2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST TURNED OVER WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED INTO THE BUSHES TO AVOID A CRASH AND WAS THEN SHUTDOWN WITH THE KEYS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,400. UPDATED 04/02/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THIS EVENT. UPDATED 04/18/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10496904

Incident

Jan 8, 2013

Mileage

78,400 mi

I PURCHASED A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARTA WITH 8000 MILES. AT 24,500 MILES THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HAVE NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS TIMING CHIN TENSIONER. THEY REPLACED 2 TENSIONERS AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. I HAVE PUT AN ADDITIONAL 5000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE BACK. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE TENSIONERS AND FOUND 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PART. SUZUKI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AS OF YET, HOWEVER IF THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BREAK, ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND AM NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WITH BE FIXED AND IS SO AT WHOSE EXPENSE. THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP IS 65 MILES AWAY. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TSB ON THIS PART SO SUZUKI IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141739

Incident

Nov 3, 2005

Mileage

24,900 mi

CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING CONCERNS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS ON THE 1999-2002 GRAND VITARI XL7. *MR OTHER PROBLEMS: BROKEN KEYLESS ENTRY WHICH OCCURRED TWICE, THE VEHICLE RADIATOR (TWICE), WATER PUMP (TWICE), AND THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED TWICE. TSB TS 07 03014R2 *SC

NHTSA ID

10126872

Incident

Jun 10, 2005

THE TIMING TENSIONER FAILED, CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO MALFUNCTION. THIS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT THREE CYLINDERS. THERE WAS A LOSS OF PROPER TIMING, AND VALVES TENSIONERS STARTED TO KNOCK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10111147

Incident

Nov 16, 2004

VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY LOST OIL DUE TO A OIL LEAK. *PH *MR

NHTSA ID

10060988

Incident

Sep 29, 2002

Mileage

32,000 mi

AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME A DIFFERENT REPAIR WAS MADE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT END WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT WINDOWS WHEN CLOSING THEM. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10043958

NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS AND A NIGHTMARE TO OWN.. DEALER NOT SYPATHETIC. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID

758001

Incident

Feb 4, 2002

WHENEVER EXHAUST GOT HOT FUME ODORS GOT INSIDE OF VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO BECOME SICK. HAD BEEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM. WAS INFORMED EXHAUST IS SPRAYED WITH COSMOLINE.*AK THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT PROBLEM WOULD GO AWAY AT ABOUT 5000 OR 6000 MILES. *YH

NHTSA ID

892018

Incident

Jan 13, 2001