2006 Suzuki XL7

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

I HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MILES. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 210,000 MILES AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN AND I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEB SITES AND FROM OTHER SOURCES.

I WENT OUT TO START MY VEHICLE ONE MORNING. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION ON, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO WORKS ON SUZUKIS HERE, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS M/M/Y OF VEHICLE, AND THAT THE REPAIR IS BETWEEN $1.5K-$2K. MY VEHICLE IS NOT OLD, ABUSED, NOR HAS IT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WITH THE MILES AT APPROX 61,000... WHY IS THERE A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING MY AIRBAG SYSTEM? AFTER DIGGING AROUND ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS M/M/Y VEHICLE DOES, IN FACT, HAVE A LARGE COMPLAINT AGAINST IT REGARDING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. MOST SPECIFICALLY THE EXACT ISSUE I AM HAVING. IN LIGHT OF THE MASSIVE AIRBAG RECALL ISSUE, ONE WOULD ASSUME SAFETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. I THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO MOTION AND NOW I HAVE TO CLICK THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO REVERSE OR STEER PROPERLY (SO THAT I'M NOT ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SETTING) BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BLINKS. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON.

SUZUKI HAS NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL. AS A 71 YEAR OLD, WEIGHING ONLY 90 POUNDS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IN MY CAR. SINCE SUZUKI PULLED THEIR AUTO UNIT OUT OF THE US A FEW YEARS AGO, THOSE OF US WHO PURCHASED A SUZUKI HAVE BEEN LEFT HANGING HIGH AND DRY.

WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAR SUDDENLY LOST SPEED BUT RPM'S KEPT GOING UP, COULD NOT GO OVER 40, WHEN PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK BUT ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP. *TR

ONE DAY WHEN I GO TO START MY CAR WHEN I TURN THE KEY, A STATIC NOISE COMES FROM WHERE THE KEY GOES. VEHICLE STARTED BUT WHILE DRIVING, WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. *TR

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN , BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. MY YOUNG SON WAS IN THE CAR, THIS COULD HAVE ENDED BADLY. *TR

THE FUSE THAT GOES TO THE FUEL INJECTORS KEEPS BLOWING, IT ONLY BLOWS HALF OF THE FUSE, EVERY FEW WEEKS, THE CAR WON'T START AND THE FUSE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY AND THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BUCKLED. THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES AND BEEPS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING MY BACK AXLE CAME OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE MY VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY THE SPARKS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CAUGHT ON FIRE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE BODY SHOP AND NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE AXLE CAME OFF. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, THIS HAS COST ME UNFORESEEN EXPERIENCES FOR CAR RENTALS AND MISSING WORK TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH TO LANES, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE THEN DRIFTED ABNORMALLY TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC WHAT CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

THE VEHICLES AIRBAG DASH LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CLOCK ALSO BEGAN FLASHING AND CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED. I WAS TOLD BY THE AIRBAG SPECIALIST THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THIS EXACT VEHICLE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNTIL FIXED. I WAS TOLD THE PART COSTS $1700 TO REPLACE OUT OF POCKET. *TR

THE OCM SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THEREFORE MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED. IT HAS ALWAYS REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION. IT HAS NEVER BEEN SUBJECT TO EXCESS MOISTURE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VALID SAFETY ISSUE TO NEED A RECALL OF THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE IS A CRASH, THEN THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE PASSENGER WILL BE SUBJECT TO MORE SERIOUS INJURIES. MY PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, JUST ONE DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER SHUT OFF. *TR

2006 SUZUKI XL7. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE REGARDING POWER STEERING PUMP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECENTLY RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON JANUARY 14, 2010 AND THE INFORMATION WAS SUBMITTED TO SUZUKI ALONG WITH THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE WHICH HE RECEIVED ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 20, 2010, WHICH WAS SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY SUZUKI, THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW THE PART NUMBER. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE OCM SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,200.

SAFETY ISSUE ??? NOT SURE IF AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY WITH ADULT IN THE SEAT. SEEMS UNSAFE TO ME. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. LIGHT COMES ON AND CHIMES (MEANING A SMALL PERSON IS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND SEATBELT IS OFF EVEN WHEN NO ONE SITTING IN SEAT). ONSET CAME WHEN VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. LIGHT DOES GO OFF WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN SEAT. *TR

I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT AND NOTICED SOME EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IT FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T RESPOND TO WHAT I WANT IT TO DO. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMING OUT, THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE COLUMN WAS LOOSE. MY CAR IS A SUZUKI 2006 XL-7 WITH 59000 MILES AND NEVER HAD A ACCIDENT OR ANY WORK DONE TO IT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND IT MAY COME OUT WHILE DRIVEN IN THE HIGHWAY.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS EFFECTS MY PASSENGER AIR BAG WARNING SYSTEM ALSO. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SUZUKI SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY SERVICE CONTRACT, I CALL MY EXTENDED WARRANTY CO. AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED ALSO. THIS IS AN AIRBAG SENSOR MALFUNCTION WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL7. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD AN UNUSUAL NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING FAILED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. SHE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARMS, NECK, AND STOMACH. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE STOMACH, HEAD, AND FACE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY COULD FILE A CLAIM AGAINST THEM FOR POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT. IN AUGUST 2010, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTICE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V250000 (STEERING: HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST: PUMP) ADVISING THERE WAS A DEFECT IN HIS VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING, BUT WOKE UP RIGHT BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS NOT INJURED. HE WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.