RoadVitals

2009 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.
48
Latest Oct 6, 2020
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.
7
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 48 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Suzuki SX4, most frequently naming the airbags, engine and steering categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 10 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

  • Airbags2944.6%
  • Engine812.3%
  • Steering57.7%
  • Interior & seats46.2%
  • Electrical46.2%
  • Brakes34.6%
  • Seat belts34.6%
  • Powertrain (other)34.6%

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 48
Fuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2020

FUEL FILLER NECK LEAKS FUEL.

NHTSA ID
11362965
Incident
Sep 20, 2009
Mileage
86,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 20, 2019

WHILE DRIVING SUCH CAR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STATE SOLID SO I PULL OFF THE STREET TO CHECK WHAT'S GOING AND SHUT OFF THE CAR AFTER THAT THE CAR DO NOT START IMMEDIATELY SO TAKE THREE TIMES TO STARTED IT. SINCE THEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON.

NHTSA ID
11269607
Incident
Oct 18, 2019
Mileage
187,000 mi
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Aug 18, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. AIRBAG LIGHT ON, HAS COME OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES. NOW ON, LIGHT WILL NOT RESET. INDICATES PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID
11244819
Incident
May 31, 2019
Mileage
164,000 mi
AirbagsEngine
Filed Nov 29, 2018

FIRST ISSUE IS THE AIRBAGS - DRIVER SIDE CENSOR LIGHT HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE BACK IN 2010. I HAD TO GET THE ENGINE REPLACED DUE TO "ROD KNOCK" ONLY TO FIND THAT THE USED ENGINE OF 52,XXX MILES HAS A LEAK ON THE REAR MAIN SEAL. IT'S LIKELY THAT ISSUE THAT LEAD TO MY ORIGINAL ENGINE FAILING AT AROUND 74,000 MILES. THE DRIVER AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AFTER SAID ENGINE REPLACING. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS ON HERE, IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT I'LL NEED TO DISH OUT OVER 1.1K TO FIX IT. I HAD THE RECALL FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, HAD THAT FIXED AROUND THE 74K MILE MARK. GOT THE CAR UNDER 20K MILES.

NHTSA ID
11154809
Incident
Nov 29, 2018
Mileage
74,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jun 5, 2018

PAINT IS BAD CLEAR COAT IS GONE

NHTSA ID
11100052
Incident
Feb 2, 2010
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2017

CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND IN 3 / 6 LANE TRAFFIC 45 MPH IN TOWN WHEN A LOUD KNOCK STARTED KNOCKING UNDER THE HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I FOUND A PLACE TO PULL OFF OTHERWISE COULD HAVE STALLED CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH OF VEHICLES. I CALLED AAA TO HAVE IT TOWED. THE REPAIR SHOP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. CAR HAS 72,072 MILES ON IT. THE 7 YEAR WARRANTY RAN OUT JULY 24, 2016. THIS HAPPENED LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER WARRANTY AND 9 MONTHS AFTER LAST CAR PAYMENT. IT HASN'T REACHED 100,000 YET FOR THE DRIVE TRAIN. PRETTY SAD.

NHTSA ID
10955351
Incident
Jan 16, 2017
Mileage
72,072 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 21, 2016
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVEN N THE LIGHTS FROM THE TOP ALL THE ELECTRICAL GOT ON FIRE , I FOUND OUT SINCE 2005 A BOYFRIEND TOOK MY IDENITY

NHTSA ID
10908354
Incident
Aug 10, 2016
Brakes
Filed Mar 2, 2016

MY PARKING BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE IS RELEASED. COMES ON GOES OFF. WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS? [XXX] I BOUGHT THE CAR IN NOV 2015. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *BF *TR

NHTSA ID
10839342
Incident
Nov 25, 2015

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.

TS-01-02260R2

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

SUZUKI: DUE TO CHANGE IN LOAD ON PASSENGER SEAT WITH SHIFTING OF WEIGHT AND OBJECTS IN SEAT, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, CAUSING AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION MODULE (OCM) ERROR. MODELS 2009 SX-4. *PE

ASMC-009375

AIR BAGS

SUZUKI: COUNTER MEASURE PROCEDURE FOR DTC B1318. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES, AND DTC B1318 IS STORED. THIS TYPICALLY CAN RESULT FROM A CHANGE IN LOAD ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. *JS

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

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
2009Viewing483157.3
20081013157.3
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.