2005 Suzuki XL-7: complaints, problems and recalls

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE WHY THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151626 at NHTSA ↗

THE 2005 SUZUKI XL-7 IS RAKED DOWN IN THE FRONT SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND THE VEHICLE (WITHIN 15 FEET OR SO) WHEN BACKING UP. IF A SHORT PERSON OR CHILD WERE WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER COULD NOT SEE THEM. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! *NM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156033 at NHTSA ↗

TL*- WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON A 2005 SUZUKI XL7 TURNED ON. WITHIN MINUTES OF THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, GOING FROM 60 MPH AND DECREASING ITS SPEED UNTIL IT STOPPED RUNNING. THE CONTACT TOWED VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO ENGINE COOLANT, AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE NEVER GOT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE SERVICED ON THE VEHICLE. *A…

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10179448 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE INCIDENT REOCCURRED AT 23,000 YET, THERE WAS NO CRASH. AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23285. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000.

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10192934 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE DRIVE POSITION INDICATOR WAS NOT ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER HOUSE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197325 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-60 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED BEFORE DECELERATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2007 AND FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,883.

Owner-reported narrative. 32,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217932 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S CLOCK CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE AN ADULT WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND ONCE WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE DEALER HAS RESET THE SEAT SENSOR AND MADE FOUR DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE SEAT FRAME ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILE…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225681 at NHTSA ↗

THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCHED AND, UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION, WOULD NOT UNLATCH THEREFORE TRAPPING THE CHILD IN THE CAR. THE CHILD HAD TO EXTRICATE THEM SELF FROM THE LATCHED BELT TO BECOME FREE OF THE CAR. THE SEAT BELT IS STILL LATCHED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX OR REPLACE THE BELT AT THEIR EXPENSE. IF I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD RESULT IN DEATH. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION TO THE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED SAFETY EQUIP…

Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243849 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Consequence: THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI DEL CARIBE AT 787-622-0600.

Reported: 2010-06-09 (June 9, 2010)

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MODEL YEAR 2006 GRAND VITARA AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 XL-7 VEHICLES. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (IF EQUIPPED) HAS AN OUTER PORTION THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC. REPEATED HEAT STRESS CAN CAUSE THE PLASTIC MATERIAL TO DETERIORATE AND PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN BREAK OFF.

Consequence: BROKEN PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PULLEY AND THE DRIVE BELT, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF AND RESULTING IN THE DRIVER NEEDING INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.