27 of the
148 complaints filed about the Suzuki Vitara
are about the suspension —
18% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
MY SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FAIL WHILE HITTING THE BRAKES ON AN OFFRAMP ON MY 2000 SUZUKI VITARA. MY WHOLE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THE PASSENGER NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL AND AFTER I INSPECTED IT, I FOUND THAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS MOUNTED TO THE CROSSMEMBER, IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PART FOR THE 2000 CHEVY TRACKER WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME VEHICLE. COULD NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE VITARA HOWEVER. I THINK THIS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS COMPONENT IS REPLACED AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE ALSO GOTTEN HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10348381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE SUSPENSION AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY COULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNLESS ANOTHER COMPONENT WAS REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $900. THE RECALL DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE ADDITIONAL REPAIR THAT WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING DRIVEN. THE VIN WAS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE SYSTEM. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10269595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON MY 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CHEVROLET TRACKER, WHICH IS THE SAME CAR HAS HAD A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN!
NHTSA complaint #10238726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER POP'S OUT WHEN IT DONE TO WERE I CAN'T FIND IT, IT HAS BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS IN MY TRAY,AND FLOOR. ALSO THE GAS PEDAL STICK'S WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON IT TO GIVE A VERBAL ACCELERATION TO GET AROUND SOMEONE ETC. THE AIR IN THE TIRE'S ARE ALWAYS GOING DOWN. THE OIL SAYS IT LOW EVERYTIME I LOOK AT IT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE BELT ON THE AC KEEP LOSING AND NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE IT NOW HAS FREEZED UP ON ME. THE RADIO AT 12:00 AM AND PM READS 00. THEN THE MINUTES ONLY DISPLACED. THERE'S A RATTLE UNDER THE CAR, DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS? WHEN I PUT THE 4X4 ON IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING BACK INTO THE REGULAR GEAR. SO REALLY JUST NEEDED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESES PROBLEM'S?
NHTSA complaint #10232727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2001 GRAND VITARA 4 DOOR R235-60-16 TIRES; VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SWERVES SUDDENLY TO THE SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; FORCES CONSTANT CONTROL OF VEHICLE; EXPERIENCED BY AT LEAST 2 OTHER DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE; TIRES REPLACED; ALIGNMENT DONE; NO CHANGE; VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE UNSAFE ON TE HIGHWAY; IF TIRES ENCOUNTER AN IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD SUCH AS AN INDENTATION WHERE THE ASPHALT MEETS, IT WILL HIT THAT SPOT AND JUMP TO THE SIDE; SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS; REPORTED TO DEALER WHO SAID THERE IS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY; HOWEVER, IT APPEARDED IN THE LAST YEAR; ACTS AS IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH STEERING MECHANISM; HAD THIS PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE ON A DIFFERNT VEHIVLE & IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN
NHTSA complaint #10066451 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 VITARA HAS LOUD VIBRATION BETWEEN 55 TO 65 MPH. HAVE TO DRIVE BELOW OR ABOVE MPH RANGE TO STOP VIBRATION. SAFETY ISSUE. NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON FILE. FEEL INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED.
NHTSA complaint #10065816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE LOWER CONNECTOR ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. AUTO BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY BOTH FEEL THAT IT WAS INSTALLED WRONG WHICH IS WHY IN SNAPPED. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND SUZUKI WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY CLAMING THAT IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL ERROR. I HAVE THE OTHER HALF OF THE PIECE THAT SNAPPED OFF AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT IT IS A DEFECTED PART.
NHTSA complaint #763348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH FELT A THUMP AND PULLED OVER, GOT OUT. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS ALMOST OFF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM THAT HOLDS WHEEL IN PLACE SNAPPED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8012232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SWERVES AT ANY SPEED, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE, ALIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE AND TIRES WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #8010003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SINCE PURCHASE CAR HAS EXHIBITED SERIOUS VIBRATION THROUGHOUT VEHICLE AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND CRUISE CONTROL UNIT OPERATES ERRATICALLY AFTER A DOWNSHIFT IS REQUIRED-SUZUKI FACTORY REPRESENATIVE ORIGINALLY SAID A NEW TYPE ECM WOULD CORRECT THE CONDITIONS BUT LATER SAID NO SUCH PART EXISTED AFTER THE DEALER HAD ORDERED IT AND WAITED TWO MONTHS FOR IT TO BE DELIVERED AND INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE- SUZUKI SUBSEQUENTLY AUTHORIZED BALANCING THE TIRES, REPLACING THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE, REPLACING THE DRIVESHAFT, AND REPAIRING THE DIFFERENTIAL, AND INSPECTION OF THE FRAME AND CROSSMEMBERS ALL TO NO AVAIL AS THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST AND ARE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE EXPRESSED TO SUZUKI MY CONCERN OF A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIBRATION AND METAL FATIGUE AND COMPONENT FAILURE AND MY CONCERN AS TO THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE AND SUZUKI RESPONDED TO THE DEALERSHIP BY TELEPHONE ON 07/27/01 INSTRUCTING THE DEALER TO MAKE NO REPAIR ATTEMPT AS THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGN AND INTENT". ON THAT SAME DAY ANOTHER SUZUKI VITARA OWNER WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER(TOM COLGLAZIER) AND ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER(STEVE COOK) THAT SUZUKI WOULD AUTHORIZE NO REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO THEIR VEHICLE EITHER. AS SUZUKI IS UNWILLING TO VOLUNTARILY CORRECT THESE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSSUES CONCERNING THEIR VIATRA PRODUCT LINE I FEEL AN INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL ACTION IS WARRANTED.
NHTSA complaint #749240 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE STARTS TO RATTLE AND SHAKE. IT SEEMS AS IF CAR IS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. HAVE BEEN COMPLAING SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE BUT NO RESOLUTION AS OF YET. DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE AND CAR LOOSE CONTROL. WOULD LIKE FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE CRASH. I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE FROM SUZUKI AS OF YET.
NHTSA complaint #748426 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH STEERING WHEEL WILL START VIBRATING. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE OFF ROAD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER HAD REPLACED TIRES TO CORRECT DEFFECT, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.
NHTSA complaint #890060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR TO BE SAFE AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BREAKING DOWN. I T HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN NOT. THE LATEST IS THAT IT STARTED VIBRATING ABOVE THE SPEED OF 45. WHO COULD FEEL SAFE IN A 3 MONTH OLD VEHICLE THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAS THINGS WRONG WITH IT? I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALEER AND THE MANUFACTOER, WHO ASSURE ME THAT THIS IS "PROBABLY THE LAST THING THAT WILL HAPPEN" I WANT TO GET MY $ BACK AND I FORWARN ALL, I AM NOT EXAGGERATING.
NHTSA complaint #718242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE WOULD DRIFT RIGHT LIKE ITS STEERING BY ITSELF. WOULD HIT BUMPS OR ROUGH PATCH IN ROAD & LOSE CONTROL. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK.
NHTSA complaint #848841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST TIME ON OPEN HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50 AND 65 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A VERY BAD SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. MOST OF THE SHIMMY IS GONE BUT, NOW IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY TIME THE CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT. IT HAS ONLY DONE THIS FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY SPEED OR ROAD CONDITIONS. NATURALLY THE TECHNICIAN CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT, IT IS THERE. I STILL FEEL THAT IT IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #716378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.