2002 Suzuki GRAND VITARA: complaints, problems and recalls

CONSUMER STATES AT 12,000 MILES VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT. 5000 MILES LATER, ALL 4 TIRES HAD CUPPED ON THE INSIDE. AT 15000 MILES TIRES WERE REPLACED AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT FRAME WAS DEFECTIVE AND WEARING THE TIRES. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033535 at NHTSA ↗

THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO FUNCTION AND SUDDENLY GOT STUCK IN THE GEAR THAT IT WAS IN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PART, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK CONSUMER NOTED THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IN THREE VEHICLES, ALL OF WHICH WERE THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FIRST FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THE CONSUMER NEEDED THE VEHICLE, HE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS RANGING FROM $296. TO $380. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE ON ONE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLES CAN'T MOVE AT ALL (SECOND VEHICLES …

Owner-reported narrative. 29,056 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042651 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH BRAKE FOUNDATION ASSEMBLY AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF. AS RESUL, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. CONSUMER HAD PICTURES AND POLICE REPORT. *AK.

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049964 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ON BUSY STREETVEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER STATED HER FOUR YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE VEHICLE, AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053884 at NHTSA ↗

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS................................................. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054209 at NHTSA ↗

THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO CALL BACK IN 5 DAYS TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP RECALL 03V512000 PERFORMED, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A POLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055763 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ACCELERATOR CABLE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 6,068 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057851 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE FUEL FLOODED THE ENGINE, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO START. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059232 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.