27 of the
1,360 complaints filed about the Suzuki Forenza
are about the suspension —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
SUZUKI HAS NEVER SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE: 2016 EXPLANATION- THEY ARE ONLY GOING BY EACH STATE'S VEHICLE OWNER RECORDED ADDRESS. I/ MY CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME LISTED ADDRESS SINCE PURCHASE. SUZUKI ON NIHTSA SHOWS 4 RECALLS; FORENZA ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT THERE. WHAT ELSE IS MISSING? ORIGINAL FORENZA OWNER, UNDER 47,000 MILES. REPEATEDLY, WARNING LITES CAME ON WITH OVERHEAT. OCT.2006 ENGINE STALLED AT 35MPH IN INTERSECTION; WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS SUZUKI, AWARE OF EWH FAILURE, FAILS TO DO A FOENZA ENGINE WIRING HARNESS RECALL. I SEE THE SAME SYMPTOM COMPLAINTS BY OTHER FORENZA OWNERS. TOOK 3 CAR STALLINGS BEFORE DIAGNOSIS MADE & ENGINE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. FROM OCT.2006 COMPLAINED OF "OLD CAR CREAKING/RUFF SUSPENSION" NOISES/BOUNCING GOING OVER ANY SPEED BUMPS OR ROLLING STREETS. SUZUKI REPLACED SOME DAMAGED BUSHINGS BUT NOISES/BAD SUSPENSION RETURNED; I CONTINUED COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND SUZUKI, & PAID FOR SEVERAL WHEEL ALLIGNMENTS. WITHOUT INFORMING ME, SUZUKI THE DEALER MECHANIC, AGAIN CHECKING ON MY COMPLAINT, NOTES "CRACKED STRUTS" ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER MY 3YR FULL WARANTY EXPIRED. 2012, I LEARNED OF THE "OLD CAR SYMPTOM" SUSPENSION DAMAGE FROM A NON-SUZUKI MECHANIC REVIEWING THE CAR REPAIR HISTORY. THERE IS NOW A SUSPENSION SYSTEM CORROSION FAIURE RECALL FOR 2006 VITARAS BUT NOT FORENZAS; SAME YEAR VITARA AND FORENZA PROBLEMS SEEM ASSOCIATED ISSUES. 2006, SUZUKI RECALLS FOR OVERHEAT/FIRE IGNITION FROM HEADLIGHTS/ELECTRICAL SWTICHS ARE 2 OF 4 RECALLS LISTED WITH NIHTSA. 2007-2015, I COMPLAINED TO SUZUKI OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS (MULTIPLE FAILED BATTERIES, ELECTRICAL BURNING ODORS, LIGHT SHORTS...) SUZUKI DESCRIBES AS HIGH PRIORITY FOR REPAIR OF HEADLIGHT/ELECTRICAL SWITCH. ME, UNAWARE OF RECALLS, SUZUKI DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY!! MY A/C AIR SYSTEM, RADIO, AND RARELY USED DRIVER WINDOW SHORTED AFTER EPISODES OF BATTERY FAILURES IN 45MPH CITY TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10864598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE STRUTS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE LOOSE AND LETTING THE HANDLE UNSAFELY. THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY AND THE CAR DROVE BETTER. FAST FORWARD TO MARCH 2015, I CARRIED THE CAR IN FOR A DIFFERENT WARRANTY REPAIR BUT WASN'T TOLD THAT THE STRUTS WERE LOOSE AGAIN. I FOUND THIS OUT FROM MY OWN MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY. I CONTACTED CORPORATE SUZUKI AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL. MY MECHANIC TALKED TO ANOTHER SUZUKI DEALER & WAS TOLD THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND THAT A KIT HAS TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT IT. I HAD TO PAY MY MECHANIC TO FIX IT. SHOULDN'T THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS BECAUSE I HAD ONLY PUT 19,000 MILES ON SINCE THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WHICH APPARENTLY WAS DONE WITHOUT THE KIT? THE STRUTS WERE MOVING A QUARTER OF AN INCH. DOES THIS NOT POSE A SAFETY ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10704065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD DEFECTIVE PLASTIC DOOR KNOBS THAT BROKE AND REPLACED WITH THE SAME TYPE DOOR KNOB BY THE DEALER AND CHARGED ME LABOR. REPLACED STRUT MOUNTS WITHIN THE LAST 9 MONTHS I HAVE REPLACED: TRANSMISSION, WATER PUMP, THE VALVE COVER GASKET 4 TIMES, THE VALVE COVER, THE RADIATOR, THE TIMING BELT, THE AC COMPRESSOR, FRONT AXLES, WHEEL BEARINGS, LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD HOSE, AND IT IS STILL LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. THE CAR SEEM TO BE VERY HOT AND THE KEY IS VERY VERY HOT IN THE IGNITION. I ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE FUEL ASSEMBLY........ I DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO BE INCLUDED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR I WILL DO MY OWN. THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER TO PAY ALL THIS MONEY INTO KEEPING THIS CAR REPAIRED. I'VE INVESTED MORE INTO THIS CAR THAN WHAT IT IS WORTH. PLEASE ADVISE.
NHTSA complaint #10616572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BROUGHT A BRAND NEW 2007 SUZUKI FORENZA IN 2007 AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. IN THE FIRST WEEK I BROUGHT IT THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKE. SOON AFTER THE TRANSMISSION MESSED UP AND WAS TOLD THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THANKS TO MY EXTENDED VEHICLE WARRANTY (NOT BY SUZUKI) I WAS ABLE TO GET THIS FIXED WITHOUT PAYING OUT OF POCKET. NOW NOT EVEN TWO YEARS LATER I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE FRONT STRUT MOUNT AND STRUTS ARE GOING BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED (ESTIMATED AT $687.00). IN ADDITION TO THAT ALL FOUR OF MY DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN AND HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME AFTER BREAKING OFF WITH A SIMPLE TOUCH. WITH THE PAINT CHIPPING OFF ON THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES AS WELL. I HAVE NO MONEY TO PAY FOR ALL THE REPAIRS ON THIS VEHICLE AS I HAVE BEEN PAYING IT ON FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND IT IS ALMOST PAID FOR BUT I CANNOT CONTINUE TO ENDURE COUNTLESS REPAIRS I AM HAVING TO GO THROUGH WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. I DO NOT GO ANYWAY EXCEPT FROM WORK TO HOME IN MY CAR AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I AM HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS WHEN THE CAR WAS SUPPOSE TO BE BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVEN AS SIMPLE AS GOING TO THE STORE BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUZUKI AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10508872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY STRUT FAILED AND BEGAN TO LEAK AT 36000 MILES. THE MECHANIC FELT THAT THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THE STRUT TO FAIL WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE AND SUGGESTED THAT WE CHECK FOR RECALLS. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT FAULTY STRUTS ARE AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM AND PRESENT AN OBVIOUS SAFETY RISK, SUZUKI HAS REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM OR ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10483803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD CLACKING SOUND COMING FOR THE FRONT END. I TOOK THE CAR TO A GARAGE FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE STRUT MOUNTS AND IT WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN. AFTER THE DEALER LOOKED AT THE CAR I WAS TOLD IT WAS A CV JOINT NOT THE STRUTS. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS YEAR WHILE TRYING TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED I WAS TOLD BY ANOTHER GARAGE THAT MY STRUT MOUNTS WERE BAD AND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10437880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE 44,000 MILES ON MY 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA - ONLY 5 YEARS OLD AND THE STRUTS ARE GONE! THE FRONT END OF MY CAR BOUNCES LIKE ITS ON A TRAMPOLINE! THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 5 YEARS OLD. SUZUKI NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR BAD STRUTS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING .. ONE OF THEM AT 21,000 MILES.. AND THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED? WHAT GIVES? ALSO, I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR FROM THE OUTSIDE ANYMORE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON SAYING ITS NOT WORKING. THIS CAR HAS LOTS OF PROBLEMS AND I JUST BOUGHT IT A YEAR AGO AND READY TO GET RID OF IT AND BUY SOMETHING ELSE. DEFINITELY NOT A SUZUKI EVER AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10430755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. SINCE PURCHASING NEW IN 2006, I HAVE HAD THE GAS GAUGE, GAS TANK, RADIO, CENTER CONSOLE, FRONT DOOR HANDLES & CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. THE FACTORY TIRES WENT BAD WITHIN A YEAR, AND BECAUSE IT IS AN ODD TIRE SIZE COST OVER $400 TO REPLACE. CURRENTLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON STATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH WAS JUST REPLACED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I LEFT THE CAR OVERNIGHT AT THE DEALER & GOT A RENTAL CAR (WHICH COST $75) AND THE DEALER AND SUZUKI TECH SUPPORT CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHY THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ERROR CONTINUES TO SHOW UP. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT IS ALSO ON & I WAS TOLD THAT IT REQUIRES A SENSOR - NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY - THAT WILL COST OVER $300. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE JERKING AND SLIPPING GEARS ON ACCELERATION. IT WOULD ALSO STICK IN NEUTRAL OR NOT CHANGE GEARS AND HESITATE TO THE POINT OF MOVING VERY SLOWLY. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS AN OXYGEN SENSOR WHICH COST ME OVER $300 TO REPLACE. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ONCE SINCE. THE STRUTS - FRONT AND BACK - ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS A $1200 REPAIR BECAUSE THEY ARE LEAKING. CURRENTLY BOTH FRONT DOOR HANDLES ARE BROKEN CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO OPEN THE DOORS. I HAVE HAD THEM REPLACED ONCE BEFORE UNDER RECALL, BUT NOW IT WILL COST OVER $200 A PIECE TO REPLACE. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A LIGHT TO INDICATE THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE WORKING UNTIL IT JUST APPEARED ONE DAY. THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR WON'T STAY ON - IT COMES ON, THEN GOES BACK OFF. I THINK SUZUKI NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THESE CARS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10392415 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE COMPLAINED CONSISTENTLY ABOUT THE VIBRATIONS AT IDLE AND THE LOUD NOISES IN MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO FUMES COMING THRU MY VENTS THAT BURN MY EYES AT TIMES. ENDED UP IN THE ER ON ONE OCCASION AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR HAD OIL ALL OVER THE VALVE GASKET COVER. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEY SEEN NO OIL BUT I HAD PICS OF THE LEAK. STILL GET INTERMITTENT SMELLS OF GAS WHILE DRIVING THAT BURN MY EYES AND THROAT. THE ENGINE GETS HOT FAST AND THAT'S WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR GEARS AND THE RPMS REV UP. I CAN FEEL THE ENGINE IN MY DRIVERS SEAT REALLY BAD. MY WARRANTY IS ALMOST EXPIRED AND IT IS NOW 2011 AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TWICE FOR THE SAME COMPLAINTS. NOT TO MENTION HEARING THE STRUTS RATTLE OVER BUMPS AND WHILE MAKING TURNS. THEY REPLACED MY SUSPENSION TWICE. 1ST TIME WAS WHILE I ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 MONTHS. I AM NOT GETTING NO RESULTS AND THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE. NOW I AM SCARED IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS CAR FOR THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND THE AIRBAGS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT REALLY BAD.
NHTSA complaint #10382843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2006 FORENZA AT 36,000 MILES MY SEAT BELT LIGHT REMAINS ON AND WAS FIXED ONCE UNDER THE RECALL BUT NOW THEY WON'T FIX IT AGAIN. THEN I FIND OUT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR FOR MORE TIRES THAT THEY ARE BEING EATEN UP BY BAD REAR STRUTS.THE CAR HAD AT THAT TIME 56,000 MILES. THE STRUTS ARE EXPENSIVE AND OF COURSE DEALER PARTS. AND NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. NO WAY TO CHECK OR FILL IT UNLESS YOU GO TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHARGE A FORTUNE TO DO THAT AND WHERE I LIVE THERE IS ONLY ONE DEALER IN A SEVERAL HUNDRED MILE RADIUS SO THERE IS A LONG WAIT. THIS CAR IS A PIECE OF [XXX] AND I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A CONSUMER? THIS IS CRAZY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10361497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE MANY DEFECTS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED ALL THE FAILURES ARE NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY AND SHE HAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR ALL THE REPAIRS. THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ARE THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS, THROTTLE BODY, DOOR HANDLE AND TRANSMISSION RANGE CENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THEY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
NHTSA complaint #10357059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELT RANDOMLY UNBUCKLES WHILE DRIVING ALL INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OD DURING HE FIRST OF OWNERSHIP TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT GEAR CONSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10356258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELT RANDOMLY UNBUCKLES WHILE DRIVING ALL INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OD DURING HE FIRST OF OWNERSHIP TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT GEAR CONSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10356258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA'S TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THEY TELL ME IT IS A SENSOR AND IT WILL BE 400 TO FIX. IT ALSO HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEAT BELT GETTING STUCK AND OR NOT LATCHING, IT ALSO IS HAVING ISSUE WITH SUSPENSION ISSUES AS WELL AS( POWER TRAIN)EX.THROTTLE BODY, FRONT STRUTS, SPEEDOMETER, SEAT BELT, DOOR HANDLE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS MY CAR HAS ONLY 80,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS ALL THESE ISSUES. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE FOUND NUMERIOUS OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. SUZUKI NEEDS TO DO SOMETHIND ABOUT THIS OR RECALL CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10354584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT STRUT MOUNTS & BRAKING SYSTEM ARE BAD ON 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. WENT TO SEVERAL SHOPS TO GET THEM INSPECTED AND EVERY SHOP FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS EVEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND A HAZARD TO DRIVE. RESEARCHED AND MANY CONSUMERS ONLINE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THE CAR SHAKES AND THE STRUTS WIGGLE AND HARD TIME BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10345123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUT ASSEMBLY OF VEHICLE HAS AN INCH OF VERTICAL PLAY, HENCE VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE ALIGNED. VEHICLE IS 2004 SUZUKI FIRENZA. HAVE ADDRESSED ISSUE WITH 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NONE CAN AGREE ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ONE EVEN STATED THAT WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE. CALLED MANUFACTURER IN BREA CA, AND THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. FURTHERMORE I WAS REFUSED THE RIGHT BVTO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT PERSON. SINCE MY VEHICLE CAN'T BE ALIGN, I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10292068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN WOBBLING EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WOULD GRADUALLY CHANGE DIRECTION WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THE REAR STRUTS WERE DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $580. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE GEAR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WERE ALSO REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 56,569.
NHTSA complaint #10268855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.