A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Feb 1995peak 4Jul 2001
NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Suzuki Samurai
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA95006Opened 10 Mar 1995Closed 2 Aug 1995SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE
DP88019Opened 2 Aug 1988Closed 1 Sep 1988SUSPENSION
VEHICLE STABILITY
VEHICLE STABILITY
DP88011Opened 25 Feb 1988Closed 1 Sep 1988SUSPENSION
ROLLOVER
ROLLOVER
Recalls on the 1988 Suzuki Samurai
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199511644,844 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
THE (Takata) ABS PLASTIC FRONT SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTONS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY BREAK ALLOWING PLASTIC PIECES TO FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, A NO LATCH, FALSE LATCH OR FAILURE TO UNLATCH CONDITION COULD OCCUR CREATING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SUDDEN STOP. CORRECTION: FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES WILL BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
Recall 19881711,433 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
CERTAIN VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 101 - CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Pacifica, CACrash1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE, P205/70R15, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT TIRE, MILAGE UNKNOWN ON A 1988, SUZUKI, SAMURAI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HEARD A NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL, SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND HIT A TREE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN. NO INJURIES. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, A 2 1/2 FEET LONG PIECE OF TREAD CAME OFF, TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. *AK TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE, CONVERTIBLE TOP AND REAR TIRE, DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK/NECK PAIN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #893013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dupont, PACrash1 injured
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER IN ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR STABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #509604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, MSCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DURING IMPACT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #981257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belton, MOCrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN REAR ENDED THE SEAT BACKS BROKE AND CAUSED FURTHER INJURIES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #975539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plympton, MACrash
STEERING
TRAVELING ON RAMP HIT CURB LOST CONTROL VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN THE AIR. TT
NHTSA complaint #964411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado SPR, COCrash2 injured
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TRUCK FLIPPED OVER GOING 35 MPH AND IT ALSO HAS SPUN AROUND. TT
NHTSA complaint #964339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Pacifica, CACrash1 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BRIDGESTONE, P205/70R15, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT TIRE, MILAGE UNKNOWN ON A 1988, SUZUKI, SAMURAI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HEARD A NOISE. THEN, VEHICLE STARTED TO FISHTAIL, SPUN AROUND 180 DEGREES AND HIT A TREE. DAMAGE TO VEHICLE UNKNOWN. NO INJURIES. REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION, A 2 1/2 FEET LONG PIECE OF TREAD CAME OFF, TIRE WAS NOT FLAT. *AK TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE, CONVERTIBLE TOP AND REAR TIRE, DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK/NECK PAIN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #893013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #733390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE POOR DESIGN OF THE DOOR HANDLES RESULTED IN THREE BROKEN HANDLES (TWO INSIDE AND ONE OUTSIDE).
NHTSA complaint #534122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hayward, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT RETAINING BOLT SNAPPED OFF TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #519108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILL NOT RETRACT THE BELT, AND WILL NOT RESTRAIN THE DRIVER IN CASE OF A VEHICLE COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #815017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RECALL #95V103 SEAT BELT BUCKLE: RECEIVED NOTICE IN OCT. OF 96 CALLED TO TAKE VEHICLE IN AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE TOO BUSY. MADE AN APPOINTMENT IN NOVEMBER 1996 AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE THREE TO FOUR DAYS BEFORE THEY COULD GET TO IT. VEHICLE STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #810409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dupont, PACrash1 injured
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER IN ACCIDENT DUE TO POOR STABILITY.
NHTSA complaint #509604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Uhrichsvil, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #490542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tempe, AZ
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FAILURE OF THE REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT.
NHTSA complaint #983358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, MSCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DURING IMPACT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #981257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rochester, NY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTORS HAVE FAILED, REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT COME OUT OF HOUSING,
NHTSA complaint #981254 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chicargo, IL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING CAR WAS OVERHEATING SO HE PULLED OVER CHECKED THE CAR AND OIL WAS COMING OUT. LATER HE FOUND OUT A BOLT HAD COME LOSE AND ONE FELT OUT.
NHTSA complaint #981087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Irwin, PA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT RELEASE. *DSH
NHTSA complaint #501073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belton, MOCrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN REAR ENDED THE SEAT BACKS BROKE AND CAUSED FURTHER INJURIES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #975539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Saint Louis, MO
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE AND WAS REPLACED. TT
NHTSA complaint #970518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aberdeen, SD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKE . TT
NHTSA complaint #969946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plympton, MACrash
STEERING
TRAVELING ON RAMP HIT CURB LOST CONTROL VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN THE AIR. TT
NHTSA complaint #964411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado SPR, COCrash2 injured
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TRUCK FLIPPED OVER GOING 35 MPH AND IT ALSO HAS SPUN AROUND. TT
NHTSA complaint #964339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Colorado SPR, COCrash2 injured
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
FRAME IS TO SMALL.
NHTSA complaint #964339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burlington, KY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
FRONT COMBINATION SHOULDER/LAP BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AS INTENDED; DIFFICULTY PULLING BELT OUT; SOMETIMES WILL NOT RETRACT; HOLDS TIGHTER THAN NORMAL; HANGS LOOSE
NHTSA complaint #963705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portage, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
FRONT SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTION, TAKATA SEAT BELTS. TT
NHTSA complaint #960767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.