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. WITH IN 20 MILES AFTER REPAIR FAILED AGAIN, AND HAS DONE SO FOR THE NEXT FIVE WHEEL BEARINGS. THE DEALER & OR SUZUKI REPRESENITIVES DON'T NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THIS SITUATION, ON THIS 2003 SUZUKI. THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I FEEL THEY ARE STALLING HOPING TO WARE ME DOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073297 · 2004-05-28 (May 28, 2004)
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 SUZUKI AERIO WITH MY INFANT GRAND DAUGHTER IN THE CAR AND THE RIM SNAPPED IN 2 PIECES AND THE WHOLE WHEEL FELL OFF AND THE CAR SLIP 175 FEET ON THE ROTOR. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR ALL THE DAMAGES INCLUDING THE BODY WORK. I WAS WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR OVER 30 DAYS NO RENTAL CAR AND MY DAUGHTER'S BACK WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT KEEPS RANDOMLY LIGHTING UP AND GOING OUT AND NO ONE SEEMS ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY. …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075818 · 2004-07-19 (July 19, 2004)
WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD ALUMINUM RIM BENT. THE PART WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075818 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10076231 · 2004-06-15 (June 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES. INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT "THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS". THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10076231 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V223000 · Visibility:Windshield
Reported: 2003-06-16 (June 16, 2003)
CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.
Consequence: IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
NHTSA campaign record ↗07V307000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2007-07-15 (July 15, 2007)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
Consequence: REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
NHTSA campaign record ↗