1994 Suzuki Sidekick 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 1994 Suzuki Sidekick, 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
- Body & structure418.2%
- Tires & wheels313.6%
- Powertrain (other)313.6%
- Suspension313.6%
- Brakes29.1%
- Electrical29.1%
- Engine29.1%
- Interior & seats14.5%
- Exterior lighting14.5%
- Steering14.5%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER HEARD A CREAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, DURING INSPECTION OF VEHICLE THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALL THE WELDS CAME APART. NLM
PLASTIC PORTION OR THE REAR DOOR LATCH KEEPS MELTING WITHIN DAYS OF BEING INSTALLED. NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR FAILURE. DOOR WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TIRES KEEP BALDING AND THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
BRIDGESTONE TIRES FAIL TO STOP ON WET ROADS. *DH
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
WHEN DRIVING HEARD A HUMBLE NOISE, AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPED. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST THEY ARE TRAVELING. NOW THE ENTIRE NEEDLE IS OFF THE SPEEDOMETER AND IS LYING ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK *ML
SPACER DRIVE BEVEL FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR END PROBLEMS. *SD
VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER WHEN HIT ON FRONT PASSENGER'S DOOR. *AW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVIN GON HIGHWAY CAR LOST CONTROL. CAR WOULD NOT STEER OR BRAKE GOING ACROSS THE ROAD. THEN IT SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT BRAKE HOUSING DIFFERENTIAL CRACKED. *AK
HAD BRAKING (ABS) PROBLEM 1 YR AGO, AT SERVICE CENTER MECHANIC SAID WRONG CALIPER PUT ON, NOW PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, TOOK IT TO MECHANIC IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, INFORMED CALIPER SEAL HAD BUSTED & HAD WRONG ROTORS ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
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
VEHICLE STARTED TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, FIRE BEGAN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. TT
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
DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT VEHICLE EMISSION PROBLEM; VEHICLE GIVES OFF FUEL VAPOR INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
EGR VALVE STUCK AND SENSOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
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
SPRING IN REAR DOOR LATCH SEPERATED FROM OTHER PARTS CAUSING LATCH TO FAIL.
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
UPON TURNING ON HEAD LAMP SWITCH ON STEERING COLUMN, NOTICED SMOKE, THEN FLAMES, FANNED OUT, RESULT HEAD LAMP AND PARK LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. *AK
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
MOUNT BOLT AT A/C COMPRESSOR ADJUSTMENT BROKE CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO LOOSE TENSION RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOSS. NLM
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 .