2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine426.7%
- Seat belts213.3%
- Tires & wheels213.3%
- Driver assistance213.3%
- Airbags16.7%
- Transmission16.7%
- Brakes16.7%
- Fuel system16.7%
- Exterior lighting16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE NOISE INVOLVING THE 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA.*MR CONSUMER WAS TOLD NOISE IS FROM TIMING CHAIN AND HAD THE TENSIONER ADJUSTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED. [XXX] IS THE VIN. *TT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY WIFE'S 2001 SUZUKI XL-7 HAS MADE AN ENGINE NOISE SINCE SHE BOUGHT IT. WE HAD IT SERVICED AT 32,000 MILES FOR A RECALL AND NOTHING WAS SAID BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ( STILL UNDER WARRANTY ) AGAIN AT 64,000 PLUS WE HAD IT SERVICED AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TIMING BELT TESIONER PUT ON FOR AROUND $1300.00 DOLLARS. I CALLED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID TO GO BY A DEALERSHIP AND GET THE DISTRICT MANAGER'S NUMBER TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I DID , AND I CALLED : ONLY TO BE TOTALLY DISRESPECTED BY THE DISTRICT MANAGER ([XXX]) , HE REALLY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I GOT HIS PHONE NUMBER AND TOLD ME SO ; I HOPE HE LIKES IT NOW! THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHERE WE BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE HAS REALLY NOT SHOWN ANY CONCERN ABOUT MY FAMILY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE EITHER SO I'M TELLING EVERYONE THAT DONALD CRAIG SUZUKI IN MOORESVILLE , NC COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS AFTER YOU BUY A CAR FROM THEM AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS EVEN WORSE. THEIR SERVICE MANAGER HASN'T BOTHERED TO EVEN CONTACT ME EVEN AFTER A COMPLAINT TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER ( WHO'S A REAL JERK) AND A COMPLAINT TO SUZUKI'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. I HOPE THAT NOONE ELSE GETS MIXED UP[ WITH THIS GROUP BUT IF YOU DO OR HAVE PLEASE GIVE THEM A CALL AND VOICE YOUR COMPLAINT : I'M SURE THEY WOULD LOVE TO HERE FROM YOU!. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT TWISTED AROUND THE CHILD'S WAIST. AS A RESULT, THE CHILD WAS TRAPPED FOR 7 HOURS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE CHILD. *AK *SC *JB
SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN LOCKING THE SEAT BELT BELT WILL GET STUCK, AND CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO TAKE BELT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, ALL 4 TIRES MALFUNCTIONED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. BRIDGESTONE, 235/60R16. *AK
CURRENT TIRES HAVE INSUFFICIENT WEAR RATINGS TO CARRY PASSENGER LOAD. CURRENT TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE (P235/70R16) WITH A RATING OF 300. CONSUMER FEELS THAT RATING ON TIRES SHOULD BE 400 TO 450. DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PRESSURE SHOULD BE LOWERED TO 28 PSI, CONSUMER FEELS THIS PSI IS LOWER THAN IT SHOULD BE. *AK *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
LETTER REQUESTING REPORTS RELATED TO THE DEFECT ON THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE OF THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA ND GRAND VITARA XL-7. *PH CONSUMER HAD TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER, AND THEY'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE CONSUMER WITH REPORTS AND INFORMATION WITH THE COMPONENT. *LA
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NHTSA 03V51200 REGARDING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CABLE CASING CAP. DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CLOCK SPRING SWITCH FAILED. AS A RESULT, AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION MAKES HUGE GRINDING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE - THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED IN WRITING BY AUTHORIZED SUZUKI SERVICE CENTER AS NORMAL YET SOUND. NLY OCCURRED IN 24TH MONTH OF OWNERSHIP.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES LOCKED WHILE THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A SWERVING VEHICLE. TWO OF THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT. THE HOSES ALSO BLEW OUT AND LEFT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY BRAKES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V452000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $200 TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP IS BURNING INSIDE THE GAS TANK, WHICH CAUSES NO CONNECTION TO THE BATTERY OF THE VEHICLE. SUZUKI ADVISED HIM TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL FOR A FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THE CONTACT HAS NOT HAD THE RECALL SERVICED FOR HIS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LIGHTS DIM/BLINK WHEN VEHICAL IS SHIFTED TO ANOTHER GEAR. TOOK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THIS IS NORMAL DUE TO THE LOWER VOLTAGE SUPPLIED BY ALTERNATOR AT LOW RPM. THIS SOMETIMES IS DANGEROUS AT NIGHT WHEN ONES GOES TO SHIFT AND LIGHTS DIM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .