2000 Suzuki ESTEEM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
96,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 26 complaints (19.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 5 | 19.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.8% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 5 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 |
| Structure | 2 |
| Suspension:Front | 2 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 2 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 5; Suspension: 5; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 2; Structure: 2; Suspension:Front: 2; Visibility:Windshield: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 16 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 3; 2002: 3; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015114 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER CALLED ON FOUR OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS. THE (EMISSIONS) RECALL WASN'T HONORED BY THE DEALER. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061965 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
I HAVE A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN. THE FIRST BROKE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. NOW A MONTH LATER, THE OTHER HAS BROKEN. I CANNOT LOCK MY CARE AND MAY ONLY ENTER FROM THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, HERE IN BATON ROUGE. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE I FELT THAT THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE DOOR HANDLES IN LOTS OF SUZUKI ESTEEMS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE $58.00 PER DOOR HANDLE AND $70.00 PER DOOR FOR LABOR. I AM EXT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10096642 · 2004-10-12 (October 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE CHILD CAME OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT, ALTHOUGH THE CHILD WAS PROPERLY RESTRAINED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 66,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107078 · 2005-01-10 (January 10, 2005)
THE LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN AND OWNER IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. OWNER HAS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BY USING THE REAR DOOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197287 · 2007-07-23 (July 23, 2007)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM HOME FROM UPTOWN WITH MY SISTER AND 8-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WHEN A NOISE WHICH WAS FAINT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS GREW QUICKLY LOUDER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT, PRACTICALLY OUT OF MY HANDS. I GRASPED THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 20-25 MPH. I FOUGHT THE DIFFICULT STEERING LONG ENOUGH AT A VERY SLOW SPEED TO GET THE CAR TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE. I PARKED THE CAR THERE AND CALLED MY HUSBAND AT WORK TO EXPLAIN W…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226715 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER WHEEL WENT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SUB- FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. UPDATED 05/20/08
Owner-reported narrative. 122,367 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293783 · 2009-11-28 (November 28, 2009)
I WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS WITH A LOT OF EXPERTISE. I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM TWO YEARS AGO. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND I BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR CAR BECAUSE IT WAS FROM VIRGINIA AND WAS IMMACULATE NOT LIKE THE CARS FROM THE RUST BELT HERE IN MICHGAN. SHE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT ALL OF A SUDDEN, VIOLENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING PULLED VERY HARD. SHE CALLED ME I TOLD HER TO STOP THE CAR AND LET ME INSPECT IT. SHE GOT IT TO A SAFE AREA AND ALSO TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS "BENT IN". I INSPECTED IT AND IMME…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10335859 · 2010-06-11 (June 11, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHILE MOVING OFF THE ROADWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER, THE GRINDING NOISE BECAME MORE SEVERE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT K FRAME WAS SEVERELY ROTTED AND THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD RIPPED THROUGH THE MAIN FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10335859 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.