2003 Suzuki GRAND VITARA: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AIR COMING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE ALL WINDOWS WERE CLOSED. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS WILL CAME ON AND WENT OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS A HAZARD TO THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THIS WAS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044680 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN WARMING OUT, CAR SOMETIMES SURGES AND CUTS OUT CAUSING CAR TO NOT BE STEERED OR TO STOP. IT ALSO SOMETIMES WILL NOT START. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 3,322 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047699 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER LAST WEEK CONCERNING THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART AND IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S CHOICE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT WAS OR PARK IT. *AK THE CONSUMER HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER THAT WAS 40 MILES AWAY TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051917 at NHTSA ↗

2003 SUZUKI VITARA. WHEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE OR DEEP SHADOW, THE NIGHT-TIME LIGHTS COME ON AND DO NOT CHANGE TO DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHEN MOVED INTO SUNLIGHT UNLESS THE IGNITION IS FIRST TURNED OFF. WHEN THE DAY-TIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE ON IF DRIVEN THROUGH DEEP SHADOW OR TO THE NORTH (SHADING THE SENSOR) THE NIGHT-TIME LIGHTS COME ON AS WELL AS THE TAIL LIGHTS CAUSING DRIVERS BEHIND ME TO BRAKE. ON TWO OCCAISIONS THE DRIVERS OF THE FOLLOWING CAR HAVE MADE THREATENING GESTURES TO ME. THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM EVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 18 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053077 at NHTSA ↗

RECALL 03V512000 CONCERNING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP FAILURE. CONSUMER ARRIVED AT THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL REPAIRS BUT DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIRS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10053950 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE SIDEWALL SHREDDED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063470 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V512000 REGARDING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL WHICH COULD CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064716 at NHTSA ↗

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASIN CAP. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. NO DEALERSHIP IN PUERTO RICO ISLAND HAD THE PART ON RECALL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064798 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.