1999 Suzuki Esteem Owner Complaints

MY 99 ESTEEM STARED PULLING TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT HOME THE WHEEL WOULD RUB ON THE INNER FENDER WELL WHEN TURNING. UPON INSPECTION WHEN I GOT HOME I FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH ON TOP AND OUTER SIDES WITH ONLY THE INSIDE PORTION INTACT. THIS PART HAD BENT ALLOWING MY WHEEL TO CHANGE POSITION. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE WHILE THIS SECTION HAS RUSTED AWAY. THANKFULLY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR THAT I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE BROKEN AND CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL, ENDING IN INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES NOT ONLY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF MY VEHICLE BUT TO OTHER CARS IN MY VICINITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON ON THIS VEHICLE AN SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MERITS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR *KB

NHTSA ID

10446634

Incident

Jan 29, 2012

Mileage

149,000 mi

SUB FRAME OF 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM HAD RUSTED THRU .I WAS DRIVING AT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SUB FRAME CRACKED AND PUSHED THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BACK AGAINST THE FENDER CAUSED THE FRONT TIRE TO LOCK UP WHICH CAUSED ME TO WRECK. I SPOKE WITH SUZUKI AND GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT PART WAS ON RECALL AND TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED IN AND THEY WOULD FIX THAT PART. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED 3 MONTHS EARLIER. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED AND WAS ALSO WONDERING HOW A RECALL ON A SAFETY ISSUE COULD EXPIRE. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON FORUMS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS ALWAYS THE PASSENGER SIDE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419916

Incident

Aug 15, 2011

Mileage

83,532 mi

THE OUTSIDE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLES BREAK INSIDE THE DOOR WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. THEN TO ENTER THE CAR ANOTHER DOOR MUST BE USED. THESE HANDLES ARE VERY WEAK, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. I HAVE REPLACED FOUR ON THE DRIVERSIDE FRONT DOOR, TWO ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT DOOR, AND ONE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE REAR DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314822

Incident

Feb 7, 2010

Mileage

35,000 mi

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION OF 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM GLX WAGON I HAVE THIS VEHICLE AND RUNNING OK FOR 5 YEARS. WHEN I DID MY ANNUAL CHECK UP THIS WEEKEND, IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS BEEN RUST-THROUGH AND FORMED A CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS. BY VISUAL INSPECTION, THIS MEMBER IS HIGHLY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER PARTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DID MY INSPECTION WAS SURPRISED THAT I WAS STILL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IF I HIT A POTHOLE ON THE ROAD AND THIS SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER COULD EASILY BREAK AND WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I COULD BE KILLED. I DID A LITTLE SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN SIMILAR MODELS OF SUZUKI VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIES ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIES INJURIES AND FATALITIES NOT ONLY OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND OUT OF THIS ISSUE IF I HADN'T DONE THE ANNUAL CHECK UP. A SIMILAR CORROSION PROBLEM WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 1999-2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER AND GM INITIATED A RECALL ON THIS. I WILL TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT BUT I FEEL I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO LET OTHER OWNER KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY SAVE SOME LIVES. THANK YOU. WEI TU *TR

NHTSA ID

10248931

Incident

Nov 15, 2008

Mileage

90,302 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT AND PRODUCED A RUBBING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON ARRIVING AT THE MECHANIC SHOP THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THAT A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKING AND MAY HAVE RUSTED THROUGH THE VEHICLE'S FRAME. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 130,000.*AK THE CONSUMER HAS INCLUDED PICTURES OF THE FRAME DAMAGES. UPDATE 5/3/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10187453

Incident

Apr 5, 2007

Mileage

130,000 mi

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MPH; BRAKES WERE APPLIED HARD; SUBFRAME (PART THAT ALL BALL JOINTS AND SUSPENSION ARMS BOLTS INTO) COLLAPSED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE CAUSING WHEEL TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND SEVERELY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. (WHEN MEASURED, THE PASSENGER WHEEL WAS +/-1-1/2" CLOSER TO THE REAR OF INNER FENDER, AND WOULD GRIND ONTO THE INNER FENDER. THE PART WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE OLD PART WAS RUSTED THROUGH AT SEVERAL POINTS. THE OLD PART IS IN MY POSSESSION AND PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147496

Incident

Dec 24, 2005

Mileage

99,980 mi

I OWN A 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM, 55,000 MILES, CAR IS KEPT IN A GARAGE. MY SUB FRAME RUSTED IN HALF AND BROKE. THE AAA PERSON THAT TOWED THE CAR, 2 MECHANICS, AND EVERY MALE I HAVE TOLD ARE APPALLED THAT THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. MY MECHANIC CALLED FRED MARTINS SUZUKI, WHERE IS WAS PURCHASED, AND SPOKE TO THE MECHANIC THERE. HE WAS TOLD 3 SUBFRAMES HAD BEEN FIXED DURING THE MONTH OF JULY, BUT NO RECALL WAS MADE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ONE OF THE STRONGEST PARTS OF THE CAR. FRED MARTIN SUZUKI HAS INFORMED ME THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE , AFTER ALL THE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD, NOT UNDER WARRANTY, ETC. DO I HAVE A LEGITIMATE COMPLAINT, SEEING AS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT HAD IT BROKEN WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IS THIS SOMETHING TO BE EXPECTED OF A SIX YEAR OLD CAR? THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $1,100. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR, BUT HAVEN'T THE OPTION OF BUYING A NEW ONE AT THIS TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID

10133020

Incident

Jul 16, 2005

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE POWER WINDOWS ARE VERY SLOW GOING UP AND DOWN. FIRST STARTED ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BUT IS NOW ALL WINDOWS. HAD IT INTO SHOP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY JUST GREASED THEM AND THEY WORK BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS. ALSO, AIRBAG NEVER OPENED DURING COLLISION A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT SLIGHTLY OPENED UP ON ONE SIDE AND THE COVER IS SLIGHTLY RAISED ON ONE SIDE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045330

Incident

Nov 20, 2002

1999, SUZUKI, ESTEEM WAGON TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 33,000 MILES 05-09-2002, SUZUKI REPAIRED IT FREE OF CHARGE, EVEN THOUGH WARRANTY EXPIRED 2 MONTHS EARLIER. CURRENTLY, AT 48,000 MILES IT HAS STARTED MAKING THE SAME NOISES AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS PARKED TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO CONSUMER THAT THE FIRST TIME IT DID THIS WAS BECAUSE INTERNAL TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF INSIDE HOLDING PLATE, CAUSING GEARS AND BEARINGS TO MALFUNCTION DUE TO DEBRIS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042919

Incident

Oct 9, 2003

Mileage

48,000 mi

THE 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM I PURCHASED STARTED HAVIN G TROU BLE KEEPING UP SPEED ON 5-29-02,THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT, UNTIL A MONTH LATER WHEN I WENT BACK UP THERE AGAIN. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS HTAT THERE IS SEALANT ON THE #1 PLUG, AND ALL THEY SAY IS WRONG WITH IT IS THE #1 FUEL INJECTOR,WHICH THEY WANT $500.00 TO PUT IT IN.IVE HAD AT LEAST 3 OTHER MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, OR THE HEAD IS CRACKED ON THE CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM REFUSED TO CHECK IT OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

765259

Incident

May 29, 2002

CONSUMER NOTICE OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDING STOPPING. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID

8014794

VEHICLE STALLED AT 20 MPH. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013894

Incident

Jul 3, 2002

WHILE DRIVING FRONT DRIVER'S WHEEL STARTED SHAKING, AND VEHICLE STOPPED. *AK

NHTSA ID

878751

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT SOME ADDITIONAL DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ELBOCLJ129 TIRESIZE: P185/60R14)

NHTSA ID

738467

Incident

Oct 16, 2000

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE BRAKES ARE CONSTANTLY SQUEALING, THE ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED AND THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE SQUEALING STILL OCCURS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

557818

Incident

Oct 24, 2000

WHEN DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH. CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

868729

LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. DEALERS ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR HAVE BEEN COMICAL FROM SENSORS IN THE FUEL TANK TO THE GAS CAP. THIS HAS RECURRED OVER 5 TIMES BEGINNING ONE WEEK AFTER TAKING DELIVERY. WE HAVE BEGUN THE PROCESS TO FILE LEMON LAW. IT HAS COME TO OUR KNOWLEDGE THAT SEVERAL OTHER CARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN BOUGHT BACK BY SUZUKI. *AK

NHTSA ID

714855

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT 20MPH VEHICLE KEPT GOING, REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

849592

WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON JUNE 13, 1999 AND AFTER TWO WEEKS NOTICED DROPS OF OIL IN DRIVEWAY, THE PROBLEM WASN'T VERY NOTICEABLE AT FIRST THAN AROUND 5 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VECHICLE NOTICED MORE OIL BUT BIGGER DROPS AND UNDER THE HOOD OIL THAT HAD BEEN SPRAYING OVER THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE VECHICLE IN ON JULY 28, 1999 TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS SHOWN TO BE A CRACKED GASKET COVER . THE VECHILE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 1 WHOLE WEEK . WE PICKED UP THE VECHICLE WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VECHICLE WAS CHECKED OVER AND REPAIRED ON AUG 4TH 1999. ON FRIDAY TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP OUR VECHICLE WE NOTICED OIL ON THE DRIVEWAA Y AGAIN. TODAY WHICH IS SATURDAY AUGUST 7, WE ARE LOSING OIL BUT MORE AS A DRIP INSTEAD OF JUST A FFEW DROPS. UNDER THE HOOD THERE IS A POOL OF OIL AROUND THE BASE OF THE ENGINE AND AROUND THE SPARK PLUGS. WE FEEL VERY FRAUSTRATED AS WE THOUGHT WE PURCHASED A RELIABLE VECHICLE. ON MONDAY AUGUST 9, WE WILL BE TAKING THE VECHICLE BACK IN TO THE DEALER. NOT ONLY HAS THIS BEEN A INCONVIENCE AS WE NEED THE VECHICLE TO GO TO WORK BUT WE FEEL WE HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON.

NHTSA ID

709722

Incident

Jul 28, 1999

HAD RESISTANT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD SHIFTED INTO DRIVE & TAPPED ACCELERATOR PEDAL & IT BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INSIDE THE GARAGE & HIT A PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

843773

Incident

Jun 7, 1999