2000 Suzuki Vitara Owner Complaints

MY SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FAIL WHILE HITTING THE BRAKES ON AN OFFRAMP ON MY 2000 SUZUKI VITARA. MY WHOLE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THE PASSENGER NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL AND AFTER I INSPECTED IT, I FOUND THAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS MOUNTED TO THE CROSSMEMBER, IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PART FOR THE 2000 CHEVY TRACKER WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME VEHICLE. COULD NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE VITARA HOWEVER. I THINK THIS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS COMPONENT IS REPLACED AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE ALSO GOTTEN HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10348381

Incident

Jul 8, 2010

Mileage

108,519 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 3/18/08 AND AS I LEFT THE GAS STATION I HEARD THIS POP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR CUT OFF. LATER AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BELT POPPED. I WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUZUKI KNEW OF THIS, BUT HAD NO RECALL TO FIX OR CHANGE IT. I HAD NO IDEA OF THIS AND WAS TOLD WHEN BUYING THAT HAVING A CHAIN RATHER THAN A BELT WAS MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR CAR. NOT UNLESS IT POPS AND REPAIRS OF $2000 ARE NEEDED. I AM APPALLED THAT SUZUKI WOULD KNOW OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND IN NO WAY OF FIXING IT. I AM HOPING THAT SUZUKI COVERS THE COST OF THIS REPAIR AND REALIZES THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MOST OF THE CHARGE IS LABOR, BECAUSE IT WILL BE 11-13 HOURS TO GET TO THE CHAIN. I AM HOPING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE LOOK AT THIS AND REALIZES THAT IF SOMEONE INVEST IN YOUR PRODUCT THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO NEVER BREAKDOWN, BUT IF IT DOES AND IT SOMETHING YOU KNEW WAS DEFECTIVE THEN YOU SHOULD HELP TO REPAIR IT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10221852

Incident

Mar 17, 2008

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE STEERING ABILITY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ROTTED AT THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE CROSS MEMBER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CROSS MEMBER AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,300.

NHTSA ID

10210706

Incident

Mar 28, 2007

Mileage

29,000 mi

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DESPITE FRONTAL IMPACT AT ROUGHLY 550 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184360

Incident

Mar 4, 2007

Mileage

52,000 mi

SUZUKI IS AWARE OF LATENT DEFECTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN COVER SEALS THAT LEAK OIL AND WILL WORSEN OVER TIME. IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT THE LEAKS OCCUR WITH SUZUKI GRAND VITARAS FROM 1999-2001. MY GRAND VITARA IS ONE OF THOSE CARS WITH THE LATENT DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO A AUTHORIZED SUZUKI MECHANIC AS REQUIRED, BUT THEY NEVER INFORMED ME THAT SUZUKI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ON MY PART DID SUZUKI CORPORATION ACKNOWLEDGE THEY KNEW OF THE LATENT DEFECT. I AM ASKING SUZUKI IN ALL FAIRNESS TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BASED ON THIS DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10162838

Incident

Jun 6, 2006

Mileage

53,500 mi

MOTOR BLEW AT 94000 MILES RINGS WORE OUT AND POURED OIL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10153075

Incident

Dec 30, 2005

Mileage

94,545 mi

1. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION PUT INTO PARK POSITION. KEY WITHDRAWN. KEY TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK FAULTY 2. PARK POSITION DID NOT HOLD AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND PROPERTY. 3. AUTOMOBILE BEING REPAIRED, TRANSMISSION IGNITION KEY INTERFACE BEING INVESTIGATED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131056

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY WIFE BROUGHT IT IN TO ROYAL SUZUKI TUCSON,, ARIZONA REPEATEDLY WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER KEPT TELLING HER IT WAS HER FAULT FOR NOT CLOSING GAS CAP TIGHTLY ENOUGH. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AT A CHARGE OF $50 , EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE, EACH TIME. I EVEN BOUGHT A NEW GAS CAP, NO CHANGE. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY TELL US IT THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE TANK NEEDS REPLACING. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS FOR THIS, AND I REFUSE TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE PART THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEREFORE, MY WIFE , LISA SCHRANT, IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS MAY HIDE ANY NEW PROBLEMS WHICH MAY OCCUR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118107

Incident

May 15, 2001

AFTER PURCHASE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND MOTOR WENT OUT ON THE POWER WINDOWS. NEXT PROBLEM WAS A MAJOR OIL LEAK. SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN THAT I WOULD HAVE MORE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT FRONT AND REAR OIL SEALS WERE REPLACED. NOW AT 77,000 MILES AM BEING TOLD THAT MOTOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. OIL CHANGES WERE MAINTAINED REGULARLY. TIMING CHAINS IN MOTOR HAVE BROKE. STILL OWE ON VEHICLE AND WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AT 72,000 MILES. HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I ASKED DEALERSHIP WHY THE OIL SEALS WOULD GO OUT, THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION. HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH WAY OVER 100,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE OIL SEALS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10107849

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

35 mi

OWNER OF A 2000 SUZUKI VITARA 2.0L AND CAR IS NOT EVER 4 YEARS OLD YET BUT HAS 74,000 MILES AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALREADY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! NOW THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO PASS SMOG THE FIRST YEAR IT IS REQUIRED TO PASS SMOG FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES! WHAT KIND OF BULL IS THAT! JUST A WAY FOR CA. EMISSIONS TO GET MORE MONEY! *NM

NHTSA ID

10095569

Incident

Sep 26, 2004

THE BRAKES ON MY 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. THEY WERE REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2003 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THEY SQUEAK AND MAKE GRINDING NOISES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY SERVICE PEOPLE THAT THEY CONTACTED SUZUKI DIRECTLY AND WERE TOLD TO PUT ON SPECIAL NO SQUEAK BRAKES SO THEY DID---THEY STILL SQUEAK AND SOMETIMES GRIND. I HAVE HAD THE SERVICE PEOPLE CHECK THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE REPLACED THE FIRST SET OF BRAKES--THE BRAKES WERE WORN REALLY STRANGE. ONE PAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE ON THE BOTTOM HALF AND REALLY THICK ON THE TOP HALF. I THOUGHT I KEPT THEM BUT AM NOT SURE. THEY HAVE NOT FAILED ME BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT THEY WON'T SOMETIME IF I HAVE TO PUT THEM ON QUICKLY. I HAVE HEARD OTHER GRAND VITARA'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM--HAVE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF OWNERS AND THEY ARE JUST AS FRUSTRATED AS I AM. I ALSO HAD THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AS ANOTHER PERSON HERE. I HAD TO HAVE MY SWITCH REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO AND NOW IT IS DOING THE SAME THING. I AGREE WITH THAT PERSON--IF I HAD NOT HAD IT DONE UNDER WARRANTY--IT WOULD HAVE COST 360.00 TO FIX. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE 360.00 THIS TIME WHEN IT GOES OUT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO SUZUKI'S MANUFACTURING OF THESE CARS. I ALSO HAD MY CONDENSER GO OUT ON ME IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR. THAT IS A PART THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY SO SELDOM GO OUT. MY CAR HAS 95000 MILES ON IT AND ALREADY I HAVE PUT LOTS OF MONEY INTO IT!!! PLEASE HELP ME OUT AND DO SOME INVESTIGATION ON THESE CARS. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074968

Incident

Jun 30, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN INTO A 15 FEET EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10059196

REAR MAIN SEAL IN THE V-6 ENGINE FAILED AND SPRAYED OIL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. SMELLED LIKE IT COULD CATCH FIRE WITH THE OIL OPEN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046802

Incident

Oct 15, 2003

Mileage

62,000 mi

MY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE A 200 SUZUKI VITARA, AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTHS I NOTICED IT WASN'T SHIFTING JUST RIGHT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. RIGHT AWAY ALSO I NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE SAME ANSWER. FINALLY AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE FORCED TO TO REALLY DEAL WITH THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN THAT NEXT DAY. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP MY VEHICLE STALLED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN DUE TO THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE NEGLECTING. THE ENDED UP CHANGING THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH. WHEN I INTIALLY TOOK MY VEHICHLE IN I POINTED OUT A CRACK IN THE WINDSHEILD AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAD TAKEN MY VECHILE TO SEVERAL WINDOW REPAIR SHOPS. THE REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME IT WOULD BE POINTLESS TO GET A NEW WINDSHEILD BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE CRACK HAD STARTED FROM THE BODY, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM, TO DATE IT'S STILL CRACKED. NOW MY KEY IS CAUGHT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH IT WILL GO TO THE ACCESSORY POSITION BUT IT WILL NOT RELEASE MY KEY. EACH NIGHT I HAVE TO DISCONNECT MY BATTERY, TO PERSERVE IT. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TELL THEM MY YEAR, MAKE OR MODEL THEY ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND SAID IT HAPPEND QUITE A BIT. I JUST SUPRISED THIS KIND OF PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN PUT ON RECALL. MAYBE THERE ARE ENOUGH CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME NUMEROUS PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037262

Incident

Oct 8, 1999

DEFECTS AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DAMAGE BEHIND FAN ASSEMBLY. FAILURE OF CONDENSER IN LOCATION CONSISTENT WITH OTHER FAILURES BY OTHER OWNERS. PULL TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING EVEN AFTER ALIGHNMENT, SIMILAR TO OTHER OWNER COMPLAINTS. VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING AND PREMATURE WEAR, SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER OWNERS. ITEMS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030953

Incident

Aug 5, 2003

Mileage

1 mi

CONDENSER FINS BEHIND ELECTRIC FAN ARE BENT/SMASHED; FAN BLADES APPEAR NOT TO HAVE CONTACTED FIN AREA; NO FRONT END DAMAGE; FINS OUTSIDE FAN AREA APPEAR IN NEW CONDITION; ONE OTHER VEHICLE AT DEALER CHECKED AND HAS SIMILAR DAMAGE; APPEARS TO BE DESIGN PROBLEM

NHTSA ID

765312

Incident

Jun 15, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL VIBRATE HARD, AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012660

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

THE LOWER CONNECTOR ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. AUTO BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY BOTH FEEL THAT IT WAS INSTALLED WRONG WHICH IS WHY IN SNAPPED. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND SUZUKI WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY CLAMING THAT IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL ERROR. I HAVE THE OTHER HALF OF THE PIECE THAT SNAPPED OFF AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT IT IS A DEFECTED PART.*AK

NHTSA ID

763348

Incident

May 29, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 TO 20 MPH FELT A THUMP AND PULLED OVER, GOT OUT. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS ALMOST OFF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, MECHANIC STATED THAT LOWER CONTROL ARM THAT HOLDS WHEEL IN PLACE SNAPPED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8012232

Incident

May 29, 2002

I HAD THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT SEVERAL TIME AND THE BELTS WERE CHANGED 3 TIMES. I AM STARTING TO EXPIERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

762525

Incident

Sep 29, 2000

POWER ASSIST BOOSTER FAILED WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8010483

Incident

May 7, 2002

DEALER SAID THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS OUT OF BALANCE. ON ONE OCCASION WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE BADLY, WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS PULLING WILDLY TO BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND THE WHEEL ITSELF WAS LEANING TOWARD THE RIGHT. CONTINUED TO RIDE OVER A BRIDGE AND ALMOST AT THE END THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL AND THE CAR WENT CAREENING INTO THE LAST SEGMENT OFF THE GUARD RAIL ON RIGHT HAND SIDE, THEN VEERED TO THE LEFT AND WENT SPINNING ACROSS THE MEDIAN, BRIEFLY SPINNING INTO THE EAST BOUND LANE, EVENTUALLY COMING TO A STOP IN THE MEDIAN.

NHTSA ID

9006469

Incident

Jan 12, 2002

THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE SPRINGS SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION, THANK GOD IT WAS NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEED! TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH NO PARTS TOOK TWO MONTHS UNDRIVABLE FOR REPAIR. NEXT FAILURE WAS A MAJOR OIL LEAK, DEALER SAYS CAN'T TELL WHERE ITS COMING FROM AS OIL IS EVERYWHERE , CAUSED METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL AND REPORTEDLY NEEDS NEW ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED THOUGH DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN A QUART OF OIL LEFT IN ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

758793

Incident

Sep 15, 2001

WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD COME TO A STOP. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

8003722

Incident

Nov 6, 2001

BRAKES WENT UP ONLY AFTER PUTTING 11032 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, BRAKES PADS ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT THE PROPER PADS FOR THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

9005242

Incident

Oct 23, 2001