1996 Suzuki Sidekick Problems

RIGHT FRONT DROPPED WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION LAST YEAR IN 2001,TO DATETHE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLY THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENT FOR THE VEHICLE. NLV CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED SECOND NOTICE FOR SAFETY RECALL. *MR

AXLE SEAL FAILED, CAUSED BRAKE SHOES TO ROTATE AND LOCK RR WHEEL. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

CLUTCH PEDAL SEPARATES FROM PIVOT SHAFT. WELD BRAKES, PEDAL DETACHES, VEHICLE DISABLED. THIRD OCCURRENCE. OEM PEDAL REPLACEMENT REVEALS NO-WARRANTY, COMMON OCCURRENCE FAILURE MODE. PEDAL RE-ATTACHED TO SHAFT BY PROFESSIONAL WELDERS ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES. HAVE REPLACED CLUTCH CABLE, CLUTCH PLATE & THROWOUT BEARING WITHOUT RESOLUTION. HYDRAULIC REPLACEMENT INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. *TR

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST FROM THE DAY I PURSCHASED IT FROM LARGO HONDA IN KEY LARGO FLORIDA; DEC. OF 1999. ALTHOUGH I PURSCHASED AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT FOR $8,000, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET SATIFACTION FROM THE DEALER, THE SELLER, OR MY WARRENTY CO. ALWAYS AT MY EXPENCE , TOWING, {RENTAL CARS =$1,700 04/05/00 - 50,373 MILES AUTO DOC OF KEY LARGO, 305] 453-0977, REPLACED FAN, CLUTCH, ADJUSTER, RADIATOR, WATER PUMP.... NOW THIS WHERE MY MOST RECEIENT BEGAINS. *SOUTH MOTORS OF MIAMI. I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT A SECOND W2 RECALL NHTSA ID # 00V008000, 96V121002- I CALLED SUZKI, I CALLED SOUTH MOTORS - TOOK AUTO TO SOUTH MOTORS 6AM, FOR THE DAY, RECIEVED ESTIMATED $29 OIL CHANGE THAT ENDED UP BEING $139, BUT THEY DID NOT DO THE POWER LOCK PROBLEM I HAD ASKED FOR , AND TOLD ME THAT ALL RECALL WORK HAD BEEN COMPLEATED - BLEW ME OFF. STILL NO POWER LOCKS, FULE FILTER SEEMED MORE STUFFED UP THAN BEFORE, = POINTS, PLUGS, COILS, "SERVICE ENGIN LIGHTS" ETC. ON JULY 30, 2002 A BOLT APPARENTLY BROKE OFF THAT HAD BEEN HOLDING THE AIRCONDIONER TO REST OF THE CAR, THE FAN BELT WAS REPLACED ANDBOLT WELDED

CONSUMER STATES, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALWAYS INDICATED HOT, DUE TO THE RADIATOR CAP WHICH IS DEFECTED, HAS BEEN CHANGE THREE TIMES. AND REOCURRING THE PROBLEM.. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST FROM THE DAY I PURSCHASED IT FROM LARGO HONDA IN KEY LARGO FLORIDA; DEC. OF 1999. ALTHOUGH I PURSCHASED AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT FOR $8,000, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET SATIFACTION FROM THE DEALER, THE SELLER, OR MY WARRENTY CO. ALWAYS AT MY EXPENCE , TOWING, {RENTAL CARS =$1,700 04/05/00 - 50,373 MILES AUTO DOC OF KEY LARGO, 305] 453-0977, REPLACED FAN, CLUTCH, ADJUSTER, RADIATOR, WATER PUMP.... NOW THIS WHERE MY MOST RECEIENT BEGAINS. *SOUTH MOTORS OF MIAMI. I WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT A SECOND W2 RECALL NHTSA ID # 00V008000, 96V121002- I CALLED SUZKI, I CALLED SOUTH MOTORS - TOOK AUTO TO SOUTH MOTORS 6AM, FOR THE DAY, RECIEVED ESTIMATED $29 OIL CHANGE THAT ENDED UP BEING $139, BUT THEY DID NOT DO THE POWER LOCK PROBLEM I HAD ASKED FOR , AND TOLD ME THAT ALL RECALL WORK HAD BEEN COMPLEATED - BLEW ME OFF. STILL NO POWER LOCKS, FULE FILTER SEEMED MORE STUFFED UP THAN BEFORE, = POINTS, PLUGS, COILS, "SERVICE ENGIN LIGHTS" ETC. ON JULY 30, 2002 A BOLT APPARENTLY BROKE OFF THAT HAD BEEN HOLDING THE AIRCONDIONER TO REST OF THE CAR, THE FAN BELT WAS REPLACED ANDBOLT WELDED

IT SEEMS THESE TROUBLES ARE UNUSUAL FOR ANY CAR OWNER AND VERY COSTLY!! THE SPEEDOMETER WAS RELACED BY MY HUSBAND WITH A PART BOUGHT ONLINE FOR $50 IN ONE DAY, WHERE THE DEALER WOULD HAVE HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND CHARGED US $350. HOWEVER, THE CLUTCH IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM. THE DEALER QUOTED THE PART AT $51, WITH LABOR AT $700. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT IS A SAFETY FACTOR, SINCE I COULD NOT ENGAGE THE CLUTCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AND AM TERRIFIED TO ATTEMPT TO DRIVE IT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY FIXED. CAN THE MANUFACTURER BE HELD RESPONSIBLE?*AK

AXLE SEAL FAILED, CAUSED BRAKE SHOES TO ROTATE AND LOCK RR WHEEL. *AK

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT ON AN ICY AFTERNOON HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH AND HIT THE UTILITY POLE, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE CENTER OF THE BAG. A NEIGHBOR SAW WHAT HAPPENED ,CAME OVER, OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR, AND BEAT THE FLAMES UNTIL THE FIRE WAS OUT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND FORCED THE CONTACT LEFT HAND TO GO THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WHICH SHATTER,ED,AND CAUSED CONTUSIONS TO HIS KNUCKLES. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE POLICE AND THERE WAS REPORT. THE OFFICER COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE AIRBAGS COULD HAVE DEPLOYED BECAUSE THE UTILITY POLE HAD NO DAMAGE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID RECEIVE A DING. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AVAILABLE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE UTILITY POLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07.*JB

CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE ON, HEARD LOUD HISSING NOISE, SMELLED FOUL ODOR, AND NOTICED THAT PROPELANT OR CHEMICALS OF AIRBAG WAS BEING RELEASED INSIDE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. SHE STATES THAT SHE GOT INTO HER VEHICLE AND INSERTED THE KEY. SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE TURNED THE KEY, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SHE STATES SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, WAITED AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AGAIN, THEN SHE SMELLED AND SAW SMOKE, THEN THERE WAS FIRE. SHE SAID HER HUSBAND AND THE NEIGHBOR PUT THE FIRE OUT. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE SHE HAD AN ELECTRICAL FIRE . SHE SAID SHE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW/USED MOTOR. SHE SAID SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED. *JB

THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND ANOTHER FUSE CONROLLING DOME LIHT BLEW OUT. YH

CROSS MEMBER OF VEHICLE IS HELD IN PLACE BY ONE BOLT, BOLT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BADLY. HARD TO CONTROL, ALMOST LOST DRIVESHAFT.*AK

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT I'LL NEED TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPAIRED/REPLACED. IT WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR REVERSE WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE. PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW BARELY GOES UP AND DOWN-IT'S BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. REAR PASSENGER SIDE PANEL FALLING OFF CAR.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT I'LL NEED TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPAIRED/REPLACED. IT WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR REVERSE WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE. PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW BARELY GOES UP AND DOWN-IT'S BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. REAR PASSENGER SIDE PANEL FALLING OFF CAR.

CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE.

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS NHTSA RECALL 96-V-121-002 RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND ANOTHER FUSE CONROLLING DOME LIHT BLEW OUT. YH

CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE.

THE REAR SEAT BELT LOCKING CLIP BROKE, WHEN TRYING TO SECURE THE CSS IT WILL NOT LOCK THE CHILD IN BECAUSE OF THE BROKEN SEAT BELT IN THE REAR. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER LEAKING/CONDENSATION THRU THE VENTS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

DRIVING ALONG VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING AND HEARD A NOISE, LOST CONTROL AND LANDED IN SOMEONE'S YARD. THE TIE ROD END SNAPPED IN HALF, VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE, HAD TO BE TOWED IN. *AK

WHEN FOLDED REAR TWO SEAT, BRACKET STRAP HOOK IS NOT SECURE, SLIPS OUT FROM BRACET; SLAMS FORWARD WHILE DRIVING; HAPPENS DURING VEHICLE VIBRATION.

WHEN PLACING THE VEHICLE IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE THE WHEELS LOCKS UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN TRAFFIC. *AK

WHEN TAKING FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK

CLUTCH PEDAL SEPARATES FROM PIVOT SHAFT. WELD BRAKES, PEDAL DETACHES, VEHICLE DISABLED. THIRD OCCURRENCE. OEM PEDAL REPLACEMENT REVEALS NO-WARRANTY, COMMON OCCURRENCE FAILURE MODE. PEDAL RE-ATTACHED TO SHAFT BY PROFESSIONAL WELDERS ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES. HAVE REPLACED CLUTCH CABLE, CLUTCH PLATE & THROWOUT BEARING WITHOUT RESOLUTION. HYDRAULIC REPLACEMENT INVESTIGATION IN PROGRESS. *TR