Owners filed 13 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield. It has been recalled 2 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Visibility › Windshield
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
1
0
0
0
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
1
0
0
0
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
1
1
0
0
Suspension › Front
1
1
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
1
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Power Train
1
0
0
0
2 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Power Train › Manual Transmission07V307000
Filed Jul 15, 200714,251 vehiclesAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp.
Defect. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
Risk. REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
Visibility › Windshield03V223000
Filed Jun 16, 20035,319 vehiclesAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp.
Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.
Risk. IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Feb 6, 2017164,663 milesTX
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI AERIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IN TRAFFIC, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE EMITTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE GEAR INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,663.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 21, 2007FL
QUITE A FEW OF THE SCREWS OR GROMMETS THAT HOLD THE BODY PARTS ONTO MY CAR HAVE FELL OUT. MY FRONT BUMPER WAS BARELY BUMPED AND IT BROKE ONE OF THE CLIPS ON THE BUMPER AND IS NOW TIED UP WITH A SHOE STRING. MY A/C COMPRESSOR HAS ALREADY HAD TO BE REPLACED AND FOR SOME REASON THE COOLING FANS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE STRUCTURE ON THIS CAR IS POOR. THE LOCK TO THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOW JUST SPINS NOW, SO IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRUNKS LOCK DUE TO SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH ALSO DUE TO KEY NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. CLIPS FROM BOTH BUMPERS HAVE FALLEN OFF FOR NO REASON. I EXPECTED MORE FROM A SUZUKI CAR. I BELILEVE THIS WILL BE MY LAST PURCHASE FROM THEM. *TR
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Apr 19, 200740,000 milesAZ
1. THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY SIMPLY FELL OUT OF THE DOOR 2. PASSENGER FRONT DOOR ONLY OPENS WHEN IT WANTS, LOCK STICKS 3. BODY PART SCREWS HAVE FALLEN OFF OF THE CAR CAUSING BODY PARTS TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. 4. SCREWS HOLDING FRONT BUMPER ON FELL OUT AND BUMPER FELL OFF. 5. TRUNK LOCK SIMPLY TURNS IN CIRCULAR MOTION WHEN TRYING TO OPEN WITH A KEY 6. PASSENGER FRONT DOOR SOMETIMES WILL NOT STAY CLOSED DUE TO LOCK ASSEMBLY NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY 7. CAR WILL NOT GO INTO 4TH GEAR WITHOUT WARMING UP, YET ALL SYSTEMS CHECK OK WHEN TESTED AT MECHANIC SHOPS. NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT USED FORM A DEALER. THEY SAY THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *JB
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 4, 200610,000 milesWI
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEAT SHIELD BOLTS ON THE MOTOR CONTINUALLY BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR TIGHTENING OF BOLTS SEVERAL TIMES.
Tires
Filed May 31, 200527,000 milesMD
DT; HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TIRES. HAS THEM ROTATED EVERY 6 MONTHS. DURING THIS TIME, A KNOT WAS VISIBLE ON THE TIRE. HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED, DEALER SAID TIRES WERE DRY ROTTING. ACTUALLY WENT TO SEPERATE DEALERS AND THEY BOTH NOTED THE SAME THING IN REGARDS TO THE TIRES DRY ROTTING. NOW HAS TO REPLACE 2 MORE TIRES, THERE IS PLENTY OF TREAD ON TIRES BUT DEALER SAID IF SIDEWALL IS STRUCK WITH THOSE KNOTS A BLOWOUT WILL OCCUR.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower ArmCrash
Filed Feb 22, 200519,000 milesCA
WHILE TURNING RIGHT AT 45 MPH THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED. CONSUMER LOST STEERING CONTROL AND HIT A POLE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. UPDATED 02/09/06. *JB
Suspension › Front › Wheel Bearing
Filed May 7, 200450,000 milesNY
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WORE OUT PREMATURELY. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Feb 19, 20048,004 milesIN
WHEN BRAKING THERE IS A GRINDING AND OR POPPING NOISE. ALSO, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SOFTER THAN NORMAL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND PULSATION IN THE BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL. SUZUKI ADMITTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE OF HOW TO RESOLVE. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME WHEN TRAVELING AT CERTAIN ANGLES BOTH ON AND OFF RAMP. *SC
Suspension › FrontCrash
Filed Jan 13, 200442,500 milesMD
HAD WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED ON VEHICLE AT 12,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES. AT 42,000 MILES AXLE BROKE AT THE WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH AND CAUSE $4,400.00 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Jan 5, 2004CA
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY AS SHE WAS EXITING ONTO A RAMP. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL CAME TO HER RESCUE. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO A SUZUKI DEALER, AND CHECKED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT BALL JOINTS FELL OUT. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Dec 2, 20038,000 milesAR
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING SOUND, AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Oct 6, 2003KS
BRAKE CALIPER HAS A HOLE AND LEAKS, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE . *AK
Visibility › Windshield
Filed Aug 25, 2003TX
WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE REAR WINDOW SEALANT PEELS OFF AND STICKS TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE HEAT. VEHICLE IS WITHIN THE REMEDY SCOPE FOR A RECALL WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jul 15, 2007. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.