RoadVitals

2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara

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.
11
Latest Dec 13, 2019
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.
4
Latest Mar 7, 2019
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.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara, most frequently naming the airbags, body & structure and brakes categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 7 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

  • Airbags440.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%
  • Seat belts110.0%
  • Tires & wheels110.0%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
19V187000

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION; SEATS

Mar 7, 2019
31,302 units potentially affected
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 4011, 4012View on NHTSA.gov
17V085000

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Feb 9, 2017
791 units potentially affected
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.
The risk: If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.Manufacturer number VZView on NHTSA.gov
13V405000

AIR BAGS

Sep 6, 2013
189,901 units potentially affected
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.
The risk: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.
The remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.Manufacturer number VDView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE13021ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Occupant Classification System Failure

Opened Jun 14, 2013
Closed Sep 30, 2013

Suzuki Motor of America is conducting a safety recall to remedy the occupant classification system's (OCS) sensor mats in approximately 193,936 model year 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 Suzuki SX4 vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-405 for more details).The sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat can develop an electrical circuit disconnection as a result of repeated flexing of the seat from use of the seat.According to Suzuki, when the failure occurs, the OCS system, by design, will not suppress the frontal passenger air bag for a seated child or small-stature adult.A deploying passenger air bag can cause serious injury to such an occupant.The recall population excludes those vehicles that previously had proper remedies under the special coverage campaign for this issue (~11,600) that began in July 2012.The recall remedy will be to install a new front passenger seat cushion assembly that includes an improved OCS sensor mat and an OCS control module with updated algorithms designed to properly identify the type/size of the seated occupant.Consequently, this recall action will address various OCS related problems, including a programming error (associated with diagnostic trouble code B1318) related to detecting a change or shifting in load on the front passenger seat in the model year 2009 Grand Vitara and SX4 vehicles.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10178750, 10185778, 10200217, 10200123, 10206368, 10217021, 10250561, 10254251, 10263756, 10283309, 10285166, 10294320, 10316125, 10323718, 10324530, 10326910, 10332645, 10347204, 10348957, 10349038, 10350237, 10353604, 10354901, 10355400, 10364190, 10367631, 10369777, 10371056, 10373558, 10375165, 10375789, 10376071, 10376621, 10378154, 10380794, 10382860, 10392447, 10392434, 10392599, 10393975, 10395430, 10395602, 10395821, 10395983, 10398172, 10400092, 10400035, 10401106, 10401424, 10404772, 10405359, 10406459, 10407500, 10409412, 10409993, 10413235, 10418162, 10419237, 10419578, 10425035, 10425212, 10426703, 10434905, 10435090, 10435091, 10437600, 10437892, 10437994, 10438100, 10438501, 10438613, 10439357, 10439979, 10440088, 10442968, 10442759, 10442883, 10443173, 10443592, 10443594, 10444434, 10445034, 10445447, 10446215, 10446580, 10447689, 10448161, 10448446, 10448499, 10448554, 10449238, 10450746, 10451260, 10452961, 10453168, 10453403, 10453376, 10454445, 10454978, 10455231, 10455529, 10456043, 10456367, 10456407, 10459063, 10460417, 10460510, 10462016, 10463337, 10464941, 10464693, 10467988, 10468641, 10479583, 10479929, 10481120, 10484053, 10484863, 10486369, 10486729, 10487379, 10491755, 10499622, 10506034, 10508282, 10511057, 10511439, 10512962, 10521656, 10521779, 10523512, 10523931, 10524266, 10526435, 10533196, 10535513, 10537314, 10537619, 10543672, 10544287.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVELed to recall 13V405000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 11
Filed Dec 13, 2019

I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND IT DOES HAVE RECALLS AND I HAD I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THE RECALLS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED OR STILL NEED DONE PLEASE THANK YOU

NHTSA ID
11288804
Incident
May 1, 2019
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2018

LLEVE MI AUTO A TRIANGLE SUZUKI EN LA AVE. 65 INF. KM 5.4 EN CAROLINA CON TELFONO 787-776-3023 YA QUE SOY EL CLIENTE # 29676 DEBIDO A QUE TENIA LAS LUZ DEL AIR BAG ENCENDIDA. LUEGO DE ELLOS REVISAR DICHO SUZUKI QUIEN TENIA EL TAG 5406 ENCONTRARON EL COGIN DEFECTUOSO CON CDIGO B1312. DONDE ELLOS FACTURAN LA CANTIDAD DE $267.00 POR LA REPARACIN DEL MISMO. TENGO ENTENDIDO QUE LA VITARA TIENE UN RECALL DEBIDO A AIR BAGS. PODRAN ORIENTARME AL RESPECTO.

NHTSA ID
11073749
Incident
Dec 26, 2017
Mileage
38,826 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 7, 2014

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR HOLDS WATER WHEN AIR CONDITIONER IS ON AND THE INSIDE FLOOR IS STARTING TO RUST THIS IS OF NO FAULT OF MY OWN THIS IS A DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10596873
Incident
Jun 3, 2013
Tires & wheels
Filed May 19, 2014

I HAVE ALMOST 27,400 MILES ON MY TRUCK AND THE TIRES ARE DRY ROTTED WHICH THEY SHOULDNT BE LIKE THAT I DO NOT DRIVE FAR AT ALL I AM A VERY UNSATISFIED CUSTOMER THE TIRE SIZES ARE P225 70 R16. *JS

NHTSA ID
10592587
Incident
May 19, 2014
Mileage
27,400 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 1, 2014

2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA RECALLED APPROX. OCT. 2013. SUZUKI SENT A LETTER SAYING THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND WOULD FIX WHEN AVAILABLE. IT'S BEEN 6 MONTHS. HOW LONG IS IT SUPPOSED TO TAKE TO MANUFACTURE THESE PARTS? DID THEIR PARTS SUPPLIERS GO BANKRUPT ALSO? DEALER NOW SELLS ANOTHER BRAND AND DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW (OR CARE) ANYTHING ABOUT WHEN THIS WILL BE FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10576273
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2014

BROWN DAUB DEALERSHIP KNOWS OF THIS RECALL AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THIS RECALL THERE PHONE NUMBER IS 484-298-0000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575078
Incident
Sep 30, 2011
Airbags
Filed Dec 11, 2013
Crash reported

2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE AND AIR BAG MALFUNCTION DURING AN ACCIDENT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE/SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING A DEFECT WITH THE AIR BAGS. THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON AND OFF SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2012. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. DURING THE ACCIDENT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID
10555603
Incident
Feb 1, 2013
Electrical
Filed Aug 8, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V055000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING AND RATTLE NOISE WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TENSION CONTROL PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID
10534208
Incident
Jul 9, 2013
Mileage
72,000 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.

ABE-ZA-120418

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

SUZUKI: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR 'AIR BAG' WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION. *JS UPDATED 7/25/12. *PE

TSB-TS06-05212

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

SUZUKI: THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION ASSEMBLY HAS THE SENSOR MAT LOCATED WITHIN AND THE ELECTRIC DISCONNECTION (OPEN) WILL OCCUR DUE TO REPEATED FLEXING, THAT MAY DEVELOP. *PE UPDATED 04/10/2013 *JS

SC-60R-1

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

SUZUKI: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, WITHIN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION, THE SENSING SENSOR MAT, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT DISCONNECTION MAY HAVE DEVELOPED, DUE TO REPEATED FLEXING. *PE

TS-34-04262

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SUZUKI: SERVICE MANUAL UPDATE: TENSIONER AND IDLER PULLEY REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION. *JS

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 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013420—
2012132057.5
2011Viewing114152.4
2010205146.0
2009144144.6
2008422152.9
2007583149.1
20061616158.0
2005110—
2004820—
2003294046.8
2002474055.1
2001386056.4
2000855052.6
19991085054.6

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.