RoadVitals

2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Jan 24, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Aug 30, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags1257.1%
  • Electrical419.0%
  • Interior & seats14.8%
  • Exterior lighting14.8%
  • Other / unspecified14.8%
  • Transmission14.8%
  • Visibility14.8%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04V427000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Aug 30, 2004
172,093 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.
The risk: FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.Manufacturer number 99-ERView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 17
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 24, 2021

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL HAS EMBEDDED LED LIGHTS, NO REPLACEABLE BULBS...FORCES ENTIRE CLUSTER REPLACEMENT FROM UNSALVAGEABLE OR USED/SALVAGED VEHICLES WITH NO GUARANTEE OF TRUE INTERNAL CONDITION TEMPORARILY OR LONG-TERM, LEADING TO MANY SAFETY & DYSFUNCTION ISSUES, INCLUDING "RIGGED" COMPONENTS SUCH AS FALSE MILEAGE, ETC. MY XL7 ODOMETER/TRIP METER BLACKED OUT AT 130K MILES, SHOULD LAST LIFETIME OF VEHICLE. SUZUKI NO LONGER MANUFACTURING THE CLUSTERS, TOO COST-PROHIBITIVE FOR OWNERS IF THEY WERE STILL MAKING THEM. MANY, MANY OWNERS ON FORUMS & ONLINE SITES COMPLAINING OF THIS ISSUE AND SEEKING HELP OR PARTS FROM OTHERS. I'VE PERSONALLY READ HUNDREDS. SUZUKI NEEDS TO REMEDY THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY SO OWNERS CAN BE SAFE DRIVING & ASSURED OF NO DYSFUNCTION, AND PROTECTED FROM FURTHER DAMAGE RELATED TO MILEAGE TAMPERING, INCLUDING HIDDEN AND EXCESSIVELY AGED ENGINE/PARTS.

NHTSA ID
11389624
Incident
Dec 30, 2018
Mileage
130,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 5, 2016

ONE DAY, I STARTED MY CAR, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CLOCK/TEMP WAS FLASHING, IT HASN'T GONE AWAY. I AM UNABLE TO FIX THE CLOCK, AND WHEN I WENT TO THE MECHANIC TO FIX THE AIRBAG PROBLEM, HE CALLED OUR LOCAL SUZUKI DEALERSHIP AND HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS, AND WOULD COST ME OVER $3500 JUST FOR THE PARTS. I'VE SEEN OTHER SITES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ON ONE FORUM I SAW THAT SOME SUZUKI DEALERSHIPS WERE OFFERING TO RESET THE SENSOR MODULE FOR FREE, BUT I WASN'T OFFERED THAT HERE (HAWAII). I SPENT MOST OF MY DAY TRYING TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY. AT THIS POINT, BEING THAT THE CAR IS ALREADY 12 YEARS OLD, HAVING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WILL COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH. I AM UNABLE TO GET A SAFETY CHECK, AND AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT ANYWHERE NOW. I FEEL THAT SUZUKI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST SEEING THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS.

NHTSA ID
10853447
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 13, 2014

THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES IN 2009 BUT DISAPPEARED THEN RETURNED IN 2013. THE CLOCK/TEMP WOULD FLASH AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. AT TIMES WE WERE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, TURN IT OFF, THEN RESTART AND ATTACH THE PASSENGER SEATBELT ONLY AFTER THE INITIAL PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FLASHING WOULD STOP. HOWEVER THE INCIDENTS HAVE BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND NOW THE CLOCK/TEMP CONTINUES TO FLASH, THE PASSENGER SEATBELT LIGHT STAYS ON AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO TURN IT OFF. CALLED THE DEALER WHO SAYS THE FRONT SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO CODES WHEN CONNECTED TO THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS WE FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE YET THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10610180
Incident
Jan 19, 2013
Mileage
78,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2014

THE AIR BAG DASH LITE CAME ON, WHEN TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL LIKE THIS AND THAT IT WAS A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT? IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WHY NOT A RECALL? THE COST T REPLACE THE SEAT OVER $2000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593947
Incident
Sep 4, 2013
Mileage
1,000,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 17, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS A MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR AND THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512509
Incident
Dec 15, 2012
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 18, 2013

WE GOT INTO OUR CAR AT THE AIRPORT AFTER A FRIEND DROVE MY CAR OVER & PICKED US UP. THE CAR WAS RUNNING WHEN WE GOT IN. AS SOON AS MY HUSBAND SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE CLOCK STARTED FLASHING & AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY WANT TO CHARGE $110 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE & APPROX. $2000 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT IF DIAGNOSIS SHOWS THE SEAT MALFUNCTIONED. THEY TOLD ME IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THIS DOES NOT SOUND SAFE! SUZUKI SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENING ON THIS YEAR & MODEL OF SUZUKI. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS NOT A COSMETIC PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10508722
Incident
Apr 16, 2013
Mileage
96,042 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 14, 2012

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON HAD AUTO TO SUZUKI DEALER 3 TIME. LIGHT STILL ON THEY CHANGED CONTROL MODEL, SEAT SENSOR. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS NEVER WRECKED OR ANY DAMAGE TO IT. THEY ARE ORDERING A CLOCK SPRING WHICH I THINK IS WHOLE AIR BAG SYSTEM, I HAVE PAID 3200.00 DOLLARS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT THAT IS STILL ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10451674
Incident
Feb 8, 2012
Mileage
36,780 mi
AirbagsElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Mar 9, 2012

"AIRBAG" LIGHT ON AND CLOCK/TEMP DISPLAY FLASHES. THIS SYMPTOM WAS REPORTED TO SUZUKI MOTORS USA AS A SAFETY CONCERN SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE BEGAN SELLING BECAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. SUZUKI MOTORS USA ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND MADE AVAILABLE A NEW "ADJUSTER SET FRONT RIGHT" FOR REPLACEMENT. SUZUKI MOTORS WILL NOT REPLACE THE BAD COMPONENT, IT IS REQUIRING CUSTOMERS TO PAY THE 1HR LABOR + $1500 PART COST FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE PAST THE FACTORY WARRANTY (36 MONTHS, 100K MILES). THE COST TO CORRECT THE SAFETY PROBLEM SHOULD BE PAID SUZUKI MOTORS USA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10451013
Incident
Sep 29, 2011
Mileage
15 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SUZ_016008

STRUCTURE; SUSPENSION

Reminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension and related parts that could be caused by road salt or other chemicals applied to the roadway.

N-Q-G-045

EQUIPMENT; SUSPENSION

This Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki automobile distributors in the U.S., explaining the importance of proper inspection and maintenance of suspension lower arm ball joints to prevent the ball stud from becoming separated from the suspension lower arm.

0707037

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE. DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER, DIFFERENTIAL COVER, AND DIFFERENTIAL BOLTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED. *KB

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005200—
2004Viewing171042.4
2003133055.4
2002262049.5
2001152043.3

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.