2000 Suzuki Esteem problems

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER BAR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10638725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT END PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FRONT END PROBLEMS. WHILE THERE, HE WAS INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR A FRAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY CONFIRMED, THAT IN FACT, THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING A MISTAKE HAD BEEN MADE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS FIVE MONTHS OLDER THAN THE RECALLED COVERED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $603.26 AFTER DEDUCTING $300 FROM THE ORIGINAL BILL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER AUTHORIZED THEM TO PERFORM THE WORK, SINCE THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID.

NHTSA complaint #10500361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT END PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FRONT END PROBLEMS. WHILE THERE, HE WAS INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR A FRAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY CONFIRMED, THAT IN FACT, THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING A MISTAKE HAD BEEN MADE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS FIVE MONTHS OLDER THAN THE RECALLED COVERED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $603.26 AFTER DEDUCTING $300 FROM THE ORIGINAL BILL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER AUTHORIZED THEM TO PERFORM THE WORK, SINCE THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID.

NHTSA complaint #10500361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND RUMBLED UPON TURNING... APPARENTLY SUZUKI KNOWS OF THE RECALL BUT IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR OUTSIDE MARCH 2012.

NHTSA complaint #10475269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND RUMBLED UPON TURNING... APPARENTLY SUZUKI KNOWS OF THE RECALL BUT IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR OUTSIDE MARCH 2012.

NHTSA complaint #10475269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #10457516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM SEDAN. THE SUBFRAME AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED WHILE TURNING CORNER. LOUD GRINDING OF TIRES. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. REPAIRED COST OF $1200. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, BUT IF THESE PARTS HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WROTE TO CORPORATE RELATIONS AT SUZUKI IN BREA CALIFORNIA, THEY CONTACTED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIR AND THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT AS OF DEC 21, 2011. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY THEY SENT TO OWNERS SAID THIS REPAIR WOULD BE FOR 12 YEARS FROM THE DATE THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN SERVICE OR 180,000. MY CAR MET THE CONDITIONS BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE COVERAGE EXTENSION WARRANTY. I HOPE THIS VEHICLE IS RECALLED OR AT LEAST OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10457250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM SEDAN. THE SUBFRAME AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED WHILE TURNING CORNER. LOUD GRINDING OF TIRES. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. REPAIRED COST OF $1200. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, BUT IF THESE PARTS HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WROTE TO CORPORATE RELATIONS AT SUZUKI IN BREA CALIFORNIA, THEY CONTACTED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIR AND THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WAS NO LONGER IN EFFECT AS OF DEC 21, 2011. HOWEVER, THE WARRANTY THEY SENT TO OWNERS SAID THIS REPAIR WOULD BE FOR 12 YEARS FROM THE DATE THE CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PUT IN SERVICE OR 180,000. MY CAR MET THE CONDITIONS BUT THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THE COVERAGE EXTENSION WARRANTY. I HOPE THIS VEHICLE IS RECALLED OR AT LEAST OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS.

NHTSA complaint #10457250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POT HOLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE AXLE AND THE A-FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10386680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON. SUBFRAME AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED WHILE COMING TO A STOP.. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND IS BEING REPAIRED FOR A COST OF $1000. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, BUT IF THESE PARTS HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS VEHICLE IS RECALLED OR AT LEAST OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10346277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHILE MOVING OFF THE ROADWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER, THE GRINDING NOISE BECAME MORE SEVERE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE FRONT K FRAME WAS SEVERELY ROTTED AND THE LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD RIPPED THROUGH THE MAIN FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

NHTSA complaint #10335859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS WITH A LOT OF EXPERTISE. I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM TWO YEARS AGO. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND I BOUGHT THIS PARTICULAR CAR BECAUSE IT WAS FROM VIRGINIA AND WAS IMMACULATE NOT LIKE THE CARS FROM THE RUST BELT HERE IN MICHGAN. SHE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND IT ALL OF A SUDDEN, VIOLENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING PULLED VERY HARD. SHE CALLED ME I TOLD HER TO STOP THE CAR AND LET ME INSPECT IT. SHE GOT IT TO A SAFE AREA AND ALSO TOLD ME THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS "BENT IN". I INSPECTED IT AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE CROSS FRAME THAT SUPPORTS THE TWO A FRAMES TO THE SUBFRAME OF THE CAR HAD COMPLETED RUSTED OUT AND DETACHED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND WAS ALMOST GONE ON THE DRIVER SIDE TOO. ALL OTHER SURROUNDING METAL FRAMES AND THE CAR BODY ITSELF WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT THIS CROSS FRAME WAS VERY OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND ROTTED OUT CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING LOSS. AGAIN, THIS PARTICULAR PART IS DEFECTIVE TO THE MOST CASUAL OBSERVER AS EVERYTHING AROUND IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND WHEN THIS MAIN FRAME PART FAILS IT HAS THE POSSIBILITY OF TOSSING THE CAR VIOLENTLY ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY DAUGHTER IS AN EMT USED TO DRIVING AN AMBULANCE AT HIGH SPEED AND IS AN EXCELLENT DRIVER. A LESSER DRIVER MAY HAVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC OUTCOME. THE CAR IS HERE AND CAN BE INSPECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10293783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER WHEEL WENT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SUB- FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. UPDATED 05/20/08

NHTSA complaint #10226715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE PASSENGER WHEEL WENT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT SUB- FRAME HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. UPDATED 05/20/08

NHTSA complaint #10226715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

I WAS DRIVING MY 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM HOME FROM UPTOWN WITH MY SISTER AND 8-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WHEN A NOISE WHICH WAS FAINT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS GREW QUICKLY LOUDER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JERKED TO THE RIGHT, PRACTICALLY OUT OF MY HANDS. I GRASPED THE STEERING WHEEL AS HARD AS I COULD JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. I WAS ONLY TRAVELING ABOUT 20-25 MPH. I FOUGHT THE DIFFICULT STEERING LONG ENOUGH AT A VERY SLOW SPEED TO GET THE CAR TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE. I PARKED THE CAR THERE AND CALLED MY HUSBAND AT WORK TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND TO COME PICK ME UP. AS I EXITED THE CAR, I NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER'S) WHEEL WAS SHOVED CLEAR BACK ALMOST INTO THE BACK OF THE FENDER WELL. WHEN MY HUSBAND AND A COLLEAGUE OF HIS FROM WORK STOPPED BY LATER, THEY CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE TO ASSESS WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. TO HIS ASTONISHMENT, THE FRONT FRAME SECTION OF THE CAR HAD RUSTED THROUGH ENOUGH TO CRACK AND CRUMPLE BACKWARDS FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE WHEEL TO MOVE INTO THE FENDER WELL. HE SAID THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55-60 MPH, BECAUSE THE SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO THROW THE TIRE BACK INTO THE FENDER WELL HARD ENOUGH TO LOCK THE ONE FRONT TIRE, CAUSING THE CAR TO LOSE CONTROL, SPIN SIDEWAYS AND POSSIBLY FLIP OVER, KILLING ALL THREE OF US. IT WAS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WE WERE TRAVELING AT A SLOW SPEED IN A REMOTE AREA WHERE NO OTHER CARS WERE AROUND TO INTERACT WITH AT THE TIME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT MY SISTER'S HOUSE AWAITING A DECISION ON WHAT TO DO WITH IT. A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD CAR WITH AN AVERAGE OF LESS THAN 12,000 MILES PER YEAR ON IT SHOULD NOT HAVE A FRAME RUSTED THROUGH LONG BEFORE THE BODY SHOWS ANY SIGNS OF SIGNIFICANT RUST. I JUST HAD A FULL BRAKE JOB DONE ON THE VEHICLE AND THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM STILL. SUZUKI SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO INSTALL A STURDIER FRAME IN THE FRONT SECTION, BEFORE SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10197287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN AND OWNER IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. OWNER HAS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BY USING THE REAR DOOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #10107078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

I HAVE A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. BOTH DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN. THE FIRST BROKE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. NOW A MONTH LATER, THE OTHER HAS BROKEN. I CANNOT LOCK MY CARE AND MAY ONLY ENTER FROM THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, HERE IN BATON ROUGE. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE BECAUSE I FELT THAT THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE DOOR HANDLES IN LOTS OF SUZUKI ESTEEMS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE $58.00 PER DOOR HANDLE AND $70.00 PER DOOR FOR LABOR. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I KNOW MANY OTHERS WHOSE CARS ARE LOTS OLDER THAN MINE. THEIR DOOR HANDLES HAVE NOT BROKEN. THIS PROBLEM HAS ARISEN FROM A REASONABLY ANTICIPATED USE OF THE PRODUCT AND I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS HAD TO BE REPEATEDLY ADDRESSED IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR (AS I WAS INFORMED BY THE SUZUKI SERVICEMAN.

NHTSA complaint #10061965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL, HOWEVER THE DEALER STATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER CALLED ON FOUR OCCASIONS WITH NO SUCCESS. THE (EMISSIONS) RECALL WASN'T HONORED BY THE DEALER. SCC

NHTSA complaint #10015114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

SAFETY IMPROVEMENT REPAIR ON VAPOR VALVE WAS DONE IN MAY OF 2002. IN JULY 2002 ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER STATED A DIFFERENT VAPOR VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #8015716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.

NHTSA complaint #566670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IT STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2000 MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN TO LITHIA IN OREGON THEY RESET IT . IN MARCH OF 2001 MYENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I TOOK IN LITHIA IN SPARKS NV THEY RESET AGAIN . 13 MARCH 2002 THERE WAS A RECALL ON A FUEL VAPOR CONTROL VALVE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN THEY REPLACE THE FUEL VAPOR CONTROL VALVE AND SAID THAT WAS MY PROBLEM 12 DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN SO THEY REPLACE MY CANISTER AIR VALVE.06/20/2002 IT CAME ON AGAIN BUT I HAVE'NT TOOK IT IN YET.

NHTSA complaint #763589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IT STARTED IN NOVEMBER 2000 MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN TO LITHIA IN OREGON THEY RESET IT . IN MARCH OF 2001 MYENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I TOOK IN LITHIA IN SPARKS NV THEY RESET AGAIN . 13 MARCH 2002 THERE WAS A RECALL ON A FUEL VAPOR CONTROL VALVE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AGAIN THEY REPLACE THE FUEL VAPOR CONTROL VALVE AND SAID THAT WAS MY PROBLEM 12 DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN SO THEY REPLACE MY CANISTER AIR VALVE.06/20/2002 IT CAME ON AGAIN BUT I HAVE'NT TOOK IT IN YET.

NHTSA complaint #763589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.