36 of the
191 complaints filed about the Suzuki Esteem
are about the body and structure —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT TIRE GAVE WAY AND BENT IN FROM FRAME. TOOK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 129,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SHAME ON SUZUKI FOR PRODUCING INFERIOR CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFELY ISSUE!
NHTSA complaint #10594844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIELDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AROUND THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN ON THE SUBFRAME WHICH WAS CORRODED WITH EXTENSIVE RUST IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10592781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER AUTHORIZED THEM TO PERFORM THE WORK, SINCE THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID.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.
DRIVING ALONG BIG TIMBER STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND STARTED TO SHAKE, I MANAGED TO STAY STRAIGHT UNTIL I TURNED LEFT TO MEADOWS RD. I MADE IT HOME OKAY IN THE COMPLEX BUT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE CAR AGAIN. NEXT DAY LOOKED AT THE UNDER CARRIAGE AND THEN NOTICED THE RUSTED OUT SUB FRAME (CRADLE) BY THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) CONTROL ARM.THIS CAR IS GARAGE KEPT IF THAT MEANS ANYTHING. WELL THIS CERTAINLY IS A BUMMER, I'LL HAVE TO FIGURE ON HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT A REASONABLE EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10493024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 199,000.
NHTSA complaint #10458674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVED ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SUBFRAME SNAPPED ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY JERK RIGHT WITH SUBSTANTIAL FORCE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED BUT THE CAR WAS PULLING VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE TO A SPOT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, I NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WHICH CONNECTS THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL TO THE BODY HAD RUSTED SEVERELY AND BROKE APART, IT WAS SO BAD THE MATERIAL WAS CRUMBLING. IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY OCCURRED. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET CITES HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM RECALLS WERE MADE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL YEAR DESPITE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME.
NHTSA complaint #10448231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 99 ESTEEM STARED PULLING TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT HOME THE WHEEL WOULD RUB ON THE INNER FENDER WELL WHEN TURNING. UPON INSPECTION WHEN I GOT HOME I FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH ON TOP AND OUTER SIDES WITH ONLY THE INSIDE PORTION INTACT. THIS PART HAD BENT ALLOWING MY WHEEL TO CHANGE POSITION. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE WHILE THIS SECTION HAS RUSTED AWAY. THANKFULLY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR THAT I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE BROKEN AND CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL, ENDING IN INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES NOT ONLY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF MY VEHICLE BUT TO OTHER CARS IN MY VICINITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON ON THIS VEHICLE AN SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MERITS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR
NHTSA complaint #10446634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM IN APRIL OF 2011 CAR LOT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SMALL BRACKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY MOTOR AND NEED TO BE REPLACE ASAP HERE TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE WHOLE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE MOTOR AND TRASMISSION FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SUZUKI RECALL ON THAT PART. TOOK THE CAR TO SUZUKI DEALER THE SERVICE GUY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A MODIFICATION DONE TO THE SUBFRAME IT SELF AND THAT IT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME TO HELP SUPPORT IT WHILE WAITING FOR A RECALL SUZUKI DEALER CALLED ME AND SAID SUZUKI CANNOT DO RECALL DUE TO THE MODIFICATION THAT WAS MADE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10432914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUB FRAME OF 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM HAD RUSTED THRU .I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SUB FRAME CRACKED AND PUSHED THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BACK AGAINST THE FENDER CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO LOCK UP WHICH CAUSED ME TO WRECK. I SPOKE WITH SUZUKI AND GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT PART WAS ON RECALL AND TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN AND THEY WOULD FIX THAT PART. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED 3 MONTHS EARLIER. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND WAS ALSO WONDERING HOW A RECALL ON A SAFETY ISSUE COULD EXPIRE. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS ALWAYS THE PASSENGER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10419916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,524. ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 10/01/2012
NHTSA complaint #10384308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IN 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM CRACKED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH. CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT, SINCE IT HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY STOP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER I FOUND OUT THAT RUSTING WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT YOU COULD POKE A HOLE IN THE CROSS MEMBER BY SIMPLY PUSHING A SCREW DRIVER ON TO THE SURFACE OF THE CROSS MEMBER.
NHTSA complaint #10369432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER TO CALL NHTSA. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA complaint #10348235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. STEERING WAS SUDDENLY OFF CENTER SO I HAD AN ALIGNMENT COMPLETED WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY OFF CENTER AGAIN. A FEW BLOCKS FURTHER (I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT THE TIME, AT SLOW SPEEDS) THE FRONT PASSENGER SUB-FRAME BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL TO SLOPE AND THE SUSPENSION TO PULL OUT FROM THE TRANSMISSION, IMMEDIATELY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM SURE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURS AS I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH AND BREAKING. WHILE THERE WERE SMALL RUST SPOTS ON THE BOTTOM OF ONE OF THE DOORS, THE CAR WAS NOT AT ALL RUSTY. DUE TO EXPENSE TO REPAIR, I SOLD THE CAR TO THE HORSEHEADS, NY PICK-A-PART USED CAR PARTS LOT AND PURCHASED A NEW CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10344528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1) DRIVING FROM ALABAMA TO OHIO - ALIGNMENT FELT "OFF" 2) FRAME RUSTED AND DROPPED NEAR RIGHT-FRONT WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING/TURNING 5 MPH IN PARKING LOT 3) JUNK CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10339934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.