10 of the
142 complaints about the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara are about the
equipment — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
88,000 miles.
D
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
AIR Conditioner
880.0%
Owners/Service/Other Manual
110.0%
Equipment
110.0%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 88,000 milesLewiston, MICrash1 injured
EQUIPMENT
AFTER PURCHASING MY USED VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2003 THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO SHIFT HARD WHEN TAKEN OUT OF PARK, OR SWITCHING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE AND SO ON. OCCASIONALLY IF FELT LIKE THE GAS PEDAL MAY BE STICKING A BIT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & THE DEALER HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP THE SHIFTING PROBLEM. ON DECEMBER 11, 2003 AROUND 4:00 AM, I WAS RETURNING FROM DOWN STATE ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY, IT WAS RAINING AND AROUND 34 DEGREES. THE GAS PEDAL STUCK & THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL. SPINNING AROUND SEVERAL TIMES, STRIKING A GUARD RAIL, AND GOING BACKWARD INTO THE DITCH. THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ROLL-OVER BUT CAUGHT ON THE BANK AND SLAMMED BACK ON IT'S WHEELS. IT STRUCK HARD ENOUGH TO BEND 3 RIMS AND EXPLODE THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. I AM CURRENTLY RECOVERING FROM MULTIPLE BACK & NECK INJURIES, INCLUDING TWO CRUSHED VERTEBRA AND NERVE DAMAGE CAUSING LOSS OF FUNCTION AND TREMENDOUS PAIN. I RECEIVED YOUR RECALL NOTICE ON THE ACCELERATOR CABLE & CASING 3 1/2 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE ISSUED THE RECALL MORE EXPEDIENTLY. THANK GOD MY CHILDREN WEREN'T WITH ME!
NHTSA complaint #10054708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, ME
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE AIR CONDITION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A REPLACEMENT HOSE WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF JUNE, AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE ANY WHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
NHTSA complaint #561743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shrewsbury, MA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE AND HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE THE SPRING TO RECEIVE THE PART, HOWEVER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE AIR CONDITION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #562420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Shrewsbury, MA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITION IS INOPERATIVE AND HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE THE SPRING TO RECEIVE THE PART, HOWEVER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE AIR CONDITION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #562420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fairfield, ME
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE AIR CONDITION WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A REPLACEMENT HOSE WAS NEEDED AND THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF JUNE, AND WAS NOT AVAILABLE ANY WHERE IN THE UNITED STATES.
NHTSA complaint #561743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Rosa, CA
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
A/C BUTTON WAS INOPERABLE.
NHTSA complaint #561816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kalamazoo, MI
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONING INOPERABLE. REPORTED TO DEALER APRIL 2001 AND NOW REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE YET AVAILABLE! IT IS BELIEVED THE ENTIRE HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK, AS THE DEFROSTING WAS INEFFECTINVE DURING THE 200-2001 WINTER!.
NHTSA complaint #748093 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Melbourne, FL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #733454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, CO
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
WHEN THE CAR IS HOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT; A SMELL FORMS SIMILAR TO EXHAUST FUMES IS RELEASED THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONER. I MADE THE COMPLAINT TO SHORTLINE WHEN IT WENT INTO SERVICE SHOP. THEY RETURNED THE CAR SAYING THEY DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING?? I RETURNED THE CAR A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN THE SMELL WAS PROMINENT AND THEY ADMITTED THAT OTHER COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN MADE! THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE SOME COMPONANTS IN THE A/C AND TURN IT DOWN TO STOP IT FROM FREEZING! IT IS NOT A POWERFUL A/C. THEY SAID THAT CONDENSATION IS CREATED WHEN CAR IS HOT AND ANY BACTERIA WHICH HAS FORMED GIVES OFF THIS NON-TOXIC SMELL??? PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
NHTSA complaint #725247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tampa, FL
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVESHAFT,DIFFERENTIAL,ALL FOUR TIRES,TURN DRUMS & ROTORS AND THE CAR STILL VIBRATES
NHTSA complaint #715193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.