2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Brakes Problems

AFTER STARTING UP MY VEHICLE ON A COLD MORNING THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK IMMEDIATELY. THE FIRST TIME I HIT THEM AFTER PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR AND MOVING THEY DID NOT STOP THE CAR. I STARTED TO ROLL THROUGH THE STOP SIGN, BUT PUMPED THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AND STOPPED. THIS ALSO OCCURRED ON VERY COLD EVENING AT WORK THE TEMPERATURE WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 10 DEG F. THIS TIME I HAD TO PULL THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP. AFTER PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AND LETTING THE CAR WARM UP IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565853

Incident

Nov 20, 2013

Mileage

85,000 mi

WE PURCHASED A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA LUXURY IN 2006. WE HAD THE CAR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NOTICED THE BACK TIRES WERE WEARING FASTER THAN NORMAL, ALSO THERE WAS THIS GRINDING SOUND WHEN YOU BRAKE, IT WAS SPORADIC. FROM 2006 TILL 2012 WE WERE GIVEN DOZENS OF REASONS WHY AND SOLUTIONS FOR A COST, NONE OF THEM FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE LAST COMPLAINT IN 2012 WE REFUSED TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP (ONE OF THE TWO IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD STILL ALLOW YOU TO BRING IN A SUZUKI) UNTIL WE WERE GIVEN A ANSWER, WE WERE TOLD IT IS A INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE? OVER THE YEARS THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN CHECKED SO MUCH I CANT COUNT. IS IT THE ESP SYSTEM? AS TIME HAS PASSED IT HAS ONLY GOTTEN LOUDER. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN, WE JUST WANT A ANSWER! SUZUKI KNOWS WHAT IT IS AND THEY ARE NOT TELLING ANYONE, THIS IS NOT ONLY IRRESPONSIBLE IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546458

Incident

Oct 5, 2006

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ESP CONTROL MODULE ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS BRAKING CONTROL ENGAGED AFTER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ESP CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,010. UPDATED 01/24/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, THE STEERING WAS VERY LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE ALMOST WANTED TO STEER ITSELF. WITHIN IN A FEW WEEKS, THERE WAS HEAVY WET SNOW AND THE ROADS WERE VERY SLUSHY. UPON APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ALMOST BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD COST $1500 TO REPLACE THE MODULE. UPDATED 01/26/12 UPDATED 01/30/12

NHTSA ID

10436740

Incident

Oct 31, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

BRAKE PEDAL GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE ENGAGING AND AT TIMES THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET THE BRAKES CHECKED, THE PADS WERE FINE, BUT ONE OF THE CALIPERS WAS MISALIGNED. WHEN I TOOK THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA IN TO GET THE RECALLED POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY REPLACED, AND FOR SERVICING, THEY LOANED ME A VEHICLE. I ALMOST WENT THOUGH THE WINDSHIELD WITH THE FUNCTIONAL BRAKES OF THE LOANER, ACTUALLY ANY BRAKES ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE I DRIVE. IT ALMOST FEELS AS IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE HAD TO USE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEARS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. BRAKE SHOES, PADS WHATEVER THEY ARE CALLED ARE FINE. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T THINK THAT SAFETY IS A CONCERN. ALSO, I MIGHT ADD THAT THE REPLACED POWER STEERING TENSIONER PULLEY NOW CREATES A SEVERE KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE (THAT DID NOT EXIST PRIOR TO THE REPLACEMENT). I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES TO REPAIR ... APPARENTLY, SUZUKI HAS ALSO ISSUED ANOTHER TECHNICAL BULLETIN TO DECREASE THE KNOCKING, BUT IT IS STILL THERE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10360221

Incident

Sep 10, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

MY REAR BRAKES ARE MAKING A LOUD NOICE LIKE METAL AGAINST METAL. I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AT SEVERAL PLACES, INCLUDING A SUZUKI DEALERSHIP (WRIGHT SUZUKI) IN ADDITION TO FIRESTONE AND MR. TIRE. ALL THREE SAID MY REAR BRAKES ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AS WELL AS THE FRONT. I ALSO REPORTED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS TO GO DOWN A LITTLE FURTHER THAN WHAT I PRECIVE AS NORMAL (COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES). THIS STARTED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO AND I JUST HAD THEM CHECKED AGAIN ON 8/28/10 AT MR. TIRE AGAIN, AND NOTHING IS WRONG. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO WRIGHT SUZUKI TO HAVE ANOTHER RECALL ON THE SAME VECHICLE CERTIFIED THAT I HAD THE WORK DONE EARLIER, ANOTHER SUZUKI GRAND VITARA LIKE MINE WAS PULLING INTO THE SERVICE BAY AND IT'S REAR BRAKES WERE MAKING THE SAME NOICE AS MINE. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER AND HE SAID HIS STARTED ABOUT 2 WEEKS EARLIER AND HE TOO NOTICED HIS BRAKE PEDDLE GOING DOWN FURTHER THAN IT HAD BEFORE. NOW I ONLY HAVE MINE AND THE OTHER SUZUKI OWNER WITH THIS PROBLEM, I AM FILING A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I'M AFRAID MY BRAKES MAY FAIL WHEN I NEED THEM MOST. I'M TRYING TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE BUT NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353721

Incident

Jun 6, 2010

Mileage

44,905 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FALL FARTHER INTO THE FLOORBOARD THAN USUAL. THE DEALER ORDERED AND WAS AWAITING THE ARRIVAL OF A MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE PADS TO REPLACE ON THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARTS HAD NOT ARRIVED AFTER TWO WEEKS. THE DEALER BLED THE BRAKE LINES AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE PARTS HAD ARRIVED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED HER SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH DEFECTIVE BRAKES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 131,000.

NHTSA ID

10346060

Incident

May 22, 2010

Mileage

131,000 mi

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES ON MY VEHICLE FOUR TIMES IN THREE YEARS AND ALL SUZUKI WILL SAY IS IT IS AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM AND A WEAR PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT. I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON TIRES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS FOR THIS VEHICLE THAN I CAN AFFORD. AND MY TIRES KEEP GOING BALD WITHIN 12K MILES OR LESS AND I HAVE PUT THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT SUZUKI REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND NOT THE TIRES. HOW MANY TIMES DOES IT TAKE TO ROTATE TIRES AND GET ALIGNMENTS ON A NORMAL WORKING VEHICLE IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TIRES WEARING OUT TO BALD AND THREADBARE BEFORE A 3K MILE ROTATION IS DONE ON THEM. VEHICLE ALSO SKIDS ON WET ROADS AND ALIGNMENTS KEEP GOING OUT ON VEHICLE AND CANNOT BE ADJUSTED ANY MORE. ALSO IF VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS BRAKES SQUEAL WHEN FIRST STARTING TO DRIVE VEHICLE. MECHANICS SAID BRAKES ARE FINE BUT CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HELP US FOLKS THAT CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING TIRES EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297846

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

12,000 mi

SPONGY BRAKE PEDAL AND GRINDING FROM FRONT RIGHT OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THIS IS NORMAL. YET WHEN I DRIVE MY 07 KIA I ALMOST SEND MYSELF THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD EVERYTIME I PRESS ON THE BRAKES (SAME THING APPLIES WHEN I DRIVE MY 1988 C2500) BECAUSE I'M SO USE TO HAVING TO HIT THE BRAKES HARD AND MULTIPLE TIMES. I'M SURE THIS ISN'T NORMAL. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T THINK THAT SAFETY IS A CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246778

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

2,250 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES PRODUCED A LOUD SCRUBBING AND SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN TRAVELING 45 MPH. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES TO HAVE THE FAILURE REPAIRED, BUT IT RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE ,AND IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE, VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,491. *AK

NHTSA ID

10189627

Incident

Jan 31, 2006

Mileage

2,491 mi

REFERENCE: 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA, CONTINUING REAR BRAKE PROBLEM PLEASE HELP ME SECURE A SAFE FIX FOR MY CAR AND ANY OTHERS DRIVERS / PASSENGERS THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK DUE TO THIS REAR BRAKE DEFECT. THE REAR BRAKES: THE LAST WARRANTY REPAIR DID ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF THE NOISE AND VIBRATION. BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH A MORE PRONOUNCED NOISE AND VIBRATION WITH THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEM OF NO STOPPING CORRECTLY DURING A RECENT SUDDEN STOP. DURING THE SUDDEN STOP THE REAR BRAKES WERE VERY NOISY AND VIBRATED THE WHOLE VEHICLE TO THE POINT I AM CONCERNED FOR THE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND MY SAFETY. DEALER COMMENTS TO ME AFTER THE FIRST WARRANTY REPAIR WERE THAT THE BRAKE SHOES HAD TO BE GROUND DOWN TO SOME DEGREE TO CLEAR THE SIDES OF THE BRAKE DRUMS. THIS DID IMPROVE BUT, THIS APPEARS NOT TO BE A PERMANENT FIX. THE LAST WARRANTY REPAIR 3 OCT. 2006 LASTED FOR ABOUT 100 MILES. THE REAR BREAKING PROBLEM IS MOST APPARENT DURING HARD BRAKING WITH THE FOOT PEDAL AND ANYTIME THE HAND BRAKE IS USED. I HAVE ALL THE SUPPORTING WARRANTY DOCUMENTS AND A COPY OF SUZUKIS SERVICE BULLETIN IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM WITH AN APPARENT FIX THAT IS NOT A FIX. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE CONTROL OF OTHER VEHICLES AND THEIR OCCUPANTS SAFETY. I FILLED A COMPLAINT WITH SUZUKI CUSTOMER SERVICE 6 SEPT. 2006 AT 3:28 PM LOCAL TIME DENVER, COLORADO WITH ALBERT AT 800-934-0934 EXT. 2465 AS THIS WRITING I HAVE NOT HAD A REPLY FOR SUZUKI CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE ASKED THE WARRANTY DEALER TO GET A SUZUKI FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INVOLVED WITH THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS AREA OF COLORADO DOES NOT HAVE A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE CURRENTLY. PLEASE HELP ME SECURE A SAFE FIX FOR MY CAR AND ANY OTHERS THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK DUE TO THIS REAR BRAKE DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10170107

Incident

Sep 6, 2006

Mileage

12,000 mi