2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags743.8%
- Interior & seats212.5%
- Engine16.3%
- Fuel system16.3%
- Electrical16.3%
- Exterior lighting16.3%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Seat belts16.3%
- Steering16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The airbag system defect light went on and stayed on. The diagnosis from an authorized former Suzuki dealer (Lincoln of Wayne, Wayne, New Jersey), charging approximately $270 for the diagnosis, was that the occupant sensing pad including the bottom seat on the passenger side had failed. This particular part had already been replaced under an NHTSA-related safety recall campaign approximately three years ago. The replaced part had not previously actually failed, but now the replacement part has failed. Contacting Suzuki headquarters in California, I found that they were saying the replacement part needed is not in stock and if it were in stock, they would be charging approximately $2700 for the part not including installation. Please contact Suzuki of America and have them produce more of the part and fund a campaign to replace the faulty replacement parts. Thank you.
TAKATA RECALL. MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2012 HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. I CALL FOR TWO TIMES TO THE DEALER THAT SUZUKI FACTORY DELEGATE THE SERVICES, BUT THEY TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT IN THE LIST. I USE THAT CAR TO TAKE MY WIFE TO HER QUIMIOS AND I AND AFRAID THAT SHE IS HURT WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The airbag system defect light went on and stayed on. The diagnosis from an authorized former Suzuki dealer (Lincoln of Wayne, Wayne, New Jersey), charging approximately $270 for the diagnosis, was that the occupant sensing pad including the bottom seat on the passenger side had failed. This particular part had already been replaced under an NHTSA-related safety recall campaign approximately three years ago. The replaced part had not previously actually failed, but now the replacement part has failed. Contacting Suzuki headquarters in California, I found that they were saying the replacement part needed is not in stock and if it were in stock, they would be charging approximately $2700 for the part not including installation. Please contact Suzuki of America and have them produce more of the part and fund a campaign to replace the faulty replacement parts. Thank you.
TROUBLE CODE B1312 OCM SENSOR MAT FAULT. AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FORTY-NINE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR IT BURST INTO FLAMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD ONLY MOMENTS AFTER MY WIFE HAD EXITED THE CAR IN HER PARKING LOT AT A SCHOOL. THE CAR BECAME A TOTAL LOSS AS THE FIRE REACHED THE DRIVER'S COMPARTMENT. TWO NEARBY CARS BELONGING TO WORKMATES WERE ALSO DAMAGED WITH MELTED TAIL LIGHTS AND BLISTERED PAINT. NO AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN INSTALLED AND NO SERVICE HAD YET BEEN PERFORMED ON THE CAR. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
GAS COVER DOESN'T OPEN AFTER PULLING LEVER FROM DRIVERS SEAT. I'VE BEEN TO DEALER AND SERVICE MANAGER SAYS TO PUSH LEVER ON HINGE OF COVER. HAD VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS NOW AND HAVE BEEN PUSHING THIS THIN METAL BACK EVERY TIME BUT AT TIMES IT STILL WILL NOT OPEN. BEEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES NOW AND HE KEEPS TELLING ME TO PUSH THIS THING BACK. FRUSTRATED, I SAID THAT THIS IS A TERRIBLE DESIGN, HE SAID IN RETURN "HONDA HAS SAME FEATURE". I LEFT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FRONT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THEM FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE INTERIOR LIGHT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL MAKING THE HEAT/COOL CONTROLS UNABLE TO WORK PROPERLY. AND THE FUEL DOOR RELEASE LEVER DOESN'T OPEN THE FUEL DOOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE 2012 I HAVE PURCHASED THIS SUV ITS GIVING ME TROUBLE RELATED TO LOW BEAM LIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED THIS LIGHT FOR AT LEAST 5 TIMES. MANY PEOPLE ON DIFFERENT WEBSITE HAVE REGISTERED THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE HAVING SAME KIND OF PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP US TO GET A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I OWN A 2012 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WITH 38,000 MILES. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS ROUNDING A CORNER AND PREPARING TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO NEGOTIATE A LARGE HILL ON A MAIN STREET. I GRABBED THE GEARSHIFT DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR WHEN I PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT BACK INTO THE 4TH GEAR POSITION THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE POP AND THE THE GEARSHIFT WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE. I LET OUT ON THE CLUTCH AND REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN 5TH GEAR. THE GEARSHIFT WAS OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE BACK STREETS TO OUR MECHANIC'S SHOP WHILE AVOIDING ALL STOP LIGHTS. THIS IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE A FACTORY RECALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE OF A CRITICAL COMPONENT. I HAVE OWNED OTHER STANDARD TRANSMISSION VEHICLES AND IN THE 12 YEARS I OWNED MY LAST VEHICLE I NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
TROUBLE CODE B1312 OCM SENSOR MAT FAULT. AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED LATER AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT 02/02/2018 & 02/03/2018 IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .