2008 Suzuki RENO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
55,080 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 23 complaints (52.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 52.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 8.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Power Train: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Engine: 5; Electrical System: 4; Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 5; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10215635 · 2008-01-22 (January 22, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI RENO. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AUTOMATICALLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE ACCELERATION CONTINUED. SHE STRUCK THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND DAMAGED THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,900.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10215635 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10362808 · 2010-10-28 (October 28, 2010)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 SUZUKI RENO FROM A DEALERSHIP IN TALLAHASSEE WHO IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS. A MESSAGE APPEAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSAGE) THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. I BOUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, IT WAS FINE. LATER I NOTICE A BALL POPPED UP ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND I LOOKED IN THE MANUAL IT STATED IT WAS MY AIRBAG. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY ADVICE ME TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT IN OCALA FLORIDA. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DETECTED THAT BOTH AIRBAGS A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10362808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407043 · 2011-06-15 (June 15, 2011)
WHEN A 2008 SUZUKI RENO ABOUT 30 MILES WENT INTO A SKID FROM BEING BROADSIDED, IT TURNED AROUND AND HIT A POLE CEMENT PILLAR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT FINDER BY TIRE, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT DO ANY THING I WENT UP ENGINES DOOR AND ROOF AND BACK DOWN AND STAINED NECK ,, SEAT BELT DID NOTHING TO STOP THE FLYING UP AND OUT OF SEAT??? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10441806 · 2011-12-30 (December 30, 2011)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. THE ELECTRONIC D STARTS FLASHING AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS N OVER THE D ON THE DASH. THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE UNLESS I DOWN SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AND THE POWER TRAIN IS AUTOMATIC. *KB
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10442902 · 2012-01-09 (January 9, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI RENO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING UPHILL AT 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE TCM WAS FAULTY. THE TCM WAS REPLACED BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,335.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,335 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448399 · 2012-02-18 (February 18, 2012)
MY 2008 SUZUKI RENO HAS OVER 100,000 MILES AND I FIRST EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS SOMETIME IN JUNE 2010 ONLY A YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT IT. AT FIRST IT WAS JUST THAT THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP (LIKE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER THAT THE SYMPTOMS GOT INCREASINGLY WORSE. IT WOULD INTIALLY HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED ABOVE, THEN IT WOULD GET BETTER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD TURN OFF. THEN I STARTED GETTING THE PERIODIC CLUNK AND SCRAMBLED GEAR DISPLAY LIKE ALL THE GEARS WITH A LINE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10453717 · 2012-04-01 (April 1, 2012)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THIS WILL COST + OR - 250.00. THE CAR IS STILL COVERED BY THE 100,000 MILE 10 YEAR WARRANTY AND HAS ONLY 38,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON SUZUKI RENOS AND FORENZAS. . . IS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART. IT IS DANGEROUS- *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10453717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10463490 · 2012-06-28 (June 28, 2012)
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 50 MPHS THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON LOSES ALL POWER GOES INTO LUMP HOME MODE. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. 3 MONTHS LATER LIGHT COMES BACK ON TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME IT IS THE SAME THING THEY DID A TRANSMISSION FLUSH AND REPLACED THE SENSOR AGAIN. 3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME ITS THE THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. IT KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS. EXPENSIVE FIX EVERYTIME. I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT DOESN'T HEL…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463490 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V262000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗