2002 Suzuki ESTEEM: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Structure:Frame And Members is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Structure:Frame And Members: 2; Wheels: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 1; Steering: 1; Tires: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2008: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Structure:Frame And Members leads the component reports. Steering 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 10007050 · 2002-10-02 (October 2, 2002)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 6 TIMES AND THERE IS NO COMPUTER CODE. GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *JB *NLM *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****768037 *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007050 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10251398 · 2008-12-10 (December 10, 2008)
SOLE OWNER 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON WITH ROTTED K-FRAME AND RUSTED WHEELS. SUZUKI WILL ONLY COVER K-FRAME PART AND DEALER WANTS $390. FOR LABOR. ARE THERE OTHER SUZUKI VEHICLES WITH REPORTED ROTTED K-FRAMES?. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2002. THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTED FRAME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10251398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10592781 · 2014-05-20 (May 20, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIELDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AROUND THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN ON THE SUBFRAME WHICH WAS CORRODED WITH EXTENSIVE RUST IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10592781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8006352 · 2002-03-25 (March 25, 2002)
WHILE TRAVELING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE'S LANE AND HIT IT. STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAYED INTO WHEEL, ENABLING HIM TO STEER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8006352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8008716 · 2002-04-29 (April 29, 2002)
ORIGINAL TIRE ON SUZUKI, ESTEEM 2002, P18560R14 DOT ELBODEH340. WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH ON SLIGHTLTY WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TIP OVER. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A DEFECT IN TIRES. *AK *JG
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8008716 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 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 ↗