2006 Suzuki RENO: complaints, problems and recalls

I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS AND THE WINDSHIELD HAS NOW CRACKED OR CHIPPED TWICE FROM SMALL STONES OFF THE ROAD. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT WORRIES ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THIS GLASS IF IT IS FAILING SO EASILY. I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES COULD BE FLUKES, BUT I AM NOT SURE AFTER A SECOND FAILURE. THE STONE IN THIS INCIDENT WAS VERY SMALL AND SHOULD NOT, IN MY OPINION, CAUSED A CRACK SO EASILY. I AM VERY WORRIED IN REGARDS TO A LARGER FAILURE AND HOPE YOU CAN INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162944 at NHTSA ↗

1. CAR HESITATES TO START IN THE MORNING AND STALLS 2. CAR DEALER STATES IT NEEDS A SOFTWARE PART. 3. PART INSTALLED AND NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AFTER THAT AS WELL. CAR LEAKED GAS, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, CAR AGAIN WOULD HESITATE TO START AND WOULD STALL. DEALER PUTS NEW COMPUTER IN THE NEW CAR AND THE CAR RUNS WORSE THAN IT DID BEFORE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR WOULD STALL GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND CAR LOOSES STEERING WHEN IT STALLS. ALMOST IN A FEW ACCIDENTS DUE TO STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE KEEP RE-FLASHING THE COMPUTER AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10166658 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED ON TWO OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH THE FRONT END SHOOK VIOLENTLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIFT INTO THE OTHER LANE. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167209 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A SERIOUS FLAW WITH THE SUZUKI RENO... OFTEN TIMES IT DOES NOT START. I BELIEVE THIS REQUIRES A RECALL. NOT ONLY BECAUSE NO NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CALLING IT A "KNOWN CASE" THAT THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION FOR. THAT IS NOT WHAT I EXPECT AFTER PAYING THOUSANDS FOR A CAR. YOU CAN SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE BY VIEWING ANY REVIEW SITE, SUCH AS: HTTP://AUTOS.YAHOO.COM/NEWCARS/SUZUKI_RENO_2006/4663/MODEL_USER_REVIEWS.HTML ALMOST EVERYONE HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM - BUT YET NO FIX. …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170596 at NHTSA ↗

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 4000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT FUSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON NOVEMBER 15, 2006 THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AGAIN ,AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUSE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON NOV 27, 2006 WHEN THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT REDUCED THE VEHICLE'S SPEED TO 25 MPH, AT WHICH POINT HE DROVE INTO A DITCH AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT WEARING HIS SEAT BELT. THE VEHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 971 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177657 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI RENO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED. IF THE PASSENGER MOVES OR IF THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS TRIGGERED. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 8,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6.

Owner-reported narrative. 6 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191573 at NHTSA ↗

I OWN A 2006 SUZUKI RENO. BOUGHT IT FROM HUSTON MOTORS LAKE WALES. THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN THE PASSENGER SEATS WAS OCCUPIED. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HUSTON , AND THEY CHANGED THE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT TO TRY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE ON WHEN THE PERSON GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT STILL DID NOT GO OFF. MEANING THAT THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT SHOULD I DO? *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10194996 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI RENO. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SWERVED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WAS STRUCK BY A SEMI-VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONSUMERS SON SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, AND SHOULDER INJURIES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196888 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE AND, IN RARE CASES, EVEN THE LOCKED TONGUE WILL POP OUT BY LOW STRETCHING FORCE. IF THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY, THE BUCKLE COULD RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.

Consequence: THESE BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH COULD PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THE SEAT BELT OR COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH THE IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2007-09-25 (September 25, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Reported: 2012-08-14 (August 14, 2012)

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.

Reported: 2014-05-19 (May 19, 2014)

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

Consequence: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.