2006 Suzuki GRAND VITARA: complaints, problems and recalls

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY SHINE 50 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO OPERATE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147094 at NHTSA ↗

THIS HAPPENED DAY AFTER WE BOUGHT VEHICLE. VALVE TAPPING COMING FROM MOTOR AT IDLE. RATTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE AT 50 MPH. PASSENGER HEATED SEAT WORKS 10% OF THE TIME. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP GAVE BACK IN ONE HOUR. THE HELP TICKET STATES NEED TO ORDER PART TO HEAT SEAT AND THEY NEED TO CALL TECH SUPPORT TO RESOLVE TAPPING. I TOOK SUV TWO WEEKS AGO I CALL EVERY OTHER DAY. THEY SAY THEY ARE STILL WAITING FOR TECH SUPPORT AND THEY WANT TO FIX BOTH PROBLEMS AT ONCE. ARE THEY WAITING UNTIL THE MOTOR HAS SERIOUS DAMAGE BEFORE MOVING ON TO FIX I…

Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155832 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVE SHAFT AND AXLE (EXTREME VIBRATION) POSSIBLE FAILURE. SUZUKI CAR COMPANY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS BEFORE. 2006 GRAND VITARA BROUGHT NEW ON 6-17-06. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10165486 at NHTSA ↗

SUBMISSION FOR DEFECTIVE 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 4X4. *TS THE CONSUMER NOTICED A SERIOUS VIBRATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN AT 65 MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE DEALER TOOK A DRIVE SHAFT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AND INSTALLED IN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. NOW THE VIBRATION IS OCCURRING AT 45 MPH AS WELL AS 65 MPH. THE DEALER HAS TRIED 3 TIMES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE REASON WHY HE NOW HAS 2 PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF ONE IS BECAUSE THE MECHANICS STARTED CHANGING PARTS WITHOUT TRYING TO FIND …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10166941 at NHTSA ↗

FRONTAL COLLISION (50 MPH IMPACT) AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ENGINE CUT-OFF DID NOT WORK. ENGINE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF MANUALLY. VEHICLES TOTALED BY MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169369 at NHTSA ↗

DASH BOARD LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS DIM AND CHANGE MODE AT WILL. HVAC BLOWER FAN WHISTLES UNDERCARRIAGE DUST COVER SHAKES LOOSE (NEEDS BOLTS!) WHAT ELSE IS WRONG -- NOT SURE IF I WANT TO KNOW! HAVE CALLED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, BUT HAVEN'T HEARD BACK. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 12,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169575 at NHTSA ↗

REFERENCE: 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, CONTINUING REAR BRAKE PROBLEM PLEASE HELP ME SECURE A SAFE FIX FOR MY CAR AND ANY OTHERS DRIVERS / PASSENGERS THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK DUE TO THIS REAR BRAKE DEFECT. THE REAR BRAKES: THE LAST WARRANTY REPAIR DID ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH A MORE PRONOUNCED NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF NO STOPPING CORRECTLY DURING A RECENT SUDDEN STOP. DURING THE SUDDEN STOP THE REAR BRAKES WERE VERY NOISY AND VIBRATED THE WHOLE VEHICLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170107 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE HEADLIGHTS HAD A DISTORTION AND A WHITE LIGHT DIMINISHED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY ESPECIALLY UNDER SEVERE WEATHER AND AT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING FINE AND WERE PROPERLY ALIGNED, THEY DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE WORKING AS DESIGNED. OWNER AFFIRMED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DEFECTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 11,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172006 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-12-01 (December 1, 2005)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RETAINER REAR DRIVE SHAFT MAY CRACK AND THE GEARS MAY GET STUCK DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE BY THE RETAINER.

Consequence: THIS CAN LEAD TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GEARS LOCKING UP AND THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME DISABLED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RETAINER REAR DRIVE SHAFT. SUZUKI WILL CALL OWNERS ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 15, 2005. FOLLOWUP LETTERS TO OWNERS WERE MAILED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2007-12-07 (December 7, 2007)

CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION. ' THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER "PARK" LOCK FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A STICKING SHIFT LOCK ARM. THE SHIFT LEVER MAY BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF "PARK" WITH THE KEY REMOVED AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence: THIS CAN GIVE RISE TO INCREASED INCIDENTS OF CRASHES RESULTING FROM THE ROLLAWAY OF PARKED VEHICLES AS A RESULT OF INADVERTENTLY MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT LOCK MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2010-06-09 (June 9, 2010)

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MODEL YEAR 2006 GRAND VITARA AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 XL-7 VEHICLES. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (IF EQUIPPED) HAS AN OUTER PORTION THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC. REPEATED HEAT STRESS CAN CAUSE THE PLASTIC MATERIAL TO DETERIORATE AND PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN BREAK OFF.

Consequence: BROKEN PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PULLEY AND THE DRIVE BELT, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF AND RESULTING IN THE DRIVER NEEDING INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2013-09-06 (September 6, 2013)

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.

Consequence: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.

Reported: 2018-09-25 (September 25, 2018)

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles. The power steering pump belt tension adjuster pulley has an outer portion that is made of plastic. Repeated heat stress can cause the plastic material to deteriorate, causing pieces of the pulley to break off.

Consequence: Broken pieces of the pulley can get caught between the pulley and the drive belt, causing the drive belt to come off, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pump drive belt tension adjuster pulley, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is 4009. Note: The vehicles included in this recall were not previously recalled under 10V-250.

Reported: 2019-03-07 (March 7, 2019)

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.