2010 Suzuki Equator

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags3
000
Suspension2
000
Seats1
000
Power Train1
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment › Electrical › Navigational System(global Positioning System)10V392000
Filed Sep 1, 201020,692 vehiclesAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp.

Defect. SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Risk. OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy. SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm10V213000
Filed May 19, 2010582 vehiclesAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp.

Defect. SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 EQUATOR PICKUP TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 20, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK BUSHING COLLARS, LOCATED IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION, MAY CONTAIN WELDS THAT DO NOT MEET STRENGTH SPECIFICATIONS. IF A COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, IT MAY CHANGE THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT, POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS TO DETERIORATE.

Risk. THIS COULD CAUSE THE DRIVER TO HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE, ONE OR BOTH LOWER CONTROL LINKS ON THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-inactive10V118000
Filed Mar 25, 201015 vehiclesAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp.

Defect. SUZUKI HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 EQUATOR TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2010 TO MARCH 13, 2010. THE FASTENERS SECURING THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MODULE, AND ALSO THE FASTENERS SECURING THE STEERING SHAFT POSITIONING BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TRAJECTORY MIGHT BE AFFECTED. THE FASTENERS COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN POSITIONING BRACKET INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG FASTENERS AND ANY MISSING FASTENERS WILL BE REPLACED AND ALL LOOSE FASTENERS WILL BE RETIGHTENED TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS FREE OF CHARGE. ALL THE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REMEDIED THERE FORE AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS NOT ISSUED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension
Filed Jul 24, 201779,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUZUKI EQUATOR. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A STOP. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OUTER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED AND A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

Suspension
Filed Mar 7, 2016116,000 milesWV

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT ON 03/03/16. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CAMBER LINK ON LOWER DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS WORN OUT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE SAME CONDITION. AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE COMPLETED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NISSAN/SUZUKI MADE THE PART THE BE PERMANENT BY WELDING IT IN PLACE. THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT WAS TO CUT OUT THE PART AND REPLACE IT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PART/DEFECT ON MY MAKE AND MODEL TRUCK MANUFACTURED FROM NOV 9, 2009 TO MARCH 3, 2010. I CONTACTED SUZUKI AND THEY STATED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT MY VEHICLE DOES FALL UNDER THE RECALL. MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON EITHER MARCH 13 OR 16, 2010. JUST DAYS AFTER THE RECALL DATES GIVEN.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 31, 201572,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Power Train
Filed Dec 22, 201583,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUZUKI EQUATOR. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLANT MIXED IN WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. AS A RESULT, THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

Air Bags
Filed Aug 5, 201439,284 milesCT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT INTERNAL PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V118000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,284. UPDATED 09/16/14*LJ UPDATED 1/26/2015*JS

Air Bags
Filed Jun 26, 201439,284 milesCT

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WENT TO DEALER WERE TRUCK WAS PURCHASED THEY TOLD ME SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY FAILED CHARGED ME 1835.00 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. ITS BEEN THREE WEEKS , TRUCK IS NOT FIXED AND NO ONE CAN TELL ME IF AND WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED. I FEEL I SHOULDN'T PAY FOR A SAFETY PART THAT FAILED. DEALER NAME [XXX] INDOOR AUTO OUTLET 241 BOSTON POST RD MILFORD CT 06460. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Seats
Filed Apr 30, 201020 milesTN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE DRIVERS KNEES AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE CONCERN. SHE WAS ALSO UNABLE TO TRADE THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 900.

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2010
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20121200Routine
20112100Routine
2010 — this page7300Routine
20095100Routine

Compare every Equator year →

Reading this record

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: Sep 1, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.