RoadVitals

2001 Suzuki Esteem Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest May 29, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
48%
of 21 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Suzuki Esteem submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureSuspension
Filed May 29, 2014

HUSBAND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT TIRE GAVE WAY AND BENT IN FROM FRAME. TOOK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 129,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SHAME ON SUZUKI FOR PRODUCING INFERIOR CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFELY ISSUE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10594844
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
Mileage
129,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 16, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 199,000.

NHTSA ID
10458674
Incident
Apr 25, 2012
Mileage
199,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 26, 2011

BOUGHT A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM IN APRIL OF 2011 CAR LOT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SMALL BRACKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY MOTOR AND NEED TO BE REPLACE ASAP HERE TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE WHOLE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE MOTOR AND TRASMISSION FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SUZUKI RECALL ON THAT PART. TOOK THE CAR TO SUZUKI DEALER THE SERVICE GUY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A MODIFICATION DONE TO THE SUBFRAME IT SELF AND THAT IT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME TO HELP SUPPORT IT WHILE WAITING FOR A RECALL SUZUKI DEALER CALLED ME AND SAID SUZUKI CANNOT DO RECALL DUE TO THE MODIFICATION THAT WAS MADE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ID
10432914
Incident
Oct 26, 2011
Body & structure
Filed May 12, 2011

CROSS MEMBER RECALL WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ROTTED OUT CONTROL ARMS THAT WERE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ROTTED OUT CROSS MEMBER? *TR

NHTSA ID
10400665
Incident
Oct 22, 2010
Mileage
138,800 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jul 21, 2010

2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. STEERING WAS SUDDENLY OFF CENTER SO I HAD AN ALIGNMENT COMPLETED WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY OFF CENTER AGAIN. A FEW BLOCKS FURTHER (I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT THE TIME, AT SLOW SPEEDS) THE FRONT PASSENGER SUB-FRAME BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL TO SLOPE AND THE SUSPENSION TO PULL OUT FROM THE TRANSMISSION, IMMEDIATELY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM SURE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURS AS I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH AND BREAKING. WHILE THERE WERE SMALL RUST SPOTS ON THE BOTTOM OF ONE OF THE DOORS, THE CAR WAS NOT AT ALL RUSTY. DUE TO EXPENSE TO REPAIR, I SOLD THE CAR TO THE HORSEHEADS, NY PICK-A-PART USED CAR PARTS LOT AND PURCHASED A NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344528
Incident
Jul 4, 2010
Mileage
110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 24, 2010

1) DRIVING FROM ALABAMA TO OHIO - ALIGNMENT FELT "OFF" 2) FRAME RUSTED AND DROPPED NEAR RIGHT-FRONT WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING/TURNING 5 MPH IN PARKING LOT 3) JUNK CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10339934
Incident
Jun 17, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 1, 2009

2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM FRONT RIGHT WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST INSIDE FENDER CAR PULLING TO RIGHT K FRAME CROSSMEMBER ROTTED PART REPLACED BY SUZUKI DEALER OLD PART IS AVAILABLE PART AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10285996
Incident
Aug 29, 2009
Mileage
123,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Feb 25, 2009

FRONT SUBFRAME ON A 2001 SUZUKI, ESTEEM CRACKED. CALL SUZUKI DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. WHICH I THINK THERE SHOULD BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS NOT THAT OLD TO HAVE DOES KIND OF PROBLEMS. PART AND LABOR WILL BE REALLY EXPENSIVE CLOSE TO A $1,000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. WHEN I TALKED TO THE PERSON IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT, TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE SAME PART FOR REPAIR LATELY, THIS IS WHY I THINK IS A RECALL ISSUE AND SUZUKI SHOULD WARRANTY THIS KIND OF PARTS THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOR A REALLY LONG TIME I SUPPOSE. PLEASE HELP!!!!! I STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE CAR BECAUSE OF COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259958
Incident
Feb 17, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Sep 12, 2008

2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON FRONT CROSS MEMBER FRAME RUSTED OUT. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NJ

NHTSA ID
10242615
Incident
Aug 1, 2008
Body & structure
Filed Jan 9, 2006

2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM LOST THE FRONT GRILL. *TS *JB

NHTSA ID
10147581
Incident
Nov 27, 2005

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .