2006 Suzuki Forenza Owner Complaints

ON MARCH 6TH 2018 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A VOLKSWAGEN GTI I WAS SITTING IN THE LEFT TURN LANE IN THE INTERSECTION WAITING FOR TRAFFIC TO CLEAR SO I COULD PROCEED WHEN I DID I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR ON A CITY STREET WHEN A RED LIGHT RUNNER OF COURSE RAN THE RED LIGHT AND PLOWED INTO ME GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AN HOUR . ON IMPACT THE SEATBELT FAILED TO DO WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. INSTEAD IT IMMEDIATELY UNLATCHED WHICH IN TURN CAUSED ME TO BE THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR, THE DASH AND THE BACK SEAT.

NHTSA ID

11186946

Incident

Mar 6, 2019

Mileage

82,000 mi

IBA EN MI VEHICULO ANDANDO DE NOCHE CON LAS LUCES PRENDIDAS Y DERREPENTE SE PRENDIERON LAS LUCES ALTAS SIN QUE YO HCIERA NADA DESDE ESE MOMENTO PARECIERA QUE HICIERA UN CORTO LA LUZ Y SE PONEN ALTAS Y VUELVEN NORMAL MIENTRAS VOY CONDUCIENDO ADICIONAL LA PARTE DEL TABLERO SE ESTA RECALENTANDO MUCHO NO SE SI ES POR LA MISMA RAZON

NHTSA ID

11176099

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11151485

Incident

Nov 2, 2018

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL SHOW UP. I LOSE ALL CONTROL OF SPEED EVEN WHILE PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL IN. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN CONTROL IS TO CYCLE THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES AND LET IT IDLE IN NEUTRAL FOR FIVE MINUTES. AFTER I REGAIN CONTROL THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL ON, AND THE CAR WILL JUMP REVOLUTIONS RANDOMLY. THIS WILL OCCUR ON BOTH CITY AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT DOESN'T ACT UP UNLESS I'M IN MOTION DRIVING. IT WILL REV I'N REVOLUTIONS WHILE I'M DRIVING OR AT A STOP.

NHTSA ID

11096941

Incident

Apr 16, 2017

Mileage

86,000 mi

THE VEHICLE IS UNDER A RECALL CAMPAIGN (XA-XC) FOR DRL MODULE/IGNITION SWITCH REPLACEMENT. THE OWNER IS PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE PERFORMED (HE IS PROHIBITED BY HIS PHYSICIAN TO DRIVE SUCH LONG DISTANCES). SUZUKI WILL NOT ALLOW ANY OTHER FACILITY, NO MATTER HOW WELL QUALIFIED, TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. SUZUKI OFFERS NO SOLUTION - LIKE OFFERING TO TOW THE VEHICLE - ASIDE FROM AN OFFER TO REIMBURSE FOR FUEL. I AM A NEIGHBOR AND CAN ATTEST TO THE OWNER'S PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS (HE HAD A STROKE). HE IS ALSO ELDERLY AND FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY - SO HIS COMPREHENSION OF THE ISSUE IS LIMITED. HE'S WORRIED THE CAR ISN'T RELIABLE ENOUGH FOR HIS DAILY TRIPS TO HIS DOCTOR AND VOICED WORRY ABOUT HIS OPTIONS TO GET IT FIXED. IT IS MY HOPE THE INTERVENTION OF SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA MIGHT SWAY SUZUKI TO OFFER A VARIANCE FROM THEIR POLICY - SO THEY WOULD OFFER TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO AND FROM THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED (SINCE I WAS TOLD A DEALER MUST BE THE ONES PERFORMING THE REPAIR).

NHTSA ID

11054220

Incident

Dec 12, 2017

I STARTED MY CAR AND A FEW SECONDS LATER THE AIRBAG IN THE DRIVER SEAT WENT OFF AND THE AIRBAG HIT ME. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY.

NHTSA ID

11014858

Incident

Aug 9, 2017

Mileage

98,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10980912

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE LIGHT FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEAD LAMP BUT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V397000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10967935

Incident

Mar 1, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISING TO THE RIGHT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS 113,164.

NHTSA ID

10956021

Incident

Feb 17, 2017

Mileage

113,164 mi

TAKATA RECALL: AND, DEFECTIVE FUEL PROPULSION AS THE CAR REVES UP SOME TIMES WHEN GOING AND SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF WHEN TRAVELING CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. 2). CAMPAIGN ID.# 14 V262000 AND 3.)12V397000 . I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT THE COMPANY BUT I KEEP GETTING A MESSAGE THAT I CALLED OUT OF SERVICE TIME AND TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. ONLY TO GET A AUTOMATED MESSAGE THAT SAYS THE SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING. I DO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS PRODUCT CAR, LIKE THE TAKATA AIR BAGS.

NHTSA ID

10920445

Incident

Oct 15, 2016

Mileage

150,000 mi

VEHICLE SPORADICALLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING, NOT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN BUT WHILE THE CAR IS ACTIVELY BEING DRIVEN AND THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. MOST RECENTLY IT HAS BEGUN TO REV UP BETWEEN 4,000 AND 5,000 RPM. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO TRY TO GET IT BACK TO NORMAL. 2 DAYS AGO WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT CAUSED ME TO HIT A POT HOLE HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK MY DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. I SEE RECALLS FOR OTHER, SAME YEAR MODEL SUZUKIS THAT EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR A KNOWN MECHANICAL DEFECT. THERE IS ALSO AN NHTSA ID DESCRIBING THIS ISSUE AS WELL. IT IS EXTREMELY SCARY TO HAVE THE CAR REVING THAT HIGH AND TRYING TO CONTROL IT. I AM THANKFUL THAT I ONLY HIT A POT HOLE AND NOT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WORSE.

NHTSA ID

10910619

Incident

Sep 27, 2016

Mileage

119,000 mi

WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR IN EITHER REVERSE OR DRIVE, THERE IS A LOUD THUNK AND JUMPING FEELING. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN 'X' ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEXT TO THE 'D' FOR DRIVE ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR. I HAVE RESEARCHED WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE AND IT IS THE THE RANGE TRANSMISSION SENSOR, IT APPEARS AFTER RESEARCHING THIS IS A VERY CHRONIC PROBLEM IN THE SUZUKI FORENZA.

NHTSA ID

10903791

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

ONE OF MY CHILDREN WAS BUCKLED IN THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. MY CHILD TIGHTENED HIS SEAT BELT, AND THE BUCKLE DETACHED FROM THE FABRIC. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, MY CAR HAS ALMOST 57K ON IT. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN AND IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED ASAP! THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN WAY WORSE! THANK GOD I WAS NOT DRIVING OR IN A ACCIDENT!

NHTSA ID

10903352

Incident

Aug 31, 2016

Mileage

57,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM, HIGH BEAM, AND DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI-FUNCTION LIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V262000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 12V397000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10885814

Incident

May 9, 2016

SUZUKI HAS NEVER SENT ME A RECALL NOTICE: 2016 EXPLANATION- THEY ARE ONLY GOING BY EACH STATE'S VEHICLE OWNER RECORDED ADDRESS. I/ MY CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME LISTED ADDRESS SINCE PURCHASE. SUZUKI ON NIHTSA SHOWS 4 RECALLS; FORENZA ENGINE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT THERE. WHAT ELSE IS MISSING? ORIGINAL FORENZA OWNER, UNDER 47,000 MILES. REPEATEDLY, WARNING LITES CAME ON WITH OVERHEAT. OCT.2006 ENGINE STALLED AT 35MPH IN INTERSECTION; WITH MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS SUZUKI, AWARE OF EWH FAILURE, FAILS TO DO A FOENZA ENGINE WIRING HARNESS RECALL. I SEE THE SAME SYMPTOM COMPLAINTS BY OTHER FORENZA OWNERS. TOOK 3 CAR STALLINGS BEFORE DIAGNOSIS MADE & ENGINE WIRING HARNESS REPLACED. FROM OCT.2006 COMPLAINED OF "OLD CAR CREAKING/RUFF SUSPENSION" NOISES/BOUNCING GOING OVER ANY SPEED BUMPS OR ROLLING STREETS. SUZUKI REPLACED SOME DAMAGED BUSHINGS BUT NOISES/BAD SUSPENSION RETURNED; I CONTINUED COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND SUZUKI, & PAID FOR SEVERAL WHEEL ALLIGNMENTS. WITHOUT INFORMING ME, SUZUKI THE DEALER MECHANIC, AGAIN CHECKING ON MY COMPLAINT, NOTES "CRACKED STRUTS" ABOUT 1 MONTH AFTER MY 3YR FULL WARANTY EXPIRED. 2012, I LEARNED OF THE "OLD CAR SYMPTOM" SUSPENSION DAMAGE FROM A NON-SUZUKI MECHANIC REVIEWING THE CAR REPAIR HISTORY. THERE IS NOW A SUSPENSION SYSTEM CORROSION FAIURE RECALL FOR 2006 VITARAS BUT NOT FORENZAS; SAME YEAR VITARA AND FORENZA PROBLEMS SEEM ASSOCIATED ISSUES. 2006, SUZUKI RECALLS FOR OVERHEAT/FIRE IGNITION FROM HEADLIGHTS/ELECTRICAL SWTICHS ARE 2 OF 4 RECALLS LISTED WITH NIHTSA. 2007-2015, I COMPLAINED TO SUZUKI OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS (MULTIPLE FAILED BATTERIES, ELECTRICAL BURNING ODORS, LIGHT SHORTS...) SUZUKI DESCRIBES AS HIGH PRIORITY FOR REPAIR OF HEADLIGHT/ELECTRICAL SWITCH. ME, UNAWARE OF RECALLS, SUZUKI DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY!! MY A/C AIR SYSTEM, RADIO, AND RARELY USED DRIVER WINDOW SHORTED AFTER EPISODES OF BATTERY FAILURES IN 45MPH CITY TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10864598

Incident

Oct 1, 2006

Mileage

100 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED (3 TIMES AT STOP LIGHTS, AND YESTERDAY, 4/27/16, IN A PARKING LOT). WHEN I COME TO A STOP (WITH FOOT ON BRAKE), THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE HARD TRYING TO GO FORWARD. EACH TIME I PUT BOTH FEET ON BRAKE, AND IT STILL COULDN'T STOP IT, SO I JERKED IT INTO PARK, THEN TURNED OFF KEY. EACH TIME THAT KEPT ME FROM CRASHING. IT WAS SCARY BECAUSE I HAVE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. SUZUKI DEALERSHIP IN WINSTON-SALEM DIDN'T SEEM TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BUT SAID I COULD TOW IT IN TO GET IT LOOKED AT (COST $$$). THEN I CALLED SUZUKI DEALER IN RALEIGH NC AND THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN FOR $110 FOR THEM TO JUST LOOK AT IT. IT ONLY HAPPENS RANDOMLY, SO I DON'T TRUST THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO FIGURE IT OUT. PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING WEBLINK THAT DESCRIBED OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT NO SOLUTION (EVEN AFTER THEY TOOK IT TO BE WORKED ON AT SUZUKI PLACE). HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/SUZUKI/FORENZA/2008/ENGINE/VEHICLE_SPEED_CONTROL.SHTML THANKS.

NHTSA ID

10861951

Incident

Apr 27, 2016

Mileage

117,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,800.

NHTSA ID

10851650

Incident

Jan 20, 2016

Mileage

42,800 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID

10839090

Incident

Feb 9, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR A CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LEFT ARM INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT VALID.

NHTSA ID

10838878

Incident

Feb 27, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, A FIRE STARTED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE PASSENGER DOOR WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE CONSUMED THE REAR SEATS AND EXTENDED FROM THE REAR TO THE FRONT FLOOR. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. A FIRE INSPECTION REPORT WAS NOT PROCESSED BY A FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED YET TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON A RESPONSE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10823594

Incident

Jan 21, 2016

I FACE THE HEAT ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS LIKE THE OTHER SUZUKI CARS OF SIMILAR MODELS DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10822027

Incident

Feb 15, 2004

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE THAT EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN 'X' ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEXT TO THE 'D' FOR DRIVE ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RANGE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10794712

Incident

Nov 14, 2014

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10785217

Incident

Oct 21, 2012

Mileage

110,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10783034

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

Mileage

96,000 mi

AT SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF GEAR, AND LOST SPEED RAPIDLY. DASH TRANSMISSION DISPLAY SHOWED SCRAMBLED GEAR IN PLACE OF D. CAR CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND DOES NOT PROPERLY CHANGE GEARS; OCCASIONALLY DISPLAYS SCRAMBLED LETTER IN PLACE OF APPROPRIATE DISPLAY (R,N,D, 3, ETC.)

NHTSA ID

10759547

Incident

Aug 23, 2015

Mileage

39,000 mi