1991 Suzuki Sidekick

Routine

Owners filed 14 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › buckle assembly. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly7
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Body › Door1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline1
010
Child Seat1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly95V103008
Filed May 24, 1995127,155 vehiclesAmerican Suzuki Motor Corp.

Defect. THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Risk. THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Nov 11, 2015170,000 milesCA

TWO RAPID DEFLATIONS OF TIRES, JUST WEEKS APART, DUE TO SIDEWALL FAILURE. FIRST HAPPENED ROUNDING A CORNER AT ABOUT 20 MPH, AND THE SECOND WHILE PARKED.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 27, 1999AR

THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR LEFT SEAT BELTS ON OUR 1991 SUZUKI SIDEKICK HAVE BOTH FAILED THIS WEEK. WE HAVE HAD NO ACCIDENTS IN THE CAR. THE FRONT RIGHT SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED IN ITS CASE, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. THE LEFT REAR SEATBELT NO LONGER LO. *AK

Child Seat
Filed Mar 12, 1999MO

I HAVE A CENTURY CARSEAT, MODEL 4387LHT, MFG DATE 010697, THAT HAS A BUCKLE THAT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. IT WOULD NO LONGER BUCKLE CLOSED. UPON CALLING CENTURY PRODUCTS I WAS TOLD THAT OFTEN KIDS STICK FOREIGN ITEMS IN THE HOLE WHERE THE BUCKLE IS CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. I CAN ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AND IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT. CENTURY PRODUCTS DID NOT WANT THE CARSEAT SENT BACK TO THEM TO INVESTIGATE. I STILL HAVE THE CARSEAT BUT OBVIOUSLY AM NOT USING IT. I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS WARRENTS SOME TYPE OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION SINCE CENTURY HAS RECALLED OTHER MODEL CARSEATS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 9, 1999IL

SEAT BELT RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED HOWEVER NEW BUCKLES FELL APART.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 16, 1997TX

TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. CURRENTLY, THE LATCH HAS JAMMED INTO THE BUCKLE AND THIS SEA TBELT DOESN'T LOCK . PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jan 27, 1997NJ

AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED, TRAPPING THE DRIVER IN THE CAR.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Oct 2, 1996TN

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FELL APART. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Jun 20, 1996MI

DLR TRYING TO LOCATE PARTS, HOWEVER OWNER CONTACTED ZONE OFFICE AND WAS INFORMED TO WAIT UNTIL DLR LOCATES PARTS. SEA TBELT BUCKLES RECALL 95V103008. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 11, 1996AL

PIECES MAY BREAK OFF THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, RESULTING IN HARD TO INSERT THE METAL TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE, DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS (RECALL).

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Mar 7, 1996CA

PASSENGERS REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO ITS ASSEMBLY, RENDERING IT INOPERATIVE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Feb 12, 1996WA

FAILURE OF THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTORS SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. TT

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Jan 24, 1996MS

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed May 5, 1995NC

DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO RELEASE. *SKD

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Apr 14, 1995CA

THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK, AND COMES UNLATCHED AT TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. TT

14 of 14 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20001000Routine
199827010Routine
199736100Routine
199659230Routine
199526010Routine
199421121Fatalities reported
199314110Routine
199210000Routine
1991 — this page14110Routine
19905100Routine

Compare every Sidekick 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: May 24, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.