Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Suzuki Xl-7 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
My car was running when I checked it into the vechicle repair shop at Firestone address of 2311 Military rd Niagara Falls, New York 14304. When it got tolled back to my address it did not turn over. They said it was the battery but when I had a knew battery adjusted in my vechicle it still did not work. Therefore the issues is on the Firestone repair to cover any charges at another shop to get repaired at the cost they charge.
I have went through 2 engines 2 timing chains and 4 loans to keep this suv running 3999.98 for the first engine and the same for the second 1200 times 2 for the timing chain if you know a vehicle has this many problems why haven't you removed it. It's not safe or reliable now my locks don't want to lock unlock I have 14 different error codes on my check engine light after I put the second engine in! In less than a year!!!
THE VEHICLE TIMING IS OFF, DUE TO FAULTY TIMING EQUIPMENT. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL?
RECEIVED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CODES WERE AS BEFORE POINTED TO A STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SAID THIS TIME IT WAS FROM LOW OIL PRESSURE. WHY WAS THERE NOT A LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT IF IT WILL RUIN ENGINE COMPONENTS? SUZUKI HAS A TSB FOR TIMING CHAINS AND INDIVIDUAL PART NUMBERS FOR THESE KITS WHICH TELLS ME THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI XL7. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT AND TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE TIMING CHAIN BELT FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
MY 2008 XL7 HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. THE SUNROOF HAS KEPT LEAKING INTO THE CABIN LIGHTS AND INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE CEILING REQUIRING 2 VISIT TO A BODY SHOP TO FIX THE SEAL. MY TRANSMISSION CONTROL REQUIRED REPLACING DUE TO MY CAR JERKING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW KEEPS COMING OFF THE TRACK. MY BACK DOORS NO LONGER UNLOCK EXCEPT FROM THE INSIDE. MY RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW NO LONGER ROLLS DOWN AT ALL. NOW MY PAINT IS PEELING ABOVE BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS. THE PAINT LOOKED BUMPY AND PEELED OFF AFTER A RECENT STORM. UNDERNEATH IS A WHITE POWDER COATING AND IT'S RUSTED UNDERNEATH AS WELL.
WE WERE DRIVING WITH NO ISSUES AND CHK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DROVE IN TECHNICIAN STATED OVER TWO QTS LOW ON OIL. HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON VEHICLE AND WARRANTY REQUIRED INSPECTION. THIS IS THE REPORT: INSPECTION FINDINGS TECHNICIAN HAS DOCUMENTED HAD CODE P0018 CAM SHAFT/CRANKSHAFT CORRELATION CODE AND CODE P0008 CAM POSITION PERFORMANCE CODE WAS IN SYSTEM, TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE WAS 2 QUARTS LOW ON OIL WHEN VEHICLE ARRIVED, OIL STICKER IN WINDSHIELD STATES NEXT OIL CHANGE AT 113574 MILES AND VEHICLE NOW HAS 114588 MILES, TECHNICIAN HAS REMOVED BOTH VALVE COVERS AND REAR CYLINDER HEAD APPEARS DRY AND CAM LOBES ON REAR CAM/EXHAUST SHAFT ARE SCORED AND BEARING CAPS ARE DARKER IN COLOR THAN THE FRONT CYLINDER HEAD CAMSHAFT BEARINGS, REAR CYLINDER HEAD LOOKS DARKER IN COLOR DUE TO LACK OF OIL PRESSURE TO REAR CYLINDER, TECHNICIAN HAS REMOVED CAM BEARING ON FRONT AND REAR CYLINDER HEADS AND BEARINGS ARE JUST SLIGHTLY SCORED, NO TEARDOWN HAS BEEN PERFORM TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE, NO TEARDOWN HAS BEEN FORMED COULD NOT DETERMINE IF TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED OR IF ANY TIMING COMPONENTS HAVE FAILED, FURTHER TEARDOWN WOULD BE NEEDED TO DETERMINE IF FAILURE IS FROM LACK OF OIL OR MANUFACTURE DEFECT. NO SIGN OF ANY EXTERNAL FLUID LEAKS, AND REPAIR FACILITY STATED VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN BEFORE FOR LOW OIL, VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN BEFORE FOR OIL CHANGES NO NOTES RELATING TO LOW OIL. THIS IS THE SAME STORY AS MANY RELATED ISSUES WITH THE SUZUKI ENGINE. THE OFFICIAL REPORT IS UPLOADED AS WELL. IF THERE ARE NO ISSUES WITH ENGINE, THEN WHY DID SUZUKI PUT OUT TIMING CHAIN SERVICE KITS SPECIFIC TO THIS ERROR?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI XL7. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WAS TOLD BY OUR LOCAL GARAGE THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEEDED SPECIAL TOOLS TO DO THE JOB, SO WE HAD TO TAKE IT TO A FORMER SUZUKI DEALER THAT STILL HAD SPECIALTY TOOLS AND HAD IT FIXED FOR $2200. FORMER DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. ALSO CONTACTED SUZUKI USA AND FILED A COMPLAINT.
I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE WITHOUT BEING INFORMED THAT APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES PRIOR THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ENGINE ISSUES, AS THE TIMING CHAINS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH A WARRANTY THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND DEALERSHIP FAIL TO COMPLY WITH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT VARIOUS ISSUES THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SINCE THE FIRST DAY OF TAKING IT OFF THE LOT, YET THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT ANY ISSUES. WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON ROUTE 65 IN MID JANUARY, THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO VIOLENTLY JERK AND BUCK, WHILE LOOSING SPEED. I PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND TURNED IT OFF, WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY. I LET THE VEHICLE SIT, HAVING TO THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BE DIAGNOSED. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED, I FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. AFTER GETTING A SECOND OPINION, I FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAINS WERE PROBABLY THE ISSUE. I BEGAN TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE VEHICLE ITSELF AND FOUND THAT THE TIMING CHAINS WERE CHANGED AT 97K. NOW I AM STUCK WITH PAYING ON A DEFECTIVE UNSAFE VEHICLE.
TO BEGIN, MY MOONROOF LEAKED INTO THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS IN THE CABIN ANY TIME I WASHED THE CAR. HAD TO TAKE IT IN 3 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED. WINDOW SEALS WERE BUCKLING AND GOT THOSE REPLACED BY DEALER - BUT CONTINUED TO BUCKLE. ALL STABILITRAC LIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. KEY FOB WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AROUND 85000 THEN THE REAR DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO IT. REPLACED BATTERY IN FOB AND HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO ONLY HAVE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE DOOR WAS GOING OUT. WHILE I WAS TURNING A CORNER IN MY 2008 XL7, I HEARD A GRINDING/RATTLING NOISE THAT SEEMED TO WORSEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND WOULD GO AWAY AS I ACCELERATED THROUGH THE TURN AROUND 90000 MILES. POWER STEERING FELT TIGHT, ABS LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AWD OFF, STABIL-TRAC LIGHT ALL CAME ON...INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK IT IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS BEFORE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE/SOUND. AT 95700 MILES SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING, TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. AT 103000 MILES THE NOISE/RATTLING/GRINDING IS BACK IN FORCE. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DUPLICATE IT, PULLED MULTIPLE MIS-FIRE CODES P0300, P0301,P0305, & P0303. REPLACED A WEAK BATTERY, CHANGE THE OIL AND DIAGNOSED THE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CALLED SUZUKI TO EXPLAIN THAT THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 15000 MILES SPORADICALLY, FINALLY GOT IT DIAGNOSED AFTER THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND THE FIX IS AROUND $3000. THIS IS A PREVALENT RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE XL7 2007-2009. AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS I HAVE SEEN REGARDING THIS ISSUE, KNOWING THAT IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT LIKE THIS THAT IT COULD DESTROY THE ENTIRE ENGINE, SUZUKI SHOULD BE ISSUING A RECALL AND FIXING THIS DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. *TR
THE TIMING CHAINS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 2 YEARS EVERY TIME INSPECTION IS DEW THEY ALWAYS KICK ON LIGHT SUZUKI REFUSES TO FIX ISSUE BUT SAME MOTOR AS CHEVY EQUINOX AND THEY HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON CHAINS .THIS RECALL SHOULD BE ON XL7 AS WELL HAS SAME ISSUE SAME MOTOR BUT NOTHING BEING DONE TO FIX PROBLEM. 2700 DOLLAR REPAIR EVERY YEAR TO PASS INSPECTION. THEIR A LEMON.( JUNK) *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A RUBBING SOUND WHEN TURNING BACK AND FORTH. I HAD IT FIXED ONCE WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE BUT NOW I'M AT 101,000 MILES AND IT'S BACK. UNFORTUNATELY I'M NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE, SO THIS REPAIR WILL HAVE TO BE OUT OF POCKET. DISAPPOINTED, HAD I KNOWN THAT I WAS GETTING A SUZUKI WITH GM PARTS I WOULD HAVE NEVER CONSIDERED BUYING IT. I HAD A 2002 SUZUKI XL7 AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT I ENCOUNTER ON MY VEHICLE IS THAT IT BURNS WAY TOO MUCH OIL. THE OIL CHANGES COME AROUND ALOT SOONER THAT THE INDICATOR DISPLAYS ON THE PANEL. DEALERSHIP HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR IT. *TR
IN GEORGIA WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE EMISSIONS COMPLETED EVERY YEAR AROUND YOUR BIRTHDAY. FOR SOME REASON THE CAR WOULDN'T PASS BECAUSE OF CODES P0018, P0017, AND P0008. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON TREND WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. SO I ASSUME IT'S A MANUFACTURER ERROR. IT'S ALSO COMMON FOR THE 2007 MODELS AS WELL. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE TIMING ON VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THERE WAS A SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE DRIVING 20 MILES PER HOUR ON AN ICY ROAD THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL, SERVICE AWD, AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND SURGED AND MY BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE SLID AND FISHTAILED. I REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND PUSHED THE GAS LIGHTLY TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND I SLID INTO A CANAL. I WAS ABLE TO CLIMB INTO THE BACK SEAT, ESCAPE OUT THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR, AND SWIM TO SAFETY. *TR
I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF WALL MART WITH THE ENGINE IDLING HEARD A LOUD NOISE THE CAR STARTED SHAKING,TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY,GOT OUT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD NOTHING VISIBLE AT THE TIME. GOT BACK IN STARTED THE CAR CHECKED TEMP GAUGE EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE, AND THE LOUD NOISE AGAIN CAR STARTED SHAKING,GOT OUT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD COULD SEE A LITTLE ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND,TURNED CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY,HAD IT TOWED TO MATT BLATT A SUZUKI DEALER IN GLASSBORO NJ GOT A CALL THREE DAYS LATER, INFORMED THE FAN BLADES CAME OFF THE PULLEY HIT THE RADIATOR MADE A HOLE IN IT, THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT WOULD COST$1200 TO REPAIR, INFORMED THE FRONT BUMPER WOULD HAVE TO COME OF WHICH ADDED TO THE LABOR COST, TOLD SERVICE TECH THAT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT, HE THEN GAVE ME THE NUMBER TO SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL.CALLED SAME THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT, THE CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AT 57000 MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM.NEEDLES TO SAY THIS LEFT A BAD TASTE IN OUR MOUTH FOR THIS PRODUCT WE ALSO HAD NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000. *TR
WAS TOLD THAT I WAS HEARING A NOISE THAT WASN'T THERE WHEN THE RACK N PINION STARTED TO FAIL. AND THAT THE DASH BOARD WAS SUPPOSE TO CRACK. I REALLY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH CHARACTERS TO TELL YOU HOW UNSAFE THIS CAR IS SO I'LL JUST GIVE YOU A LIST. WHICH TAKE ANOTHER 100+ OUT OFF MY POCKET, I CAN'T FIX THE CAR BUT MUST PAY FOR THE INSUREANCE. I ALSO CAN'T REGISTER THE CAR. AND IT IS TO DANGEROUS TODRIVE ANY WAY. WHILE SUZUKI FILES CHAPTER 11. LETS SEE IT ONE OF THE HIGHER UPS IN THE COMPANY WILL PAY FOR IT OUT OF HIS BONUS. 1 RACK N PINION 2 DASH BOARD CRACK A PASSANGERS AIR BAG WAS REPLACED CRACK AGAIN 3 REAR STRUT HAD TO BE REPLACED ON A 9 MONTH OLD CAR BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING4 FRONT PASSENGERS SEAT CAME OFF 4 FRONT PASSANGER SEAT CAME OFF HAD TO BE REPLACED 5 DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF 6 DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WORKS INTERMITTENTLY 7 DRIVERS SIDE LOCK DOSEN'T WORK 8 REPLACED 4 POWER STEERING PUMPS AT MY COST 9 ENGINE LIGHT CODE P0008 ON CAN'T REGISTER CAR. CAUSES POSSIBLE CAUSES OF OBD CODE P0008 10 STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF 11 RANDOMLY LOSE SPEED FROM 65 TO 25 ON FREEWAY 12 TIRE PSI ALWAYS WRONG 13 WINDSHIELD FLUID MOTOR NO LONGER WORKS. 14 " WIPER IN BACK GOES OFF WITH OUT POWER 15 2ND ROW SEAT BELTS ALWAYS GET STUCK 16 REAR DOORS RANDOMLY HAVE TO BE PRIED OPEN 17 CLIMATE CONTROL IN ALL 3 SECTIONS, AS WELL AS AC NO LONGER WORK 18BATTERY ALTHOUGH IN WORKING ORDER RANDOMLY NEEDS TO BE JUMPED. 19 STEREO ALTHOUGH REPLACE ONCE SWITCHES FROM RADIO TO AUX. 20 1ST TIME THE JACK WAS NEEDED TIRE IRON BROKE 21 METALLIC COVERING ON INSIDE DOOR HANDLES IS PEELING OFF CAUSING HANDS TO BE SLICED 22 CONSOLE CLIP BROKE WAS REPLACED, NOW VANITY MIRROR DRIVERS SIDE BROKE OFF. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE: P008 (VALIDATED THROUGH A LOCAL PARTS STORE) AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT TIRE SENSOR LIGHT ALL ARE ON OR OFF OR A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THEM. *TR
I TOO HAVE 2008 XL7, THAT REQUIRED SERVICE DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON WITH TICKING NOISE. I TOO WAS TOLD IT WAS DUE TO IMPROPER OIL FILTER BEING USED. MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 21,000 MILES. MY CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED AT SPEED LUBE IN MT. VERNON, IL. IF SUZUKI KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IMPROPER OIL FILTERS, WHY WERE THE OWNERS NOT ADVISED OF THIS PROBLEM WITH A BULLETIN NEWS LETTER. ONLY THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. I TOO SPENT APPROX $1500 TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR IF THE ENGINE WAS IDLE THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE A LOUD TICKING NOISE. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CHECK OIL LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED O HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER CONTINUED TO REPAIR DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE VEHICLE BUT NOT THE CORRECT PART TO STOP THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER THAT WAS BEING USED TO CHANGE THE OIL DISINTEGRATED, BROKE UP IN BIG PIECES AND BECAME STUCK IN THE ENGINE. THE REPAIR COST WILL BE $1600 IN ORDER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE APART TO DETERMINE THE CORRECT WAY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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