Suzuki Grand Vitara suspension problems

SUSPENSION

WEARS TIRES OUT WITHIN INSTALLING WITHIN 8 MONTHS. VIBRATES VERY BAD AN HAS DONE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2006.

NHTSA complaint #10839192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WE PURCHASED A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA LUXURY IN 2006. WE HAD THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NOTICED THE BACK TIRES WERE WEARING FASTER THAN NORMAL, ALSO THERE WAS THIS GRINDING SOUND WHEN YOU BRAKE, IT WAS SPORADIC. FROM 2006 TILL 2012 WE WERE GIVEN DOZENS OF REASONS WHY AND SOLUTIONS FOR A COST, NONE OF THEM FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE LAST COMPLAINT IN 2012 WE REFUSED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP (ONE OF THE TWO IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD STILL ALLOW YOU TO BRING IN A SUZUKI) UNTIL WE WERE GIVEN A ANSWER, WE WERE TOLD IT IS A INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE? OVER THE YEARS THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED SO MUCH I CANT COUNT. IS IT THE ESP SYSTEM? AS TIME HAS PASSED IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN LOUDER. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN, WE JUST WANT A ANSWER! SUZUKI KNOWS WHAT IT IS AND THEY ARE NOT TELLING ANYONE, THIS IS NOT ONLY IRRESPONSIBLE IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10546458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY IN ALIGNMENT. IT IS WEARING THE BACK TIRES DOWN TO NOTHING REALLY FAST AND MAKING LOUD ROARING NOISES. WHEN DRIVING IT THROWS YOU ALL OVER THE ROAD MAKING IT VERY POSSIBLE TO HIT ON COMING TRAFFIC. THIS VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE PARKED IT AND WILL NOT BE DRIVING UNTIL SOMETHING IS DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10468159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA , REAR TIRES ARE GOING BALD WITHIN 12000-15000 MILES, CRAZY THING IS THAT IT IS ONLY HAPPENING TO THE REAR TIRES...I JUST WENT AND GOT MY THIRD SET OF TIRES THIS AFTERNOON SINCE HAVING THIS 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I GUESS I BETTER START FILLING UP MY PIGGI BANK FOR THE NEXT SET OF TIRES IN 12000-15000 MILES, THAT IS UNLESS SUZUKI CORP. ADMITS THAT THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10353646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF BUYING MY NEW 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, NOTICED EXCESSIVE TIRE WIRE AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. WHEN REPLACING TIRES, REAR TIRES ARE WORN TO THREADS AND CORDS WITHIN 2-3 MONTHS TIME OF BEING PUT ON, FRONT TIRES ARE WORN ON THE INSIDE, EXTREME INSTABILITY IN HANDLING THE VEHICLE ON WET AND DRY ROADS, FRONT END VIBRATION, DOCUMENTATION PROVIDING FACT THAT MY 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED AND BROUGHT INTO SPEC., FRONT CAMBER ECCENTRIC BOLTS THAT SHOULD OF BEEN INSTALLED BY THE MANUFACTURE ARE MISSING, TIRES ALWAYS SMELL LIKE THEY ARE BURNING, VEHICLE HAS BEEN ALIGNED 3 TIMES BUT IS NOT ABLE TO STAY ALIGNED. THE LAST ALIGNMENT AND NEW SET OF 4 TIRES WAS DONE ON 9/7/2009 AND IS WHEN THE MISSING FRONT ECCENTRIC BOLTS AND NUT ON THE RIGHT REAR A ARM WAS DISCOVERED. THIS IS ALSO WHEN IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT MY 2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WAS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY ALIGNED ARE BROUGHT INTO SPEC. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. WITH AN ALIGNMENT AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR PROBLEM, CROSSING THE THRESHOLD INTO LOSS OF CONTROL IS A VERY HIGH RISK FOR ME.

NHTSA complaint #10283078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE SWAY BUSHINGS ON HER FRONT AND REAR TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES ON HER VEHICLE BECAME WORN AT 20,000 MILES AND THE REPAIR TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE AIR PRESSURE INDICATOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE ON THE TIRES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REMAINS ILLUMINATED AND DOES NOT DIM. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN DRIVING MORE THAN 40 MPH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. U PDATED 04/24/09. *LJ THE LATCH ON THE BACK DOOR WAS LOOSE. UPDATED 04/29/09.

NHTSA complaint #10263756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I HAVE YOKOHAMA ON MY GRAND VITARA THAT ROARS WHILE DRIVING ,HAD THEM CHECKED FOUND OUT, IT WAS NOT ONLY THE TIRES BUT THE STRUTS AND SHOCKS, NOBODY WANTS TO PAY FOR REPAIRS TRUCK IS 2007 GRAND VITARA WITH LESS THAN 36,000 MILES ,I'M GETTING THE RUN AROUND, THEY ARE PASSING THE BLAME!

NHTSA complaint #10253296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT ON THIS CAR. I HAVE GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF BACK TIRES IN LESS THAN 36,000 MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM... BUT JUST SOMETHING I SHOULD EXPECT WITH THE GRAND VITARA. HE ADVISED THAT THEY DO KNOW THAT THE CAR IS EATING UP BACK TIRES AT A VERY QUICK RATE, BUT THAT SINCE THEY KNOW THIS, THEY NOW EXPECT IT AND THEREFORE IT IS NOT AN ISSUE. I AM NOW REPLACING MY SECOND SET OF TIRES AFTER ONLY 15,000 MILES (MY FIRST SET WAS REPLACED AT 19000). THEY ARE COMPLETELY BARE AND UNSAFE. I AM APPALLED THAT INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE FOR THE SAFETY OF IT'S CUSTOMERS (AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD), THAT INSTEAD SUZUKI IS JUST ADVISING ME TO "DEAL WITH IT". I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT MY TIRES PROPERLY FILLED, CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURE ETC. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY WRONG WITH THIS CAR THAT IT IS MAKING THESE TIRES GO BALD SO QUICKLY.

NHTSA complaint #10250808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

EXCESSIVE REAR TIRE WEAR AT 15,000 MILES, HAS 19,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND THE REAR RIGHT TIRE IS BALD. CALLED SOUTHWEST SUZUKI AND SPOKE TO MR. DOYLE. CLAIMS ITS MY FAULT FOR NOT ROTATING TIRES. FRONT TIRES ARE OK. THIS IS A BOGUS COPOUT. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR OR ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE TIRE WEAR BECAUSE THIS CAR IS NOT ABLE TO ROAST THE TIRES WITH THE ESP SYSTEM. SUZUKI NEEDS TO FIX THIS, I CAN NOT JUSTIFY BUYING TIRES EVERY 15,000 MILES .

NHTSA complaint #10245846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWAY BAR FAILED AND THE CROSS MEMBER WAS EXCESSIVELY RUSTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM A LACK OF RUST RESISTANCE MATERIAL ON THE VEHICLE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE COST. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10226144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

I PURCHASED MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IN 2006 BRAND NEW. WITHIN 15K MILES, THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT, SO I TOOK IT IN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD PUT 2 NEW TIRES ON IT, IF I PURCHASED AND ALIGNMENT, WHICH I DID. NOW AT 33K MILES, MY TIRES ARE WORN OUT AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD CHANGED THE SPECS ON SUZUKI'S ALIGNMENTS, SO NOW MY ALIGNMENT IS OUT DUE TO OLD SPECS. THEY DID OFFER TO PUT 2 NEW TIRES AND ALIGN IT IF WE PURCHASED 2 MORE TIRES @ $380.00. I TOLD THEM I COULD GET TIRES CHEAPER THAN THAT AND THEY PULLED THE OFFER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, AS LONG AS THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT, IT WILL CONTINUE TO EAT MY TIRES OFF. IT IS VERY UNFAIR THAT I HAVE TO GET AN ATTORNEY TO GET SUZUKI TO FIX MY CAR THAT IS UNDER WARRANTY. I KNOW THE TIRES ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE ALIGNMENT IS!!!

NHTSA complaint #10214181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

I PURCHASED MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IN 2006 BRAND NEW. WITHIN 15K MILES, THE TIRES WERE WORN OUT, SO I TOOK IT IN AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD PUT 2 NEW TIRES ON IT, IF I PURCHASED AND ALIGNMENT, WHICH I DID. NOW AT 33K MILES, MY TIRES ARE WORN OUT AGAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD CHANGED THE SPECS ON SUZUKI'S ALIGNMENTS, SO NOW MY ALIGNMENT IS OUT DUE TO OLD SPECS. THEY DID OFFER TO PUT 2 NEW TIRES AND ALIGN IT IF WE PURCHASED 2 MORE TIRES @ $380.00. I TOLD THEM I COULD GET TIRES CHEAPER THAN THAT AND THEY PULLED THE OFFER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, AS LONG AS THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT, IT WILL CONTINUE TO EAT MY TIRES OFF. IT IS VERY UNFAIR THAT I HAVE TO GET AN ATTORNEY TO GET SUZUKI TO FIX MY CAR THAT IS UNDER WARRANTY. I KNOW THE TIRES ARE NOT UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE ALIGNMENT IS!!!

NHTSA complaint #10214181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

I HAVE VIBRATION WHEN EXITING A PARKING SPACE, OR WHEN I STOP AT A RED LIGHT, AND MAKE A TURN. THE VIBRATION ONLY HAPPENS WHEN TURNING FROM A STOP POSITION. *AK EVERYONE IS TELL ME MY TIRES ARE FLAT. I DONT KNOW WHAT THIS MEAN, THE DEALER SAID, THE VIBRATION IS NORMAL. I HAD CARS ALL MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD A CAR VIBE WHILE TURNING FROM A STOP OR GETTING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE.

NHTSA complaint #10194841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS, AND SHE PROCEEDED. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY. AGAIN THE POPPING NOISE BECAME MORE PROMINENT AFTER APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DISCOVERED NOTHING AT THAT TIME. THE POPPING NOISE CONTINUED ALONG WITH HARD BRAKING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS. THE ENTIRE HARDWARE INCLUDING THE SHOES AND THE DRUMS WERE DESTROYED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK (11/23/05) THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CABLES HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD SELF DESTRUCT.

NHTSA complaint #10140554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

OWNER COMPLAINTS VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING AND PREMATURE WEAR. NUMBER OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEEL LIKE NAILS ON A CHALKBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE ROTORS WERE DUSTY. THE VEHICLE HORN STARTED BLOWING AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE FUSE WAS TAKEN OUT TO STOP THE HORN FROM WORKING. THE TAIL LIGHT BULB WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TEMPRATURE GAUGE WENT FROM COLD TO HOT INSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE NEEDS NEW STRUTS.

NHTSA complaint #10103345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE TENSIONER GOING BAD. THE HUB BEARING AND SENOR ALSO WENT BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10052100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME A DIFFERENT REPAIR WAS MADE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT END WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT WINDOWS WHEN CLOSING THEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10043958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT

DRIVELINE VIBRATION AT OVER 57 MPH. 24,000 MILES. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, ITS NORMAL FOR THAT VEHICLE! LOOKING AT IT ON LIFT FOR A HOUR, CHECKED TIRE PRESSURE, SAYS EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. THERE IS A DRONING TYPE NOISE DEFINITELY DRIVELINE RELATED, ANY PASSENGER WITH THEIR EYES CLOSED CAN TELL WHEN YOU ARE GOING OVER 57 MPH. EITHER DRIVESHAFT PROBLEMS OR TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE,REAR END PROBLEM. ORIGINAL TIRES HYDROPLANING AT 24,000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE TIRES, ALSO ALIGNMENT WAS OFF VEHICLE PULLS TO SIDE. SECOND DEALER ALSO SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10021056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:U-BOLT, LEAF SPRING TO AXLE

WHILE DRIVING AXLE ASSEMBLY SLID OUT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. DEALER CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #10001804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.