2001 Suzuki GRAND VITARA: complaints, problems and recalls

POOE, VISIBILITY, DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW. TS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003959 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVELINE VIBRATION AT OVER 57 MPH. 24,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, ITS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE! LOOKING AT IT ON LIFT FOR A HOUR, CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE, SAYS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. THERE IS A DRONING TYPE NOISE DEFINITELY DRIVELINE RELATED, ANY PASSENGER WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED CAN TELL WHEN YOU ARE GOING OVER 57 MPH. EITHER DRIVESHAFT PROBLEMS OR TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE,REAR END PROBLEM. ORIGINAL TIRES HYDROPLANING AT 24,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE TIRES, ALSO ALIGNMENT WAS OFF VEHICLE PULLS TO SIDE. SECOND DEALER ALSO SAYS…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021056 at NHTSA ↗

SEAT BELTS LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032099 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE CLEANING WINDSHIELD CLEAN FLUID LEAK INSIDE VEHICLE THROUGH SEAL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038112 at NHTSA ↗

AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME A DIFFERENT REPAIR WAS MADE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT END WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT WINDOWS WHEN CLOSING THEM. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043958 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS WITHOUT WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP ACCELERATION VEHICLE HAS TO BE SHUT OFF. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046085 at NHTSA ↗

TAIL LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING. *AK *MR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048747 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT 3 WEEKS FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASTING RECALL 03V512000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. CONSUMER MISSED THE APPOINTMENT DUE TO AN ICE STORM. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED TO RESCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 4 WEEKS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056076 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-03-02 (March 2, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE PRESENTATION OF SOME OF THE INFORMATION ON THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL DEVIATES FROM THE FORMAT SET FORTH IN THE STANDARD AND THE LABEL MAY NOT BE "PERMANENTLY AFFIXED" AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence: THE LABEL MAY NOT BE FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY SOME CUSTOMERS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW LABELS AS WELL AS AN UPDATE TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2001-04-27 (April 27, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE COULD INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.

Consequence: FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM UNION AND A NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE THROUGH THE CAP CAN CAUSE THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME FRAYED.

Consequence: IF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE BECOMES FRAYED, IT CAN STICK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE SPEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.

Consequence: FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Consequence: THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI DEL CARIBE AT 787-622-0600.