2001 Suzuki Vitara Owner Complaints

THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER POP'S OUT WHEN IT DONE TO WERE I CAN'T FIND IT, IT HAS BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS IN MY TRAY,AND FLOOR. ALSO THE GAS PEDAL STICK'S WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON IT TO GIVE A VERBAL ACCELERATION TO GET AROUND SOMEONE ETC. THE AIR IN THE TIRE'S ARE ALWAYS GOING DOWN. THE OIL SAYS IT LOW EVERYTIME I LOOK AT IT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE BELT ON THE AC KEEP LOSING AND NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE IT NOW HAS FREEZED UP ON ME. THE RADIO AT 12:00 AM AND PM READS 00. THEN THE MINUTES ONLY DISPLACED. THERE'S A RATTLE UNDER THE CAR, DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS? WHEN I PUT THE 4X4 ON IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING BACK INTO THE REGULAR GEAR. SO REALLY JUST NEEDED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESES PROBLEM'S? *TR

NHTSA ID

10232727

Incident

Mar 30, 2006

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM ZERO TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CARPORT. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE ROADS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CARPORT AND THE SHED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE RAINY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH ANY INFORMATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED MULTIPLE REPAIR ORDERS, INSURANCE CLAIMS, AND LEGAL DOCUMENTATION PERTAINING TO THIS INCIDENT, INSURANCE CLAIMS, AND RENTAL DOCUMENTS. UPDATED 08/27/07 *TR

NHTSA ID

10198253

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

67,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 (2001) THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN MY HANDS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RIP IN THE RUBBER BOOT UNDER THE SUV ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (FRONT). I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED A 1/2 SHAFT. I STUCK MY FINGER IN THE RIP OF THE RUBBER BOOT AND FELT A BUNCH OF PIECES ON METAL & LARGE BALL BEARINGS LAYING IN THERE. I HAD TO PARK THE SUV AND CALL SOMEONE TO PICK UP MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN SO THAT WE COULD PICK UP THE WIFE WHICH WAS BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. I RENTED A U-HAUL TRUCK WITH A TRAILER (185.00) AND DROVE IT BACK FROM MILWAUKEE. DECEMBER 24TH. I PLACED THE SUV ON JACK STANDS AND TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND THE CAP FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE OUTER PART BY THE BREAK DRUM, I FOUND A RETAINER CLIP ABOUT 1" IN DIAMETER. I REMOVED IT AND THE INNER PART OF THE 1/2 SHAFT FELL OFF FROM THE INNER PART OF THE BREAK DRUM. I FOUND OUT THAT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING THE DRIVE SHAFT IN PLACE WAS THE RETAINING CLIP. WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEALERS IN THE AREA ANYMORE. I CALLED EVERY PARTS STORE IN THE AREA AND NO ONE COULD SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW PART. I CALLED A NUMBER OF JUNK YARDS TO FIND THE PART AND FOUND 1. THE USED PART COST ME 75.00 I REPLACED IT WITH EASE BUT KNOW THE SUV SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THE SUV CHECKED OUT BY A SERVICE STATION FOR ALIGNMENT. IT MAY COST US MORE IF THERE IS MORE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT NOTICED BY THE EYE. P. S. THERE WAS NOT WARNING THAT THE SUV WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ID

10179242

Incident

Dec 23, 2006

Mileage

78,390 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WENT INTO A MEDIAN AND HIT A TREE. THE FRONT MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THEREFORE, SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPEED. SHE MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP. NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT BROKE HER NOSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10140435

Incident

Oct 19, 2005

OIL LEAK THAT HAS BEEN A KNOWN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND NOT YET CORRECTED BY SUZUKI

NHTSA ID

10125128

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

2001 SUZUKI GR.VITARA 25,000 MILES ON ENGINE. TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE,LOSS OF POWER. SUZUKI STATED TIMING TENSIONER IS THE CAUSE. REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY 3 TIMES, WITHIN 6 MONTHS. EXTRA COSTS PLACED ON COMSUMER. SUZUKI RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAINS,AND WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. THE ENGINE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND COULD HAVE SEIZED. FIRST REPAIR ON 12-21-04, SECOND ON 03-15-05, LAST REPAIR ON 06-06-05. AT PICKUP ON DATE OF LAST REPAIR, BELTS FROM FRONT OF ENGINE WERE SHREDDING OF THE PULLEYS! ON THAT DAY I TRADED-IN THE CAR, AS I WAS TIRED OF FIGHTING WITH SUZUKI AND MY FORMER DEALERSHIP FOR RERPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10125041

Incident

Jun 6, 2005

Mileage

25,800 mi

DT: RAN OFF THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ONTO THE SIDEWALK. CONSUMER HIT AN ELECTRICAL BOX AND STREET SIGN. THE CAR STOPPED AND THE POLICE AND EMV CAME. THE POLICE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION. CONSUMER DID HAVE PREVIOUS BACK PROBLEMS AND DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10121073

Incident

Mar 28, 2005

Mileage

24,000 mi

DRIVING AND SUDDENLY ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE AND STOPPED. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHT CAMEON, I DID NOT START THE VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. ONCE THE MECHANIC GOT IT STARTED HE TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT I HAD MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. DECIDED TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY NEPHEW'S MECHANIC WHOM I WOULD TRUST, AND THE FOUND THAT THE TIME CHAIN APPARTENTLY JUMPED STOPPED WHICH CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. ALSO, THEY HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THE REASON WHY THE TIMING CHAIN DID THIS WAS DUE TO A FOREIGN PIECE OF MEDAL THAT LOOKED LIKE A WASHER WHICH EVIDENTIALLY WORKED ITS WAY AND GOT CAUGHT INTO THE THE CHAIN. HE SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY THIS PIECE OF MEDAL COULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE WAS DURING THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. SUZUKI WAS NOT MUCH HELP. THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHICH WAS NOT CLOSE BY NOR DID I KNOW AT THE TIME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116331

Incident

Mar 14, 2004

Mileage

57,000 mi

OWNED VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS HAD OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 MONTHS NO PROBLEM TIL ON THE MARCH 14TH, 2005 I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBOR GOING AROUND 10 MPH AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE AND STOPS. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. DID NOT START THE VEHICLE UP. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. MECHANIC HAD TROUBLE GETTING IT STARTED AND ONCE HE GOT IT STARTED HE TOLD ME THAT HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WENT WRONG BUT HE ADVISED THAT MY ENGINE HAD GONE BAD. I THEN HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO MY NEPHEW'S WHOM I CAN TRUST. AND THEY FOUND OUT THE THE TIMING CHAIN APPARENTLY JUMPED STOPPED AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE WHICH THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116311

Incident

Mar 14, 2005

Mileage

57,000 mi

AT 48,000 MILES THE TIMING TENSIONER WENT OUT IN MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THIS HAS CAUSED COMPLETE DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE ENGINE REQUIRING A COMPLETE REBUILD BECAUSE OF A PART THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. SUZUKI HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY AND WOULD NOT HELP FIX THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY SAY THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAVE ZERO-MAINTENANCE AND SELF-ADJUSTING TIMING CHAINS. THE PART CLEARLY FAILED LONG BEFORE IT'S RATING AND NEED FOR REPLACEMENT (60,000MILES) AND I HAVE FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ON THE WEB WITH THE SAME ISSUE (AROUND 500 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS). SUZUKI HAS A PART OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR THE SAKE OF ALL CONSUMERS OUT THERE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108511

Incident

Jan 6, 2005

Mileage

48,225 mi

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE RUNS OVER A BUMP IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107089

Incident

Dec 23, 2004

Mileage

28,900 mi

DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE BEEN STOPPED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR FAULTY REAR TAILLIGHTS. IT SEEMS THE LIGHT BULBS WILL WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF THE SOCKETS AND LIGHT UP SOME OF THE TIME BUT USUALLY NOT AT ALL. *NM

NHTSA ID

10093738

Incident

Feb 20, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OF MY 2001 SUZUKI VITARA. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER THAT THIS HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. I FEEL THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL OF THESE VEHICLES, SUZUKI SHOULD RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPLACE IT WITH ONE THAT WILL NOT WEAR OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10073051

Incident

May 1, 2004

2001 GRAND VITARA 4 DOOR R235-60-16 TIRES; VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SWERVES SUDDENLY TO THE SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; FORCES CONSTANT CONTROL OF VEHICLE; EXPERIENCED BY AT LEAST 2 OTHER DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE; TIRES REPLACED; ALIGNMENT DONE; NO CHANGE; VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE UNSAFE ON TE HIGHWAY; IF TIRES ENCOUNTER AN IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD SUCH AS AN INDENTATION WHERE THE ASPHALT MEETS, IT WILL HIT THAT SPOT AND JUMP TO THE SIDE; SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS; REPORTED TO DEALER WHO SAID THERE IS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY; HOWEVER, IT APPEARDED IN THE LAST YEAR; ACTS AS IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH STEERING MECHANISM; HAD THIS PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE ON A DIFFERNT VEHIVLE & IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN *AK

NHTSA ID

10066451

Incident

Apr 14, 2004

Mileage

12,000 mi

THE TAIL LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THEN CAME BACK ON SOME HOURS LATER. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10048730

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BRIDGESTONE DEALER TO GET THE TIRES ROTATED. DEALER STATED THAT TREAD ON THE TIRES WERE GONE, AND CONSUMER SHOULD BUY FOUR NEW TIRES. BRIDGESTONE HT TIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029715

Mileage

14,500 mi

I HAVE BEEN DISSATISFIED WITH MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA SINCE I GOT IT. MY HUSBAND HAS HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL NUMBEROUS TIMES EVEN PRIOR TO THE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN TIMES WHEN HE WOULD CHANGE THE OIL, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO STAY ON AND I WOULD TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED THEN THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO STAY ON. I HAVE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE BEEN VERY DISSATIFIED WITH IT. I HAVE TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES TO EVEN HAVE A KEY MADE FOR IT. THE DOME LIGHTS DON'T COME ON UNTIL YOU TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. THE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK AMONG OTHER THINGS. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALER FOR ANYTHING, THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISSAPPOINTED WITH THEM AS WELL AS THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *AK

NHTSA ID

10025892

Incident

Jun 20, 2003

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES FRONT END SHAKES AND STEERING WILL VIBRATE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10022607

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

VEHICLE BURNS 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. 2ND ROW SAFETY BELTS ARE FRAYED ON PASSENGER & DRIVER SIDE FROM RUBBING AGAINST INTERIOR PLASTIC OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10020778

Incident

Jul 9, 2001

THE LEFT REAR DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE MOVING AND WITHOUT WARNING! THERE IS NO DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ON DASH TO ALERT DRIVER THAT A DOOR IS OPEN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10010659

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

2001 GRAND VITARA XL-7 4WD, FUEL LINE FEED (PIPE) TO THROTTLE BODY HAD CRACK CAUSEING GAS TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. FUEL PIPE IS LOCATED ON REAR OF THROTTLE BODY, LEFT SIDE (LOOKING FROM FRONT), TOWARDS FIREWALL. GAS LINE HAS "BANJO" FITTING WITH BANJO BOLT HOLDING LINE ONTO THROTTLE BODY. GAS LEAKS ONTO FITTING AND DROPS ONTO ENGINE. STRONG SMELL OF GAS IN CAB OF VEHICLE DURING WARM-UP AND AT IDLE. ONCE IN MOTION SMELL IS NOT AS STRONG IF AT ALL. SMELL IS REALLY BAD DURING SUMMER (WARMER) DAYS. REPLACEMENT OF THIS FUEL PIPE APPEARS TO HAVE CURED THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM FIRST NOTICED AROUND JULY 2002. FIRST VISITS TO DEALERSHIP PRODUCED NO RESULTS WITH THEIR EFFORT TO LOCATE SOURCE OF SMELL. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MADE AT TIGHTING GAS BYPASS LINES, EVAPORATOR LINES, VACUUM LINES, ETC. ALL UP FRONT, ON THE ENGINE. I FOUND LEAK BY SEARCHING FOR STRONGEST LOCATION OF SMELL, AT IDLE, ENGINE WARM, IN PARKING LOT. ONCE FOUND, SAW DROPS OF GASOLINE COMING FROM FUEL PIPE. NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP AND PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY REPLACEMENT OF FUEL PIPE WITHIN TWO DAYS.

NHTSA ID

10003156

Incident

Jul 15, 2001

Mileage

13,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH REAR END WOULD START TO RATTLE. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. 5000 MILES LATER, NOISE RESURFACED. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD DIFFERENTIAL THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8016280

Incident

Jan 14, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE KEYLESS REMOTES WOULD NOT WORK, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WRONG MODULE HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566435

Incident

Jan 2, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WILL SWERVE, AND ITS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. VEHICLE IS TOO LIGHT WEIGHT TO BE SWERVING IN STRONG WINDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8009620

DRIVESHAFT CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH. VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED COMPLETELY OUT, CONSUMER GOT BENEATH THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THAT DRIVETRAIN WAS DISLOCATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. SUZUKI WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK DEALER WILL REPAIR. *TT

NHTSA ID

8009191

Incident

Apr 26, 2002