FaultScore

Suzuki Forenza transmission problems

366 of the 1,360 complaints filed about the Suzuki Forenza are about the transmission — 27% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.

366

Complaints

27%

Share of all complaints

7

Crashes

2

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

2004 Forenza 6 1.6%

Median failure at 27,500 miles

2005 Forenza 31 8.5%

Median failure at 66,021 miles

2006 Forenza 118 32.2%

Median failure at 60,190 miles

2007 Forenza 131 35.8%

Median failure at 58,000 miles

2008 Forenza 80 21.9%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

What owners said

2008 Suzuki Forenza Roaring Spring, PA

POWER TRAIN

Every neutral safety switch made for this vehicle is faulty be driving down the road it'll switch from drive to neutral or any other gear I've had it go into reverse while going 50 mph down the road I've replaced this part five times still have same problem part works for about a month then goes out. Other times transmission won't even go into drive have to screw with shifter to get it to go into gear May last for about a mile and jumps back out of gear. Next problem computer tells me throttle positioning sensor is out car works fine at first then starts to rev around 5-6k or it to rev to half a grand and stall while driving down the road.

NHTSA complaint #11486246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Suzuki Forenza at 121,000 miles Morrisberg, TN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 37 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE CAUSING THE FRONT WHEELS TO LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL DEALER YESRIDE (1315 S CUMBERLAND ST, MORRISTOWN, TN 37813) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

NHTSA complaint #11394451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 95,566 miles Sparta, NC

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP MCCANN CAR LOT IN SPARTA NC MCCANN TOLD ME IT WAS THE BEST CAR ON THE LOT HE DROVE ME THROUGH TOWN TELLING ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THEN LET ME DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE INSURED ME THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME AFTER WE WENT TO GET INSPECTED WHICH NOTHING WAS CHECKED JUNIOR MCCANN TOLD THEM NOTHING WAS WRONG THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT MELTED THE COVER NOW CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE HEATER SMELLS SO BAD I GOT SICK FROM INHALED THE ODOR I REPORTED THIS TO JUNIOR MCCANN HIS REPLY WAS I WAS SMELLING SOMETHING HE DIDN'T SMELL MY HUSBAND ALSO SMELLED THE ODOR AND GOT BAD HEADACHE HE NEVER ONCE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR

NHTSA complaint #11208565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Suzuki Forenza Dover, TN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHEN THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IT IS HOT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AMERICA'S MOTOR SPORTS (930 8TH AVE S, NASHVILLE, TN 37203, (615) 834-8990) FOR REPAIRS. AFTER THE REPAIR, THE KEY BECAME HOT WHENEVER IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11204011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Suzuki Forenza at 100,000 miles Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE LIGHT FOR THE ENGINE CAME ON AND THE CAR DIED. AFTER BEING TOWED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD WAS BLOWN. AFTER REPLACING THE ENGINE THE LIGHT REMAINS ON AND NOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DEFECT IN A SENSOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION THAT KEEPS THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENING IN THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11014609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza Alexandria, VA

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR HAS GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER OWNERS SUZUKI VEHICLES AND THEY TO ARE HAVING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSORS. DEALER SERVICE CENTERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PART BREAKS OFTEN AND THEY KEEP EXTRA IN STOCK. THIS ISSUE WILL BEGIN WITH CAUSING VEHICLES TO SHIFT ROUGH AND END WITH VEHICLES NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF OR INTO PARK. THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE CUSHION SENSOR AND WILL COST $1500 TO REPLACE. AGAIN, AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER SUZUKI CAR OWNERS, THEY TOO HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. SUZUKI ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND OWNERS ARE BEING CHARGED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. SUZUKI HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES BY OTHER OWNERS AND HAVE COVERED REPAIR COSTS FOR A FEW, BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #11006019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Suzuki Forenza at 63,000 miles Universal City, TX

POWER TRAIN

POWER STEERING REPLACED, MANY TIRES REPLACED CONSTANTLY, TRANSMISSION REPLACED, TIMING BELT REPLACED, SEAT BELTS REPLACED, AIR BAGS ARE IN RECALL AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, HANDLES REPLACED, BAD PAINT CLIPPINGS ON OUTER HANDLES, CO2 SENSOR REPLACED, HEADLIGHT SWITCH RECALLED AND REPLACED, RANGE MOD SENSOR REPLACED TWICE, HEAD GASKET BROKEN.

NHTSA complaint #10991538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 53,000 miles Spring Grove, IL

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION REGULATION SENSOR - CAR JUMPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. DANGEROUS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10933912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 65,000 miles York, PA

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON SUZUKI FORENZAS AND OTHER MODELS HAS BEEN SHODDY AT BEST. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 65000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED THE TRS 3 TIMES GETTING READY TO BE A 4TH. THIS IS NOT A SENSOR THAT SHOULD NEED REPLACED REGULARLY. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SLIP OUT OF GEAR AT SPEED DUE TO THIS AND CAN NEVER ACCELERATE WHEN I NEED TO. IM AFRAID THAT IF I NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A COLLISION I WONT BE ABLE TO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE. THEY HAVE MORE THEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO SEE THIS IS AN ISSUE AND THEY NEED TO ACT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10910877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 82,000 miles Avondale, WV

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.

NHTSA complaint #10910180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 63,350 miles Bourbonnais, IL

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ONCE IN OCTOBER OF 2014 AND IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN NOW. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT IS SHIFTING GEARS AND ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS IT HAS JUST SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL FOR NO REASON WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN MOTION. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK ON 8/22/16. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP AND START MY CAR A FEW TIMES TO RESET THE PROBLEM. THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY COUPLE YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY SUZUKI.

NHTSA complaint #10898681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Suzuki Forenza at 175,000 miles Aumsville, OR

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. I HAD NO IDEA THAT THESE CARS ARE SO HAZARDOUS. ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER MY PURCHASE, THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO REVERSE ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IT OUT OF REVERSE AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THIS IS AN ONGOING DEFECT THAT, AND THAT THERE ARE MANY MORE. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT SUZUKI HAS BEEN MADE AWARE BUT SITS BACK AND DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS CAR HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING DEADLY AND NEEDS TO BE REMOVED FROM THE MARKET SO THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME AREN'T FORCED TO DRIVE SOMETHING SO UNSAFE. I CAN'T AFFORD THE COSTLY REPAIRS AND I CAN'T SELL THIS CAR. I AM SCARED TO DEATH THAT IN ONE OF THE MANY STALLS SOME ONE IS GOING TO HIT ME. IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE MARKET TO START WITH. I AM CONFIDENT THAT IF SOMEONE HASN'T ALREADY BEEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE CAR THAT THEY WILL BE.

NHTSA complaint #10888511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Suzuki Forenza at 78,000 miles Bluefield, VA

POWER TRAIN

2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. CAR HAS 78,000 MILES. MANUAL TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION JERKS, SLIPS AND IS NOW IS STUCK IN THE HIGHEST GEAR. WILL BARELY PULL OUT. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE SLIPPING. THIS LEAD TO THE JERKING. THEN IS STARTED TO DOWN SHIFT VIOLENTLY WITH NO NOTICE THROWING YOU FORWARD. THESE EVENTS APPEAR TO ONLY PRESENT WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN CONDITIONS. HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES ON HIGHWAY. I HAVE HAD IT TO MECHANICS TWICE WITH NO SUCCESS. THE LAST TIME THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. AT NO TIME HAS AN ERROR CODE BEEN PRESENT THAT WOULD LEAD A TRAINED MECHANIC TO A VIABLE REPAIR. THIS SITUATION IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10882296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Suzuki Forenza at 155,000 miles Milroy, PA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM INCREASING SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

NHTSA complaint #10850029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 87,000 miles Reno, NV

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10824572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 82,500 miles Tarpon Springs, FL

POWER TRAIN

THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" IS CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP TO 2 GEAR RANDOMLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE AFTER O START IT. AND OUT OF NO WERE THE ENGINE JUMPS AND THE "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON THE CAR ACTS LIKES ITS NOT IN 1ST GEAR. IT CAN'T GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) WITHOUT IT JUMPING. THEN AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A DAY IT ACTS FINE FOR THE FIRST TRIP AND THEN IT STARTS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AFTERWARDS. I CAN'T GO UPHILL EITHER WITHOUT IT REAVING HIGH LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. I THINK THIS IS THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" GOING BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10822260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 94,477 miles Albuquerque, NM

POWER TRAIN

THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" IS CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP TO 2 GEAR RANDOMLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE AFTER O START IT. AND OUT OF NO WERE THE ENGINE JUMPS AND THE "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON THE CAR ACTS LIKES ITS NOT IN 1ST GEAR. IT CAN'T GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) WITHOUT IT JUMPING. THEN AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A DAY IT ACTS FINE FOR THE FIRST TRIP AND THEN IT STARTS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AFTERWARDS. I CAN'T GO UPHILL EITHER WITHOUT IT REAVING HIGH LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. I THINK THIS IS THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" GOING BAD.

NHTSA complaint #10807292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Suzuki Forenza at 113,000 miles Hazleton Township, PA

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10806443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Suzuki Forenza at 80,000 miles South Bend, IN

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE THAT EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN 'X' ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEXT TO THE 'D' FOR DRIVE ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RANGE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10794712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Suzuki Forenza at 139,000 miles Altamont, TN

POWER TRAIN

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING HOME AS NORMAL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING. LOOK DOWN AT MY GEAR SELECTION VIEWER AND IT WAS SCRAMBLED SHOWING A D AND A R OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER FLASHING. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC MODEL OF CAR. THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND WHOMEVER ELSE THIS IS AFFECTING.

NHTSA complaint #10785776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Suzuki Forenza problems