1998 Suzuki SIDEKICK: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
16 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
247,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 16 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 18.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 12.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 6.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 1 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Wrecker And Wheel Lift Devices | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 1; Equipment:Mechanical:Wrecker And Wheel Lift Devices: 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 | 2 |
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: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 14 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 | 9 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2015: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10724309 · 2015-06-09 (June 9, 2015)
WAS IN A FRONTAL ACCIDENT. FRONT END OF CAR PRETTY MUCH TOTALED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CODES OR LIGHT BEFORE THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11185005 · 2019-03-08 (March 8, 2019)
3 YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A SET OF 4 GOODYEAR WARNGLER DURATRAC TIRES FOR MY SUZUKI VITARA. AFTER APROX 1,5 YEARS I GO TO TIRE SERVICE SHOP TO REPAIR AIR LOSS AROUND THE RIM. WITH TIRE UNMOUNTED WE FOUND INNER LAYER SEPARATION. I REPORTED THIS TO THE SELLER AND AFTER CHECKING WITH GOODYEAR REPRESANTIVE THEY CHANGED THE TIRE WITH NEW ONE. AFTER ANOTHER APROX 1,5 YEARS I HAVE TO GO TO TIRE SHOP FOR ANOTHER REPAIR AND FOUND ANOTHER TIRE WITH SPLIT LAYERS. WE CHECKED ALL OTHER TIRES MINUS WARRANTY REPLACED ONE AND THEY ALL ARE SPLIT FROM INSIDE. I R…
Owner-reported narrative. 335,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11185005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 551478 · 2000-03-21 (March 21, 2000)
MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE FROM THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 551478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560516 · 2001-03-23 (March 23, 2001)
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ONE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (CASE # 01-250-843-501, REPORT # 1023282). NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560516 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 720294 · 2000-03-18 (March 18, 2000)
OUR SIDEKICK IS A 98 AND THE ENGINE BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY WE HAVE ALSO HAD TO BUY NEW HEAD LIGHTS EVERY TREE MONTHS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 720294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724306 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)
ON APRIL 12TH 2000, WHILE DRIVING MY SUSUKI SIDEKICK MY AIR BAGES DEPLOYED WITH OUT BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. AT NO TIME DID I HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WAS I HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH MYSELF AND THE PASSNEGER INTHE FRONT SEAT WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS BUT WE DID SUSATIN MINOR INJURIES. INCLUDING AIR BAG BURNS AND LACERATIONS ON HTE FACE. I HAVE CALLED SUSUKI DERECTLY AS WELL AS THE DEALER. NO ONE HAS ACKNOWLEDGE THER IS A PROBLEM AND THE COMPANY IS EXPECTING ME TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGES AND TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 724498 · 2000-06-25 (June 25, 2000)
INSTABILITY WHEN CORNERING, SEVERE INSTABILITY IN WINDY CONDITIONS, TOP HEAVY, AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGHLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 724498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 735451 · 2000-10-30 (October 30, 2000)
I SUDDENLY HEARD A WHIRRING AND SOUND AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO GRIND WHEN TRYING TO STOP. I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY BRAKING PROBLEM PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 735451 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.