2004 Suzuki Forenza Owner Complaints

I OWN A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA AND THIS CAR IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. IT OVER HEATS EVERYONE I DRIVE IT WHICH IS DAILY. IT STARTS ONLY WHEN THE MOTOR IS SOMEWHAT COOL. THIS CAT HAS LEFT ME STRANDED MANY TIMES. LIKE AT THE MOMENT THE CAR HAS OVER HEATED AND I'M PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF HWY 26 HEADING TO PORTLAND. I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAT TO MY MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES AND UPON ITS RETURN WITHIN DAYS THE CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING. THE STEERING IS A MESS. THE CAR IS ALL OVER THE ROAD I'VE TAKEN IT TO LESSCHWAB 4 TIMES GOTTEN TWO ALIGNMENTS WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD AND STILL CAR DOESN'T DRIVE RIGHT. I'VE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET,,STARTER,BATTERY,TIRES, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THIS IS NOT AD DEPENDABLE CAR. I'M 60 MILES FROM HOME AND WONDERING HOW I'M GONNA GET BACK HOME. THANK YOU SUZUKI

NHTSA ID

10954448

Incident

Feb 14, 2017

WHILE DRIVING MY SUZUKI FORENZA 2004 IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE AND ALL IN A QUICK SUDDEN COMES TO A QUICK STOP AS THOUGH SOMEONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKES,WHILE ON A MAJOR ROAD WAY. DANGEROUS IM SCARED TO DRIVE THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION I HAVE

NHTSA ID

10927035

Incident

Nov 18, 2016

Mileage

10,876 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE STARTER, BATTERY, AND INSPECTED THE ALTERNATOR; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. ....UPDATED 09/19/16 *BF UPDATED 04/12/17 LJ THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE.*JS *TR

NHTSA ID

10884836

Incident

Oct 1, 2015

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,520. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10775351

Incident

Sep 23, 2015

Mileage

40,520 mi

WHEN INSERTING KEY THE LOOK FELL INSIDE THE DOOR (NOTE: THIS PROBLEM WAS SUBJECT TO AN NHTSA RECALL, BUT MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED)

NHTSA ID

10723452

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

66,700 mi

I BOUGHT MY CAR USED AND IT HAS A NEW TRANNY, CV AXLES AND EVERYTHING THE ONLY THING ORIGINAL IS THE ENGINE. SO I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS TWICE AT $60 EACH. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TPS SENSOR, THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING, IGNITION COIL, BATTERY, STARTER, FUEL PUMP AND ALTERNATOR. ALL BECAUSE I KEPT GETTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON AND THROWING CODING ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND THE CAR STILL STALLS WHEN I STOP AT A STOP LIGHT AND RUNS AND IDLES ROUGH. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1500 FIX THIS PROBLEM AND IT STILL EXISTS I DID ALL THE WORK MYSELF I HAVE WORKED ON CARS MY WHOLE LIFE AND AM A MECHANIC. EVERY MECHANIC I TAKE IT TO CAN BOTH FIND THE PROBLEM AND SUZUKI CAN'T GIVE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10713790

Incident

Apr 30, 2015

Mileage

110,244 mi

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. CHECKED CALLED MECHANIC. DROVE INTO HIS GARAGE. CALLED AROUND FOR PARTS. COULDN'T FIND ANY FOUND SWITCH IN CA. TOOK TIME. NO CAR. REPLACED COMBINATION SWITCH, HEAD LIGHT MODULE. LABOR AND INSTALLED HEAD LIGHT MODULE, COMBINATION SWITCH AND REPAIRED MELTED WIRES. 6 HRS. FOR LABOR $70. HR. TOTAL AMOUNT W/ TAXES $452.03 THIS WAS BEFORE RECALL NOTICE. AND KNOW PARTS TO BE FOUND. MOTHER-IN-LAW SENDING OUT THE INFO. RECEIVED FROM SUZUKI $89.26. NOT WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR.

NHTSA ID

10681255

Incident

Feb 11, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ACTIVATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE AND DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V262000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID

10668268

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

101,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V262000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 4/6/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON MARCH 27, 2015. UPDATED 6/25/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10661995

Incident

Nov 13, 2013

Mileage

91,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REACHED FOR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE AND IT DETACHED IN ITS ENTIRETY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

10660080

Incident

Nov 19, 2014

Mileage

52,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMELLED SMOKE AND NOTICED FIRE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10653510

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER AND AN ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 12V3700000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10653360

Incident

Oct 7, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ABNORMAL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10653267

Incident

Aug 15, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. PAM

NHTSA ID

10630873

Incident

Aug 31, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACTIVATED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V452000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10573787

Incident

Nov 12, 2013

Mileage

75,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER PROVIDED AN INACCURATE READING OF ZERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER RESET INDEPENDENTLY BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEEDS OF OVER 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10560279

Incident

Jan 11, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRES DEFLATED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WHEELS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513765

Incident

May 13, 2009

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 80 MPH BEFORE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE APPROACHED AN INCLINE, SHE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL AND ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A RUBBER PART OF THE GASKET HAD BECOME CORRODED AND FRACTURED INTO THE THROTTLE, CAUSING THE ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 95,000.

NHTSA ID

10480725

Incident

Oct 3, 2012

Mileage

95,000 mi

EXTERIOR LIGHTING IN AUGUST 2011 WENT TO DEALER SHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE FOR THE HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL). SO NOW IT?S JUNE 2012 MY HEADLAMPS AND DRL LIGHTS NOT WORKING. VERY THANKFUL IT DIDN?T GO OUT ON MY WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT I SEEN ME LIGHT LOOK DIFFERENT. WENT TO HAVE BULBS REPLACE LIGHTS STILL NOT WORKING. SO THE PLACE I WAS AT RAN A TEST AND FOUND OUT THAT THE WIRING IS MELTED SO, THEY SIDE THEY DID HAVE A RECALL ON THIS. SO WENT TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE WIRING THAT IS MELTED IS NOT THE SAME WIRING THAT WAS IN THE RECALL FOR MY CAR. WOW REALLY SO NOW I CAN?T DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT. BUT MY HIGH BEAMS WORKS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10462840

Incident

Jun 22, 2012

AS PER THE RECALL ISSUED IN 2007 FOR THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS OF THIS CAR, I WAS TOLD BY THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP IN ASHEVILLE, NC THAT MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BUT MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS STILL DO NOT FUNCTION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10399213

Incident

May 5, 2011

FRONT STRUT MOUNTS & BRAKING SYSTEM ARE BAD ON 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. WENT TO SEVERAL SHOPS TO GET THEM INSPECTED AND EVERY SHOP FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS EVEN TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND A HAZARD TO DRIVE. RESEARCHED AND MANY CONSUMERS ONLINE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THE CAR SHAKES AND THE STRUTS WIGGLE AND HARD TIME BREAKING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10345123

Incident

Jul 21, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

STRUT ASSEMBLY OF VEHICLE HAS AN INCH OF VERTICAL PLAY, HENCE VEHICLE NOT ABLE TO BE ALIGNED. VEHICLE IS 2004 SUZUKI FIRENZA. HAVE ADDRESSED ISSUE WITH 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NONE CAN AGREE ON WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. ONE EVEN STATED THAT WAS NORMAL FOR VEHICLE. CALLED MANUFACTURER IN BREA CA, AND THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. FURTHERMORE I WAS REFUSED THE RIGHT BVTO SPEAK TO MANAGEMENT PERSON. SINCE MY VEHICLE CAN'T BE ALIGN, I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292068

Incident

Oct 21, 2009

Mileage

50,185 mi

I OWN A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD ISSUES WITH THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. I HAVE NOTICED A RECALL LISTED ON THE MODEL I OWN FOR THE PART. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS RECALL. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY SWITCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10292010

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WHEN IT DOES BRAKES DON,T WORK ACTS LIKE ANTI LOCK BAD HAS JUST HARD PEDAL CAR WILL ACCELERATE UNTIL IT DECIDES TO STOP LAST TIME UP TO 105 MPH FOR ABOUT 20 MILES IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE ON HIGH WAY 3-4 TIMES IN CITY TOOK CAR TO DEALER THEY SAID IT COULD BE TRANS CONTROL MODULE OR ENGINE CONTROL MODULE THEY REPLACED TRANS CONTROL MODULE TOLD ME CAR WAS FIXED . I ASKED THEM HOW DO THEY KNOW ITS REALLY FIXED BECAUSE ITS A INTERMITTENT PROBLEM . THEY ASSURED ME ITS FIXED I CALLED SUZUKI TO SEE HOW TO BE ASSURED ITS FIXED BECAUSE MY 17 YR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THE CAR THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT AND LET THEM KNOW IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, SO I THOUGHT WELL LETS SEE IF SOMEONE CAN GET KILLED AND DROVE CAR AS THEY SAID CAR WAS OK FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS WELL MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING CAR AGAIN AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS TIME IN CITY SHE HAD TO RUN 3 RED LIGHTS AND FINALLY GOT CAR TO STOP THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINT PERSON AT SUZUKI TOLD ME THAT IF A SERIOUS INJURY ACCRUED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY WOULD LET THE INSURANCE COMPANY WORK IT OUT, I ASKED SO WHAT DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE ( THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE ). *TR

NHTSA ID

10290886

Incident

Nov 3, 2009

Mileage

57,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 SUZUKI FORENZA AND TOOK IT IN FOR A SAFETY RECALL ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP DID THE RECALL BUT SAID THE WIRES WERE BURNT SO BAD THAT IT AFFECTED THE HIGH BEAM SIDE. NOW THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED, NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK CREATING A BIGGER SAFETY HAZARD THAN BEFORE. THE CAR CANNOT BE DRIVEN AT NIGHT AT ALL . *TR

NHTSA ID

10284392

Incident

Sep 17, 2009

Mileage

91,000 mi