2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7 Owner Complaints

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. UPDATED 02/15/12*BF UPDATED 02/29/12

NHTSA ID

10445203

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

45,000 mi

I PURCHASED A NEW 2004 SUZUKI XL MY AIR BAG LIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR 3 YR AND KNOW ONE CAN TELL ME WHY , MY CLOCK FLASHING AND DON'T KEEP TIME. I HAVE PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY. WHEN CRACKING UP ENGINE IT SOUND LIKE IT IS GOING TO EXPLORE AND SOMETHING IT WILL START TO SMOKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402115

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT ON OUR 2004 SUZUKI XL-7. THIS OCCURRED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AT AROUND 60,000 MI. THE COMPRESSOR WAS BAD, $1500! NOW IT IS GOING AGAIN! I TALKED WITH A GUY AT THE REPAIR SHOP, ANOTHER XL-7 CUSTOMER, WHO SAID HE GETS ABOUT 10,000 MILES PER COMPRESSOR ON HIS, HE WAS IN FOR #4. I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM AT THE LEAST, AND A SCAM AT WORST CASE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247907

Incident

Aug 18, 2008

Mileage

62,283 mi

I NOTICED WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE IT STARTED ROUGH AND THAT THERE WERE SOME WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. THE BATTERY,ABS,AND THE 4X4 LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. AS I PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION WHICH WAS ABOUT 23 MILES,I NOTICED THAT THE RADIO WAS SHUTTING OFF AND ON, WHEN I PUT THE WINDOW DOWN THE RADIO COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THAT WHEN I STARTED TO GET CONCERNED ESPECIALLY I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY. WHEN I GOT OFF THE EXRESSWAY I NOTICED THAT MY FUEL LIGHT GOT ON TO WHERE THE NEEDLE WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN ON EMPTY, JUST AS I WAS TURNING IN TO A SIDE STREET WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC MY VEHICLES ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AS I WAS TURNING. I THEN CRUISED IN NEUTRAL TO THE SIDE STREET WHERE THEN I CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. MY VEHICLE IS PRACTICALLY NEW ONLY 4 YEAR OLD AND HAS 33,500 MILES ON IT. SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP EVERY 3,000 MILES FOR COMPLETE CHECKUP OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS A 2004 SUZUKI XL7. I DID TAKE MY SUZUKI TO A MECHANIC AND THEY FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR WENT BAD . *TR

NHTSA ID

10230193

Incident

May 30, 2008

Mileage

33 mi

MAJOR SAFTY ISSUE, AIR BAG STOP WORKING AFTER 38,000 MI AND NO MANUFACTURER CONCERN. RELAY NOT WORKING?????AIR BAG DASH LIGHT. DASH CLOCK ALSO FLASHING????? *TR

NHTSA ID

10226568

Incident

Mar 15, 2008

Mileage

34,500 mi

WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR SUZUKI XL7 2004, THE PASSENGER DOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BEGAN TO SHOW SOME SMOKE. SUDDENLY, FLAMES STARTED TO COME OUT FROM THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH WATER. WHEN THE PANAL WAS REMOVED, APPARENTLY THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE WIRING SYSTEM. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE POWER WINDOW BUTTON, THE PANEL AND THE WIRING UP TO OUR KNOWLEDGE AND AFTER JUST A VISUAL INSPECTION. MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED AN ASMA ATTACK THAT EVENING DUE TO SMOKE INHALATION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I HAD EXCEEDED MY WARRANTY PERIOD OF 3/36,000. THEY ALSO CALLED THE CENTRAL OFFICES TO VERIFY IF THE SITUATION HAD BEEN REPORTED BY ANOTHER CONSUMER IN WHICH THEY RESPONDED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST REPORT REGARDING THIS EVENT. CURRENTLY MY VEHICLE IS 3 YRS 4 MONTHS OLD WITH APROX. 44, 600 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CHECKED, AND I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD MAKE A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE IN ORDER TO HAVE IT REVISED AND FIXED. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183960

Incident

Feb 26, 2007

Mileage

44,600 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND RADIO FLASHING. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER, I WAS TOLD HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, ALREADY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE IN EARLIER THE SAME DAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT HAD GONE OUT. WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT AT A COST OF OVER $1000.00. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT THE SENOR. THIS IS A 2004 MODEL VEHICLE THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE IS RARELY IF EVER USED. AN AIR BAG SENSOR GOING OUT WITHIN A YEAR AND WITH MORE THAN ONE CAR IN THE SAME DAY SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DEFECT IF MY CAR IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164996

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

92,000 mi

DRIVING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 81 (MILE MARKER 109-110) SEVERAL CARS, INCLUDING MYSELF, LOST CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES (HYDROPLANING) THROUGH THIS SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS APPARENTLY A KNOWN PROBLEM AREA TO EMERGENCY PERSONNEL, POLICE AND TOW COMPANIES AND FROM TALKING TO ALL OF THEM PENN DOT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE LOCALS CALL IT 'DEAD MAN'S TRAP' OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE TOWING COMPANY HAD ALREADY PICKED UP 5 CARS THAT AFTERNOON. THERE ARE NO GUARD RAILS AND I WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT, THROUGH THE WOODS AND HIT A TREE DEAD ON AND CENTER. I WAS DRIVING A 2004 SUZUKI XL7. IT SMASHED THE FRONT BUMPER THROUGH THE RADIATOR. THE AIR-BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. LESS THAN A MONTH AGO I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE (UNDER WARRANTY) BECAUSE THE "AIR-BAG DISENGAGED" LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND STAYING ON. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY. 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE CRASH. I ALWAYS WEAR A SEAT BELT AND AM THANKFUL IT DID ITS JOB! I AM ALSO PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE WITH ALL THE SPINNING, BOUNCING OFF TREES GOING DOWN HILL THAT MY SUV NEVER ROLLED. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE FAILURE OF THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY WHEN HIT WITH SUCH FORCE DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161128

Incident

Jun 25, 2006

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHILE SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION, IT WOULD DOWN SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096919

Incident

Oct 14, 2004