1998 Suzuki Sidekick

Routine

Owners filed 27 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal6
508
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline3
011
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System › Windshield › Electrical Heating Element1
000
Tires1
000
Suspension › Rear1
100
Suspension › Front1
000
Suspension1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Mar 8, 2019335,000 miles00

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 REPORTED THIS TO THE SELLER AND GOODYEAR REPRESENTIVE BUT THEY DIDN'T OFFER ANY SOLUTION YET.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 9, 2015159,000 milesUT

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.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 14, 2002CT

WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AS A RESULT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 5, 2001PA

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. TOWED TO DEALER, WHO FOUND IGNITION COIL WAS TOO CLOSE TO ENGINE BLOCK, AND HAD SHORTED OUT. DEALER REWIRED IGNITION COIL.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation ComponentsCrash
Filed Apr 13, 2001WA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › GasolineFire1 injured
Filed Mar 23, 2001FL

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

Suspension › Front
Filed Feb 27, 2001CA

CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT WRONG SIZE GAS TANK IS EQUIPPED ON VEHICLE. *AK PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE, DRIVESHAFT FAILURE. BOLTS VIBRATED OUT OF EXHAUST NAMIFOLD. RECURRING NOISE FROM ENGINE PULLEY AREA. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 2, 2000CA

EXHAUST BOLTS VIBRATED LOOSE/BROKE OFF (7/15/98;1/4/99;11/19/99) IDLER PULLEY HAS BEEN CHANGED 3 TIMES(1/4/99;11/17/99;11/19/99); DRIVE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES(1/15/99;11/19/99); MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE SECURED (2/26/99); CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (COMPLAINED 7/15/98;1/25/00. DIAGNOSED 6/12/00); NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION(6/12/00 TOLD NOISE NORMAL); DRIVESHAFT CV JOINT BAD (6/12/00 TOLD BY DEALER NOISE NORMAL. 6/14/00 TOLD DRIVESHAFT CV JOINT BAD DUE TO POOR DESIGN. 6/16/00 2ND ESTIMATE DRIVESHAFT CV JOINT BAD). THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED NUMEROUS TIMES BUT CONTINUES TO STONEWALL REGARDING ISSUES WITH MY CAR. *AK ALSO WRONG , SMALLER SIZE GAS TANK WAS INSTALLED VEHICLE. MANFACTURER IS NOT SENDING NHTSA INFORMATION REGARDING TSB OR RECALLS.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Oct 30, 2000CA

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

Suspension › RearCrash
Filed Aug 23, 2000IL

CONSUME RWAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS GOING UP A HILL. WHEN REACHING THE TOP OF THE HILL, REAR END CAME FORWARD, AND VEHICLE WAS SIDEWAYS ON THE RAMP. VEHICLE VEERED OVER INTO AN ENBANKMENT, AND THEN AT THE AND THEN CAME OUT OF ENBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING . REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD EXPLODED.*AK

Suspension
Filed Jun 25, 2000ID

INSTABILITY WHEN CORNERING, SEVERE INSTABILITY IN WINDY CONDITIONS, TOP HEAVY, AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGHLY WHEN ENGINE IS COLD. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal2 injured
Filed Jun 21, 2000MA

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 FOR THE TIME SINCE THE ACCIDENT BUT I HAVE NOW AGAIN STARTED TO USE THE CAR BECAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE AND I WOULD LIKE TO RETURN IT TO THE COMPANY AND BE LET OUT OF MY LEASE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED DOR MY TIME I DID NOT USE THE VEHICLE. I CONTINUE TO PAY THE LEASE ONTHE CAR BECAUSE I AM OBLIGATED TO PAY PER THE AGREEMENT. I FEEL SUSUKI IS OBLIGATED TO GIVE ME A VEHCILE THAT IS OPERATING PER THEIR AGREEMENT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY WEHER WITH THEM. I WOULD APPRECIATE AND HELP YOU COULD OFFER ME IN THIS SITUATION. SINCERLY MICHELLE BUTEAU. *AK

Equipment › Mechanical › Wrecker and Wheel Lift Devices
Filed Apr 20, 2000OR

ROADMASTER TOW BAR THAT WAS INSTALLED ON THE TRUCK CONTINUED RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRES, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE TIRES. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Seats › Front Assembly › ReclinerCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 27, 2000GA

WHILE DRINVING AT ABOUT 65 ANOTHER VEHICLE RAMMED INTO THE BACK OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON RIGHT HAND SIDE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS TOTALLY CALLAPSED. ALSO, GAS TANK BURSTED, AND FUEL SPLASHED INTO CONSUMERS FACE. CONSUMER FELT SEATS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN LOOSE BECAUSE THEY WERE DESIGNED TO HOLD PASSENGER IN PLACE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 21, 2000PA

MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE OIL LEAKAGE FROM THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. *MJS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Mar 18, 2000NH

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Sep 8, 1999CA

THERMOMETER, TEMPERATURE GAUGE.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Aug 12, 1999OH

ON 6-28-99 AIRBAGS DEPLOYED VIOLENTLY WHEN VEHICLE WENT IN A DITCH CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. *YC

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 28, 1999MA

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 2, 1999PA

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55-60MPH FRONT RIGHT TIRE STARTED SMOKING. PULLED TO SIDE & CHECKED. NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. MECHANIC FOUND NOTHING. HAD PADS, ROTORS & SHOES CHANGED. AFTER TRYING TO STOP, HAD NO BRAKES. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. *AK

20 of 27 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20001000Routine
1998 — this page27010Routine
199736100Routine
199659230Routine
199526010Routine
199421121Fatalities reported
199314110Routine
199210000Routine
199114110Routine
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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.