2004 Suzuki FORENZA: complaints, problems and recalls

WHEN AT IDLE AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP MY SEATS VIBRATE TERRIBLY. THE DEALER PUT A NEW TRANSMISSION & MOUNTS IN AND IT STILL VIBRATES. THE DEALER NOW SAID THEIR IS NOTHING MORE THEY CAN DO. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081134 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. ONCE THE DEALER REPLACED A FUSE, BUT THAT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER FOUND A ECM FUSE AT THE IP FUSE BLOCKED OPEN. (ECM, ENG FUSE BLOCK, TCM, IP FUSE) THE SHIFTING TRANSAXLE HARNESS WAS REROUTED BETWEEN THE FIREWALL AND CONNECTOR C206 SECURE HARNESS. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081536 at NHTSA ↗

CAR WILL NOT PROPERLY START OR WILL DIE AFTER TURNING IT ON.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082698 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA FROM A SUZUKI DEALER IN TUCSON ARIZONA ON 05/21/04. FROM THE FIRST DAY WE DID NOT FEEL THAT A/C WAS WORKING CORRECTLY AND WAS COOLING AFTER A APPROX 30 MIN DRIVE. I BOUGHT A TEMP GAUGE TO CHECK THE VENT TEMP AND THE READING WILL NOT GO LOWER THEN 50F. ALL DRIVER'S SHOULD KNOW THAT A NICE COLD A/C SHOULD REACH 40F AT ITS BEST PERFORMANCE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FREON WAS LOW AND HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE A/C WORKED GOOD FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND STARTED PERFORMING THE SAM…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088325 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR JUST DIES ON US IN TRAFFIC FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND THEN WE HAVE TO LET IT SET FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND IT WILL START RIGTH BACK UP. WE HAVE HAD IT IN AT THE DEALERS TO BE FIXED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCASSIONS AND THEY HOOK IT UP TO THEIR DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS AND IT SHOWS NO DEFECTS.THEY SAID THEY THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL THEY HAD INSTALLED AFTERMARKET. SO THEY REMOVED THAT AND TOLD US IT WAS FIXED. THE VERY NEXT DAY IT STARTED DYING ON US AGAIN.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088373 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SHUTTING DOWN. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE COMPUTER. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089124 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED ARM AND SHOULDER INJURIES, AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL LATER. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089765 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HIT A CURB, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, BUT REFUSED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092162 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER CARS, THE DUAL STAGE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYS IN AN IMPROPER SEQUENCE.

Consequence: IF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYS IMPROPERLY DURING A FRONTAL VEHICLE CRASH, THE DRIVER COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADAPTING WIRING HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2003, TO VERONA VEHICLE OWNERS. ALL FORENZA VEHICLES WERE REPAIRED AT THE PORT OF ENTRY. THERE ARE NO OWNER NOTIFICATIONS NECESSARY FOR THE FORENZA MODEL VEHICLES. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2005-01-28 (January 28, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY BECOME MISADJUSTED IF AN UPWARD/REARWARD FORCE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP, TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION, WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE ON OR OFF POSITION.

Consequence: IF THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING,A FOLLOWING DRIVER MAY NOT KNOW WHEN YOUR BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED, AND A REAR-END CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THIS CONDITION MAY ALSO DISCHARGE THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY, AND, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH, CRUISE CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, IF EQUIPPED, WILL BECOME DISABLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2007-09-25 (September 25, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2012-08-14 (August 14, 2012)

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.

Reported: 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

Consequence: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.