RECONSIDER SAMURAI PETITION
Opened Dec 9, 1988
Closed Feb 10, 1989
RECONSIDER SAMURAI PETITION
SUSPENSION
1986 Suzuki Samurai
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.
5
Latest Jul 11, 2000
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.
0
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.
3
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Suzuki Samurai, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and seat belts categories. 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 4 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 5 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Body & structure120.0%
- Engine120.0%
- Seat belts120.0%
- Steering120.0%
- Suspension120.0%
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
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Steering
Filed Jul 11, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON FREEWAY 101 THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT WAS IN THE WAY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, HITTING AN EMBANKMENT, THEN HIT A WALL, THEN VEHICLE STOOD UP. *AK *ML
- NHTSA ID
- 865188
- Incident
- Jul 9, 2000
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 1999
I WANTED INFORMATION ON HOW EASILY THE SAMURAI TIPS OVER...
- NHTSA ID
- 704423
- Incident
- Nov 1, 1998
Body & structure
Filed Feb 11, 1997
PART OF FRAME AROUND WINDSHIELD FELL OFF, LEAVING A HOLE AROUND WINDSHIELD, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, DAMAGING WIRES TO RADIO AND ALSO FLOODED INTERIOR.
- NHTSA ID
- 514678
- Incident
- Aug 1, 1991
Suspension
Filed May 25, 1995
Crash reported
UPON IMPACT, BROADSIDE REAR DRIVER'S, 30MPH SPUN AROUND THEN ROLLED OVER. TT
- NHTSA ID
- 965995
- Incident
- May 25, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Mar 27, 1995
REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO HOLD PASSENGERS SECURELY, CAUSING CHILD SEATS/PASSENGERS TO BE THROWN FORWARD INTO BACK OF FRONT SEATS. *SKD
- NHTSA ID
- 482667
- Incident
- Mar 27, 1995
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
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.
0104145
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
CORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH
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
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.