2011 Suzuki GRAND VITARA: complaints, problems and recalls

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE I REALIZED THAT THE REAR HEAD RESTRAINTS FOLDED FORWARD (TO ALLOW FOR EASE OF VIEWING THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DRIVER). THESE HEAD RESTRAINTS DO NOT LOCK UP AND FOLD OVER VERY EASILY. IT IS LIKELY THAT IF THE VEHICLE STOPPED SUDDENLY OR STRIKE SOMETHING FROM BEHIND THAT THESE HEAD RESTRAINTS WOULD FOLD FORWARD. WHEN FORWARD THESE RESTRAINTS REST AT THE BASE OF MY NECK AT ABOUT THE C1-C2 JUNCTION. THIS LOCATION IS THE MOST COMMON SOURCE OF SEVERE SPI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10420753 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO AN EARLIER COMPLAINT #10425314. THE VEHICLE IS A 2011, NOT A 2012 AS INDICATED IN ABOVE REFERENCE NUMBER. THANK YOU. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10425746 at NHTSA ↗

THE POWER BRAKES DON'T WORK WHEN IT IS COLD LIKE 40 DEGREES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486769 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V055000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING AND RATTLE NOISE WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TENSION CONTROL PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534208 at NHTSA ↗

2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE AND AIR BAG MALFUNCTION DURING AN ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE/SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2012. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. DURING THE ACCIDENT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10555603 at NHTSA ↗

BROWN DAUB DEALERSHIP KNOWS OF THIS RECALL AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THIS RECALL THERE PHONE NUMBER IS [phone removed]. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10575078 at NHTSA ↗

2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA RECALLED APPROX. OCT. 2013. SUZUKI SENT A LETTER SAYING THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD FIX WHEN AVAILABLE. IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS. HOW LONG IS IT SUPPOSED TO TAKE TO MANUFACTURE THESE PARTS? DID THEIR PARTS SUPPLIERS GO BANKRUPT ALSO? DEALER NOW SELLS ANOTHER BRAND AND DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW (OR CARE) ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN THIS WILL BE FIXED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10576273 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE ALMOST 27,400 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE TIRES ARE DRY ROTTED WHICH THEY SHOULDNT BE LIKE THAT I DO NOT DRIVE FAR AT ALL I AM A VERY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER THE TIRE SIZES ARE P225 70 R16. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 27,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10592587 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2011-01-27 (January 27, 2011)

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4-CYLINDER ENGINES; MODEL YEAR 2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 17, 2010; MODEL YEAR 2010 SUZUKI SX4 PASSENGER VEHICLES; AND 2011 SUZUKI SX4 PASSENGER VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 14, 2010. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE ALTERNATOR, WATER PUMP, AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP, HAS AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED INTERNAL SPRING THAT CAN BREAK DUE TO REPEATED STRESS. IF THE SPRING BREAKS, THE DRIVE BELT WILL NOT BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY AND CAN SLIP, CAUSING A SQUEAKING NOISE. OR THE DRIVE BELT COULD COME OFF CAUSING THE DRIVER TO INCREASE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN ALSO CAUSE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATION TO RISE, WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING, OR CAN CAUSE THE CHARGING LIGHT TO COME ON, WHICH CAN LEAD TO BATTERY DISCHARGE AND ENGINE STALL.

Consequence: IF THE DRIVE BELT COMES OFF, REQUIRING THE DRIVER TO USE INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, OR THE ENGINE STALLS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY WITH AN IMPROVED PART. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985 OR VISIT SUZUKI'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SUZUKIAUTO.COM.

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: 2017-02-09 (February 9, 2017)

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.

Consequence: If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.

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.