2008 Suzuki FORENZA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
152 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 129 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 69 of 152 complaints (45.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 65 | 42.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 9.9% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 6.6% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 69 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Air Bags | 26 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 10 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
Power Train: 69; Electrical System: 30; Air Bags: 26; Engine: 22; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Exterior Lighting: 10; Air Bags:Frontal: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 32 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 29 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 19 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 32; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 20 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 33 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| 2015 | 17 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 8; 2010: 9; 2011: 20; 2012: 14; 2013: 33; 2014: 30; 2015: 17; 2016: 11; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 65 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 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 10238006 · 2008-08-13 (August 13, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER CHEST, HEAD, KNEE, AND NECK. THE FRONT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER CHEST, NECK, HEAD, AND BACK. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10238006 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240102 · 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS MODERATELY INJURED DUE TO IMPACTING THE STEERING COLUMN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261017 · 2009-03-07 (March 7, 2009)
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN AT NIGHT AND I DID NOT SEE. THE CAR MADE IMPACT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND ACCORDING TO THE COLLISION CENTER, SUSTAINED 70% WORTH OF DAMAGE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BENT. I SUSTAINED HEAD, FACE, NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261054 · 2009-03-07 (March 7, 2009)
****THIS IS FOR AN EARLIER COMPLAINT FILED (ODI#10261017) TO CORRECT AN E-MAIL ADDRESS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10268675 · 2009-05-13 (May 13, 2009)
PURCHASED THE CAR ON 2/12/2009. UPON USE, I FOUND THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR TO BE DEFECTIVE. ONLY PASSENGERS OF 140+ POUNDS OR SO CONSISTENTLY TRIGGER THE SENSOR, WHICH ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG. FOR PASSENGERS WHO WEIGH LESS THAN 140 LBS, THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT TRIGGERED, THUS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE. I HAD THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE FROM 100LB TO 120LB SIT IN THE CAR AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE FOR ANY OF THE THREE PASSENGERS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE SENSOR SHOULD BE TRIGGERED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING 54 …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10268675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274887 · 2009-06-24 (June 24, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2008, THE CONTACT HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH THE SENSORS IN HER VEHICLE. THE FIRST SENSOR LIGHT ISSUE WAS RELATED TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE GAS CAP NOT BEING TIGHTENED. THE SECOND ISSUED DEALT WITH THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT A FUSE WAS CAUSING THE FAILURES. THE FUSES WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES SINCE FEBRUARY OF 2008; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT IS STI…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274887 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275825 · 2009-07-06 (July 6, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE VEHICLE HAS KUMHO ECSTA HP4 TIRES, SIZE 195/55/R15 (NA). WHEN THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES VIBRATED AND WOBBLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY DID NOT FIND ANY FAILURES OR HOLES IN THE TIRES. THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VIBRATIONS CONTINUED. THE DEALER ROTATED AND BALANCED THE TIRES AT THE COST OF $40. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A SCREW IN THE TIRES, WHICH THE DEALER PLUGGED. THE VIBRATIONS WORSENED AND THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289263 · 2009-10-21 (October 21, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MISCLASSIFIED AN ADULT AS A CHILD. AS A CONSEQUENCE IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT OR THE SENSOR. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18261.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,261 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289263 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.
14V262000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗