61 of the
880 complaints filed about the Suzuki Grand Vitara
are about the engine —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
While stopped at traffic light at idle, I can hear a knocking noise in the engine compartment. Took it to my mechanic, and believe it is coming from the lower engine. He removed the oil pan and found that the rod and crankshaft bearing has movement. The car is 2008 and only has 36,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11721909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY SUDDENLY STARTS OVERHEATING WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND IT HAS HAPPENED ONCE A YEAR WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11183278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
NHTSA complaint #11098966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED AIR CONDITIONING WOULD BE COOL THEN HOT FOR ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES AND COOL AGAIN THEN HOT AGAIN AND REPEAT. TURNED OFF THE AC WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR GETTING HOTTER. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC. HE PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST ON COOLING SYSTEM AND FOUND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT, LEFT SIDE UNDER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND WILL CAUSE ME TO BE STRANDED. COULD BE SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID #10054717.
NHTSA complaint #11022575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN CAR WAS INITIALLY STARTED, AFTER FEW MINUTES OF WARM UP TIME, HEAT WAS ACTIVATED AND NO HEAT WAS DISPERSED. BEGAN DRIVING, DESPITE NO HEAT. WITHIN 1 MILE TRAVELING LESS THAT 15 MPH, THE TEMPARATURE GAGE INCREASED TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL, STILL WITHOUT HEAT IN CAR. (PICTURE 1) AS SPEED INCREASED, TEMPERATURE GAGE RAPIDLY FLUCTUATED AND ESP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON DASH. (PICTURE 2) PULLED OFF HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS, ENGINE FOUND TO BE SMOKING. DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE CRACK., CRACK SEALED FOR TEMPORARY FUNCTION, WITHIN DAYS OF SEAL, SAME SYMPTOMS AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, BUT TOTAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN FOLLOWING ESP WARNING LIGHTS. ACCELERATION HALTED, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BRAKES DIFFICULT TO WORK. AFTER SITTING OFF, CAR UNABLE TO START.
NHTSA complaint #10950047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A ENGINE KNOCK WHILE VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL OR PARK. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY THINK IT MIGHT BE A LOWER MOTOR ISSUE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 21000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10885264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER SIDE INTAKE MANIFOLD BUTTERFLY VALVE CAME LOOSE AND THE SCREWS WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. RECENTLY THE BUTTERFLY ITSELF GOT STUCK AND LEANED OUT AND RUINED MY O2 SENSOR AND IDLE AIR CONTROLLER
NHTSA complaint #10855291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO A SUPER HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I PUT MY ENGINE SCAN ON THE COMPUTER AND IT STATED EGR VALVE....I BELIEVE IT MAY HAVE BEEN A P0401 CODE. I ORDERED A NEW EGR VALVE AND REPLACED IT ALONG WITH NUMEROUS GASKETS AND CLEANED EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE MANUAL......WHICH BY THE WAY, IS THE $100 SHOP SERVICE MANUAL THE DEALERSHIP USES! IT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS TIME PERIOD AND THEN BEGAN ALL OVER AGAIN. I USE PREMIUM SHELL GASOLINE IN THE VEHICLE AND DO PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON A REGULAR BASIS AS DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE MANUAL. I HAVE DONE SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE HOWEVER, SUZUKI HAS NOT RESPONDED WITH A SOLUTION. I SEE FORD AND SOME OTHERS HAD THIS SIMILAR COMPLAINT AND REDESIGNED THEIR EGR VALVES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. ALSO, I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL SUZUKI RECALLS HOWEVER, THERE ARE NO SUZUKI SERVICE CENTERS IN AMERICA NOW TO GET THESES ISSUES RESOLVED. THE LATEST RECALL WAS SENT TO ME FROM SUZUKI STATING THE ISSUE AND THAT THEY WOULD NOTIFY WHERE TO GET IT RESOLVED......SOON?? NEVER HEARD ANOTHER WORD! THIS IS LIKE 2-3 RECALLS NOW.....AIR BAGS, POWER STEERING PULLEY, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. I DID HAVE THE ABS BRAKE SENSORS AND THE TRANSMISSION LOCK ISSUES RESOLVED AT THE DEALERSHIP SHORTLY AFTER MY PURCHASE OF THE NEW VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE REST HAVE BEEN UNRESOLVED! THIS EGR VALVE IS EITHER A DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING ISSUE OR RELATED TO ETHANOL ADDED TO THE GAS WHICH IS THE BIGGEST NIGHTMARE EVER FOR ANY ENGINE AND SHOULD BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AS ANY MECHANIC WILL TELL YOU!! IT WAS A MONEY MAKER FOR THE ULTRA RICH AND NOTHING TO DO WITH RESOLVING EMISSIONS OR ANYTHING ELSE AS A DEFECTIVE EGR WILL SPEW MORE POLLUTION THAN NOT HAVING IT AT ALL! UPDATED 09/21/15
NHTSA complaint #10730394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, BELT TENSIONER SEIZED BREAKING BELT AND OVER HEATING CAR. BOTH BELT TENSIONERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING/FAN TENSIONER. NOT FOR THE WATER PUMP/ALTERNATOR PULLEY/TENSIONER.
NHTSA complaint #10670423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,600.
NHTSA complaint #10556372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EVERY MORNING I HEAD OFF TO WORK WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD, I START THE VEHICLE, I PUT INTO DRIVE AS I ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 10 MILES I HEAR A RATTLING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THIS SOUNDS HAPPENS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS WARM ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, SUCH AS BEING AT A STOPLIGHT. I HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE REPAIR SHOP AT THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS THE HEAT SHIELD FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I LEFT THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT, IN ORDER FOR THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO EXPERIENCE THE ANNOYING SOUND, WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT THE FOLLOWING MORNING. HERE I AM ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS LATER WITH THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS THAN A HEAT SHIELD. I HAVE SCHEDULED A SECOND APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE REPAIRED. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCH THE ISSUE ONLINE AND SEE THAT THIS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SUZUKIS.
NHTSA complaint #10512927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A STORE PARKING LOT AND WHEN I STARTED THE CAR PUT IT IN REVERSE AND THEN IN DRIVE TO EXIT THE PARKING LOT. WHEN ON THE STREET THE CAR WENT ACROSS THE STREET I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND IT STALLED. WHEN I MY PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO FORWARD IT DIDN'T RESPOND. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD THREE TIMES ON ITS OWN AND THEN STOPPED REPEATING THIS AGAIN, BUT NOT A THIRD TIME BECAUSE I SHUT THE CAR OFF. THEN I RESTARTED THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO COAST WITH HAZARDS ON TO MY HOUSE UNDER 10 MPH. O SHUT IT OFF AND CALLED THE AUTO MECHANIC. THE THROTTLE SENSOR WENT. SO MY CAR NOW STAYS AT THE STATION AWAITING A NEW SENSOR WHILE I AM WITHOUT A MEANS TO GET TO WORK. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I CROSSED THE STREET BECAUSE CARS WERE COMING.
NHTSA complaint #10512655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST TURNED OVER WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED INTO THE BUSHES TO AVOID A CRASH AND WAS THEN SHUTDOWN WITH THE KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,400. UPDATED 04/02/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THIS EVENT. UPDATED 04/18/2013
NHTSA complaint #10496904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORTY-NINE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT BURST INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD ONLY MOMENTS AFTER MY WIFE HAD EXITED THE CAR IN HER PARKING LOT AT A SCHOOL. THE CAR BECAME A TOTAL LOSS AS THE FIRE REACHED THE DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT. TWO NEARBY CARS BELONGING TO WORKMATES WERE ALSO DAMAGED WITH MELTED TAIL LIGHTS AND BLISTERED PAINT. NO AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND NO SERVICE HAD YET BEEN PERFORMED ON THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10441353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I READ IN YOUR PAGE THAT 46,500 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAS A PARTS THAT HAVE TO BE CORRECTED BY SUZUKI,WITHOUT ANY COST. I WENT TODAY TO AUTOLAND OF MAYAGUEZ,PUERTO RICO. MR. EMANUEL LOPEZ TOLD ME THAT HE JUST HAVE TO ORDER THE PULLEY BECAUSE HE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PART FOR THE AIR CONDITION. CAN YOU HELP ME? WHAT CAN I DO TO SEE IF THEY REPLACE IT? GRAND VITARA SUZUKI 2006.HE TOLD ME THAT IT IS FALSE INFORMATION SOME PEOPLE WRITE ON INTERNET.
NHTSA complaint #10357427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR DISPLAYED A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,921 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
NHTSA complaint #10343918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. WHILE PERFORMING AN OIL CHANGE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE TENSIONER PULLEY WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER RECOGNIZED THIS ISSUE AND REPLACED THE TENSIONER PULLEYS FROM PLASTIC TO METAL ON ALL MODELS AFTER 2006. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE THEY WERE ALREADY AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.
NHTSA complaint #10272793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAT 1/3/09: 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA DIED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON MTN LOOP HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE SIMPLY DIED-NO WARNING-SPEEDOMETER FELL TO ZERO. ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION LIGHTS CAME ON AFTER TRYING TO RESTART ENGINE. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND DROVE A SHORT DISTANCE TO GET IT OFF OF THE ROAD. COULD NOT START IT LATER. HAD IT TOWED. 1ST REPAIR SHOP FOUND SPARK PLUGS GUMMED-REMOVED THE VALVE COVER. "REQUIRES REPLACEMENT GASKETS AND OTHER PARTS-IT APPEARS THE KEY FOR THE TIMING "CHAIN" BROKE AND CAME OFF-NEED TO DISMANTLE MORE OF THE ENGINE." THEY DID. THE DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE BENT VALVES AND THE BROKEN 2-PIECE GEAR". THEY DISCUSSED REBUILD VERSUS ENGINE REPLACEMENT BEING POTENTIALLY A LESS EXPENSIVE OPTION. FOUND OUT THAT POWER TRAIN STILL UNDER WARRANTY. UNDER WARRANTY WERE REQUIRED TO SEND TO A DEALER SHOP. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER SHOP-THEIR DIAGNOSIS-APPARENT PROBLEM IS TWO GEARS THAT WORK TO DRIVE THE CAM SEPARATED AFTER ONE GEAR BROKE. LEFT VALVES ARE BENT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. MACHINE SHOP WORK IS REQUIRED ON CYLINDER HEAD. SUZUKI'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER: CASE # 2-181089136-2-PIECE GEAR HAD A DISTINCTIVE CRACK. "THE ". ENGINE HEAD WAS SENT FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK IS BACK-2/10 WORK CANNOT START UNTIL 2/16 OR LATER. THEY HAVE SAID THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE LOWER ENGINE. DO NOT KNOW ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF BROKEN PARTS. VEHICLE STILL AT SHOP. IT HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE SINCE 1/3/2009.
NHTSA complaint #10258356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWO MORE PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE, GEAR SHIFT STICKING AND UNABLE TO SHIFT WITHOUT JAMMING IT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. TWO, THE AIR CONDITIONING HAS A FOUL ODOR WHEN YOU TURN THE VEHICLE ON ALL THE TIME. I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR BOTH PROBLEMS. THE GEAR SHIFT FIRST OFF WILL POP OUT OF PLACE IF HIT EVEN IN PARK OR WHEN THE CAR IN NOT RUNNING AND IT STICKS AND HAS TO BE JAMMED INTO PLACE, I HAVE TAKEN IT IN AND WAS TOLD COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM-NEVER FIXED. THE AIR CONDITIONING STINKS BADLY, THE ODOR IS OFFENSIVE, SMELLS LIKE A PORTA POTTY OR SOMETHING DEAD! I HAVE TAKEN IT IN 2 X FOR THIS. THEY PUT LYSOL IN THE COILS AND TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES. THE SECOND TIME I WAS TOLD TO SPRAY LYSOL OR BLEACH IN THE LEDGE AT THE TOP. THIS DOES NOT HELP AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM!
NHTSA complaint #10242513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WITH SEVERAL PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE PROBLEMS ARE: STEERING SHAFT, ENGINE MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATION, GASOLINE ODOR FROM ENGINE AND SEAT WARMER NOT WORKING. *KB THE ENGINE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT TIMING BELT WHICH NEEDED TO BE RE-TORQUED. THE PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON.
NHTSA complaint #10219509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.