FaultScore

Worst years for a Suzuki Sidekick

Owners have filed 298 complaints about the Suzuki Sidekick with NHTSA across model years 1988 to 2000. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.

Avoid

1996 Suzuki Sidekick

81 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly transmission & drivetrain.

Cleanest on record

1993 Suzuki Sidekick

14 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Suzuki Sidekick year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2000 1 0 0 Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1998 D 41 10 1 Airbags
1997 D 52 5 0 Engine & Cooling
1996 D 81 3 3 Transmission & Drivetrain
1995 C 29 4 2 Transmission & Drivetrain
1994 D 32 2 2 Transmission & Drivetrain
1993 C 14 1 1 Electrical System
1992 11 0 0 Brakes
1991 16 0 2 Seat Belts
1990 5 1 0 Seat Belts
1989 15 0 0 Electrical System
1988 1 0 0 Acceleration & Cruise Control

What breaks on a Suzuki Sidekick

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Engine & Cooling 43 14.4%

Worst in 1996

Worst in 1996

Suspension 34 11.4%

Worst in 1996

Brakes 29 9.7%

Worst in 1996

Electrical System 24 8.1%

Worst in 1989

Seat Belts 24 8.1%

Worst in 1991

Airbags 17 5.7%

Worst in 1998

Body & Structure 14 4.7%

Worst in 1995

Fuel & Propulsion 13 4.4%

Worst in 1998

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 12 4.0%

Worst in 1997

Tires 9 3.0%

Worst in 1994

Steering 8 2.7%

Worst in 1997

Seats 7 2.3%

Worst in 1995

Equipment & Accessories 7 2.3%

Worst in 1996

Exactly what failed on a Suzuki Sidekick

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Buckle Assembly 16 16.3%
Gasoline 13 13.3%
Frontal 13 13.3%
Front 12 12.2%
Automatic Transmission 11 11.2%
Clutch Assembly 7 7.1%
Pads 7 7.1%
Engine 7 7.1%
FAN 6 6.1%
Macpherson Strut 6 6.1%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Suzuki Sidekick, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jan 1995 peak 12 Mar 2019

Compare the Suzuki Sidekick

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.