RoadVitals

2009 Suzuki Equator

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Sep 23, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 1, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Suzuki Equator, most frequently naming the airbags, fuel system and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags240.0%
  • Fuel system240.0%
  • Driver assistance120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10V392000

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Sep 1, 2010
20,692 units potentially affected
The defect: SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.Manufacturer number SJView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Sep 23, 2016

UPDATED VIN FOR COMPLAINT OF 6/21/16 ID NUMBER: 10875514 I NEED TO BE ON RECORD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING(CURRENT MILES 52639). I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM CAN BE TRACED TO THE RIGHT CRASH ZONE SENSOR. THERE WAS A SIMILAR SAFETY RECALL FOR NISSAN FRONTIER ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2008. NISSAN BUILT THE EQUATOR TRUCK FOR SUZUKI. AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTORS IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND DECLARED BANKRUPTCY. I EXPECT PROPER HANDLING OF THIS REPAIR BY SUZUKI. THERE WERE A LIMITED NUMBER OF THESE UNITS SOLD AND I AM CONCERNED NHTSA IS NOT RESPONDING.

NHTSA ID
10909366
Incident
May 25, 2016
Mileage
49,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 21, 2016

NO ACCIDENT, SRS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AT MILEAGE 49,000 APPROXIMATE. NO RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ABOUT POSSIBLE CORROSION ON FRONT SENSOR DUE TO ROAD SALT. ORIGINAL OWNER LIVES IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT BY NISSAN FOR SUZUKI (NOW OUT OF BUSINESS IN UNITED STATES) AND DESIGN IS SIMILAR TO FRONTIER PICKUP.

NHTSA ID
10875514
Incident
May 25, 2016
Mileage
49,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 26, 2012

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THERE WERE NO BOLTS OR SCREWS OR ANCHORS TO HOLD THE RUBBER INLET IN PLACE IN THE NECK OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED HE EMAILED THE DEALER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000. DT

NHTSA ID
10477139
Incident
Sep 12, 2012
Mileage
59,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 15, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO NOTIFIED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THE FLOOR MATS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,666 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ID
10419497
Incident
Aug 11, 2011
Mileage
22,666 mi
Fuel system
Filed Mar 4, 2010

THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE GAS TANK GETS TO 3/4 FULL. FILL IT UP AND IT GOES OFF. BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE (WITH SERVICE LIGHT ON), WAS TOLD IT WAS GAS CAP NOT SEALING RIGHT (THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM ALOT - SERVICE MANAGER SAID). INSTRUCTED TO FILL UP WITH GAS, DON'T OVER FILL, TIGHTEN CAP TILL IT CLICKS SEVERAL TIMES. DID WHAT WAS INSTRUCTED, BUT STILL PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10316661
Incident
Oct 1, 2009
Mileage
350 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SUZ_016008

STRUCTURE; SUSPENSION

Reminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension and related parts that could be caused by road salt or other chemicals applied to the roadway.

DOR-M3J3F-07

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.

DOR-M9J4S-07

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.

N-Q-G-045

EQUIPMENT; SUSPENSION

This Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki automobile distributors in the U.S., explaining the importance of proper inspection and maintenance of suspension lower arm ball joints to prevent the ball stud from becoming separated from the suspension lower arm.

SC-75R

AIR BAGS

This is a revised version of a previously-issued bulletin providing Suzuki Service Providers with details of a customer satisfaction Service Campaign to reprogram the Airbag Control Unit on affected vehicles. The revised bulletin contains programming error code diagnostics to assist the technician in resolving programming difficulties.

SC-75

AIR BAGS

This Service Campaign Bulletin explains to dealers the details of a customer satisfaction service campaign to reprogram the Airbag Control Unit (ACU) on affected vehicles. The ACU software could allow an unintended deployment of the side curtain airbags under certain driving conditions. These driving conditions typically include vehicle operation on unpaved roads or off-road areas where one side of the vehicle is higher than the other. Attached to the bulletin is a copy of the letter that was sent to known owners of affected vehicles explaining the customer satisfaction service campaign.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Suzuki Equator by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000—
2012120—
2011210—
2010730—
2009Viewing510—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.