1997 Suzuki SIDEKICK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 22 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 13.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Suspension: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 2; Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 5; 2002: 5; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10024422 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES SEPARATED. *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551994 · 2000-04-26 (April 26, 2000)
RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED (00V-008), HOWEVER THE MECHANIC FAILED TO REPAIR CORRECTLY, CONSUMER HAD TO RETURN FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIR. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 566630 · 2002-07-10 (July 10, 2002)
THE VEHICLE STRUTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V-008 RELATING TO THE STRUT ROD. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 566630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721617 · 2000-04-18 (April 18, 2000)
FAN BRACKET BROKE AND SENT FAN INTO RADIATOR CAUSING MAJOR GASHES AND CAR TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT TO HOT AND ENGINE LIGHTS DID NOT GIVE ANY SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. MOTOR COMPLETELY BURNT UP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722934 · 2000-05-20 (May 20, 2000)
I HAD JUST PULLED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, LUCKILY WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH IN 4TH GEAR WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT CAME OFF THE MOTOR MOUNT, BUT STAYED ATTACHED TO THE REAR. MY TRUCK CAME UP OFF THE GROUND 3 FT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS WHO WAS BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. PER THE SER VICE MANANGER AT DAVID MCDAVID, THE BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE MOTOR MOUNT. I AM NOT HARD ON THIS VEHICLE, AND IN MY OPINION, AND THAT OF THE SERVICE MGR. THIS IS A QUALITY ISSUE WITH SUZUKI. I DID CONTACT THE TX. REP. FOR SUZUKI, SHE WAS VERY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 723888 · 2000-06-11 (June 11, 2000)
WHILE DRIVING THE BRACKET THAT THE COOLING FAN AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR MOUNT TO CRACKED AND SEPARATED. THE COOLING FAN WAS THROWN INTO THE RADIATOR AND CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO FAIL SUDDENLY. THE COOLING FAN AND BRACKET PIECE ALSO DAMAGED THE FRONT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CAUSING FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731869 · 2000-09-19 (September 19, 2000)
ENGINE STALLED WHEN LET OFF GAS DURING TURN IN INTERSECTION ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS VEHICLE IS STANDARD SHIFT, NEED 3 FEET TO DRIVE. THIS APPEARS TO POSSABLY BE THE SAME ISSUE AS ODI ID 781364, 824717, 713749, 805550. DEALER SAYS ENGINE DEFECTIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748208 · 2001-07-10 (July 10, 2001)
THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED WHEN I HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748208 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.
00V008000 · Suspension
Reported: 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence: IF THE STRUT BROKE LOOSE, A DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT, FOR BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASE AND THE VEHICLE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASES, MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS, AND STRUT BAR STAYS WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗