RoadVitals

2008 Suzuki SX4

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.
101
Latest Nov 30, 2022
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.
3
Latest Sep 6, 2013
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.
12
9 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 101 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Suzuki SX4, most frequently naming the airbags, electrical and seat belts categories. 3 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

  • Airbags7454.0%
  • Electrical139.5%
  • Seat belts107.3%
  • Interior & seats75.1%
  • Engine64.4%
  • Visibility42.9%
  • Body & structure32.2%
  • Other / unspecified32.2%

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

3 campaigns cover this model year

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
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
10V513000

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Oct 19, 2010
69,587 units potentially affected
The defect: SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 SX4 HATCHBACK AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SX4 HATCHBACK AND SEDAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THREE SCREWS THAT SECURE EACH OF THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS TO THE MIRROR BASE CAN COME LOOSE DUE TO VIBRATION.
The risk: IF A REAR VIEW MIRROR FALLS OFF THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER WILL HAVE REDUCED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BASE SCREWS ON BOTH OUTER REAR VIEW MIRRORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985 OR VISIT SUZUKI'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SUZUKIAUTO.COM.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.Manufacturer number SKView on NHTSA.gov
10V392000

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Sep 1, 2010
20,692 units potentially affected
The defect: SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.
The risk: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.Manufacturer number SJView 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 101
Airbags
Filed Nov 30, 2022

Cushion was change and diagnostic still shows like cushion wasn't changed

NHTSA ID
11495498
Incident
Nov 1, 2022
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2020

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS NO LONGER IN SERVICE ACCORDING TO THE SYMBOL ON THE DASH BOARD.

NHTSA ID
11310076
Incident
Jan 15, 2020
Mileage
98,860 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 24, 2019

POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY FAILS WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWING ENGINE FAILURE & HARD STEERING ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11203501
Incident
Apr 24, 2019
Mileage
78,214 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 6, 2017

WHEEL BEARING AND HUB FAIL AND SENSORS ABS SEND A LIGHT CHECK ENGINE

NHTSA ID
10949944
Incident
Apr 15, 2009
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jan 10, 2017

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSISTENTLY ON AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THAT IT'S THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT IS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO BE ACTIVATED. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY $2000.00 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT? SUZUKI SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IF SOMEONE IS HURT OR POSSIBLY KILLED IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG ISN'T ACTIVATED, BECAUSE OF A SEAT MAT THAT THEY PLACED IN THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT SEEMS THAT OTHER DRIVER'S OF SUZUKI SX4 CARS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10944068
Incident
Jun 13, 2011
Airbags
Filed Jun 2, 2016

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MITSUBISHI DEALER THAT IS HANDLING SUZUKI REPAIRS FOR SUZUKI IN RESPONSE TO THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR ISSUE RELATED TO THE AIRBAG. THE DASH LIGHT FOR AIRBAG ERROR NO LONGER APPEARED AFTER THAT FIX, BUT IT RETURNED WITHIN THREE MONTHS. THE MITSUBISHI DEALER SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO GET IT FIXED.

NHTSA ID
10871998
Incident
May 14, 2014
AirbagsEngineInterior & seats
Filed Apr 26, 2016

I HAVE A YELLOW LIGHT AND AND RED AIRBAG LIGHT ON I ALREADY TOKE TO THE DEALER AND IT'S STILL THE SAME AND NOW THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND THE DEALER IN OUR AREA MOVE NOWHERE TO BE FOUND WHAT CAN I DO OR WHERE CAN I TAKE IT TO GET CHECK

NHTSA ID
10861617
Incident
Apr 20, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesElectrical
Filed Feb 17, 2016

RADIO CHANGED OUT 2X AFTER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LIGHT FOR AIR BAG HAS BEEN ON FOR 3 YRS. BRAKES HAVE HAD TO GET WORKED ON 2X BEFORE IT HIT 50,000, CLIP ON DRIVERSIDE MAT BROKE AFTER 2 MONTHS OF HAVING CAR, DOOR PANELS ON BOTH FRONT AND BACK PASSANGER SIDE KEPT FALLING OFF AND KEPT TAKING CAR BACK TO FIX TILL THEY HAD NO REPLACEMENT PARTS THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD THERE ARE MANY SAFETY ISSUES BLIND SPOTS BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, AND ALL THE LITTLE ISSUES FROM 2 BATTERIES REPLACED TO 2 SETS OF BRAKE JOBS TO ELECTRICALS TO 3 SETS OF TIRES, AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 80,OOO MILES OR LESS. I'VE HAD IT 9 YRS MOSTLY AS A SECOND CAR AND ALWAYS PROBLEMS INCLUDING PAINT. BUT THE SAFETY ISSUES AND THE CRAP CAR WE WERE SOLD KEPT IT CAUSE NOBODY IN THERE RIGHT MIND WANTS IT I AM 1ST YR OWNER THIS CAR SUCKS FFFFFFF IS WHAT IT SHOULD RATE THE CAR DEALERS WONT FIX IT THEY MAKE YOU COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THE PARTS HAVE TO BE FOUND BECAUSE THE PLANT GOT WASHED AWAY AND THE PARTS WITH IT. AND THAT COMPANY WONT LET THEM HOLD PARTS IN THERE SHOPS SO HURRY UP AND WAIT IT IS THE TRAINSHAF IS CRACKED BUT HEY ITS A SECOND CAR THAT COST TOO MUCH AND GIVES TOO LITTLE JUST FOUND THIS WEBSITE THANK TO CONSUMERREPORT MAGAZINE, THIS CAR WAS CRAP FROM DAY ONE WHEN IT ROLLED OF THE TRUCK IN 2008

NHTSA ID
10836761
Incident
Dec 1, 2008
Mileage
100 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.

SUZ_013377

POWER TRAIN

THIS BULLETIN ANNOUNCES THE AVAILABILITY OF AN IMPROVED DRIVESHAFT FLANGE AND DIFFERENTIAL SIDE OIL SEAL FOR 4WD SX4 VEHICLES. THE IMPROVED PARTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO IMPROVE PREVENTION OF CORROSION ON VEHICLES DRIVEN IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

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-TS-02-05222

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

SUZUKI: DUE TO REPEATED FLEXING, THE FRONT PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM CIRCUIT LOCATED WITHIN SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION ASSEMBLY, HAVE AN ELECTRIC DISCONNECTION. *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

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 SX4 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013155051.5
2012403050.3
2011133149.6
2010215163.6
2009483157.3
2008Viewing1013157.3
2007732152.1
2000100—

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.