10 of the 63 complaints about the 1999 Suzuki Vitara are about the transmission — 16% of everything reported for this model year.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT EASILY GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10020833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR AXLE BROKE AND TIRE COMPLETELY CAME OFF, CAUSE UNKNOWN. NO COLLISION/ INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #893003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE DATE, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO 5TH GEAR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO COME IN AND ONE WEEK TO REPLACE, WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THAT A RECIEPT WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ONE YEAR LATER WHEN HE OBTAINED A RECIEPT STATING THAT TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND NOT REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES BETWEEN 3-23-2000 AND 3-16-2001 IT BECAOME DIFFUCULT TO DOWN SHIFT INTO 3RD GEARAND IMPOSSIBLE TO GO INTO REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #887679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE RED LIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS A RESULT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #744004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED MORE THAN 30 DAYS AGO & IT ALREADY HAS STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT SHAKES REAL BADLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint #862625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND SKIDDED ON HITTING ICE AND CRASHED. YH
NHTSA complaint #551516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, GRINDS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #720056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE 4 WHEEL DRIVE, INCLUDING THE SHIFTER.
NHTSA complaint #718241 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BUMPY/VIBRATION FELT AT 35+ MPH, SMOOTHS OUT TO SOME DEGREE ABOVE 45 UNTIL YOU REACH 60+. VIBRATION ABOVE 60 FEELS AS IF YOU MAY NOT HAVE STEERING CONTROL. A/C CONTROL LEVER DOES NOT OPEN/CLOSE COMPLETELY. A/C FROZE UNDER DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, WOULD NOT COOL, WATER DISCHARGED INTO FLOOR BOARD. DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COOL INTERIOR IN DIRECT SUN WITH TEMPTS. ABOVE 85. GEAR SHIFTER SOMETIMES (SPORADIC) JAMS - PROBLEM APPEARS TO DEAL WITH 2ND GEAR (SOMETIMES 1ST TO 2ND OR 3RD TO 2ND). WHEN IT JAMS IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS HITTING RUBBER (NO NOISE) AND YOU HAVE TO FORCE SHIFTER INTO PLACE. I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND RELEASE AND REPRESS CLUTCH AND MOVE SHIFTER AROUND ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL. IT DOES HAPPEN SPORADICALLY, CAN MOST OFTEN BE FORCED INTO GEAR AT THIS TIME, SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO SERVICE DEPT. 2 TIRES REPLACED (FLAT SPOTS), ROTATION, SPIN BALANCE, AND ALIGNMENT HAVE BEEN CHECKED. VIBRATION STILL RECURRING PROBLEM. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT. REPLACED CONTROL SWITCH AND LEVER AFTER FREEZE UP OF A/C. REPLACED A RESISTOR AFTER 2ND EPOSIDE OF WATER IN FLOOR. STILL DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY.( DOT NUMBER: )
NHTSA complaint #710817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR THE SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN THE NEUTRAL GATE BETWEEN 5TH AND REVERSE, OTHER TIMES EXCESSIVE FORCE USED TO ENGAGE LOWER GEAR. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.