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2003 Suzuki Aerio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 12 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Wheels. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

36 reports
27,961 miles · Mar 2, 2005
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH AND MAKING A TURN DRIVER TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE JUST STOPPED. THE LEFT FRONT CV AXLE CAME OUT OF THE TRANS AXLE. THE CLIP CAME OUT OF THE CV JOINT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME IMMOBILE. OWNER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10113294

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2005
Electronic Stability ControlService Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE TENDED TO SHAKE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND STEER THE VEHICLE . ALSO, VEHICLE HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. TAKEN FOR REPAIRS TWICE, BUT THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10109314

16,000 miles · Jan 19, 2005
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD CONTINUED TO FOG OR FREEZE WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ON. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10108526

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK.......PROBLEM HAPPENED EVERY TIME CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN 5TH GEAR. DEALER REPAIRED IT, BUT PROBLEM RECURR…

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WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK.......PROBLEM HAPPENED EVERY TIME CONSUMER PUT VEHICLE IN 5TH GEAR. DEALER REPAIRED IT, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED, THOUGH NOT AS REGULARLY. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR IT, CLAIMING CAR IS OPERATING WITHIN SPECS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10101981

22,000 miles · Nov 8, 2004
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

EN MARZO DEL 2003, ESTA SERVIDORA COMPRO UN AERIO SX GRIS DEL 2003 EN EL. CONCESIONARIO DE NIMAY SUSUKI EN VEGA BAJA, PUERTO RICO. AL LOS SEIS MESES. APROXIMADAMENTE DE ESTAR UTILIZANDO EL VEHICULO ESTE COMENZ A REFLEJAR FALLAS. *AK HASTA QUE SE APAGA MIENTRAS EST EN MOVIMIENTO. EL MISMO COMIENZA CON UN LEVE TEMBLOR EN EL …

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EN MARZO DEL 2003, ESTA SERVIDORA COMPRO UN AERIO SX GRIS DEL 2003 EN EL. CONCESIONARIO DE NIMAY SUSUKI EN VEGA BAJA, PUERTO RICO. AL LOS SEIS MESES. APROXIMADAMENTE DE ESTAR UTILIZANDO EL VEHICULO ESTE COMENZ A REFLEJAR FALLAS. *AK HASTA QUE SE APAGA MIENTRAS EST EN MOVIMIENTO. EL MISMO COMIENZA CON UN LEVE TEMBLOR EN EL GUA Y EN SEGUNDOS SE APAGA. YA LLEVA DOS VISITAS AL DEALER PARA CORRECCIN DEL PROBLEMA, PERO RECIENTEMENTE, EL VIERNES, 5 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2004, ME OCURRI UN SERIO PERCANCE BAJANDO UNA CUESTA. SE APAG EL MOTOR MIENTRAS BAJABAMOS LA CUESTA Y NO PUDE DETENERLO HASTA LLEGAR AL FINAL, O SEA BAJ APAGADO UNA DISTANCIA CONSIDERABLE. UNA DISTANCIA DURANTE LA CUAL MIS HIJOS Y YO PENSAMOS QUE NOS IBA PASAR LO PEOR. GRACIAS A DIOS PUDE CONTROLAR LA SITUACIN. HOY ES 8 DE NOVIEMBRE Y AN NO NOS HEMOS REPUESTO DEL SUSTO. NO ME HE ATREVIDO GUIAR EL CARRO OTRA VEZ. EN ESTOS MOMENTOS ESTOY EN NEGOCIACION CON EL DEALER PARA CORREGIR EL PROBLEMA DE MI AUTO POR TERCERA OCASIN YA QUE EL VEHICULO REBAS EL MILLAJE DE GARANTA POR ESCASAS 147 MILLAS. LES NARRO MI EXPERIENCIA POR SI HA SUCEDIDO LO MISMO CON OTRAS PERSONAS TOMEN CARTAS EN EL ASUNTO, YA QUE EN EL DEALER NO HAN ENCONTRADO LA RAZN PARA ESA FALLA. POR FAVOR AYUDENOS. YO NECESITO EL CARRO PARA IR A TRABAJAR Y PODER MANTENER A MIS HIJOS Y NO ES LOGICO QUE EN MENOS DE DOS AOS ME TENGA QUE QUEDAR A PIE CON UN CARRO QUE ESTOY PAGANDO MENSUALMENTE Y EL CUAL NO ME BRINDA SEGURIDAD. NECESITO QUE ALGUIEN ME ORIENTE. MI TELEFONO ES 1-787-392-0067

NHTSA ODI #10098457

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2004
Wheels

THE RIGHT FRONT RIMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIMS BEND EASILY AND ALLOW AIR TO ESCAPE UPON THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT ON ROAD SURFACES. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10089292

8,000 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Wheels

WHEN DRIVING OVER ANY TYPE OF BUMP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD ALUMINUM RIM BENT. THE PART WAS REPLACED TWICE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC

NHTSA ODI #10075818

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2004
SuspensionCrashInjury

PURCHASE CAR MAY 13, 2004 HAD 18,000.00 MILES IT WAS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED A CLICKING, AND CLACKING NOISE WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR MAKE A TURN. I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN ON JUNE 25, 2004. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET SERVICE ON JUNE 23,2004, AND TO FOUND OUT WHAT WAS THAT CLACKING, AND CL…

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PURCHASE CAR MAY 13, 2004 HAD 18,000.00 MILES IT WAS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTICED A CLICKING, AND CLACKING NOISE WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE OR MAKE A TURN. I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN ON JUNE 25, 2004. I TOOK THE CAR TO GET SERVICE ON JUNE 23,2004, AND TO FOUND OUT WHAT WAS THAT CLACKING, AND CLICKING NOISE I WAS HEARING. AFTER THE MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK AT THE CAR HE TOLD ME HE COULD HEAR IT TO, AND THAT THE BALL BEARING NEEDED WORK HE SAID HE DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS IN AT THE TIME AND WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THEM, AND THAT IT WOULD BE IN TOMORROW. I WAS THEN TOLD HE NEEDED THE PROPER TOOLS TO WORK ON IT BUT IF I COULD BRING IT IN THAT FOLLOWING MONDAY HE WOULD THEN HAVE EVERYTHING HE NEEDED. I INFORMED HIM I WAS GOING OUT OF TOWN THAT FRIDAY, AND NEEDED BY THEN. HE TOLD ME HE DID NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH ME DRIVING THE CAR OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE I HAD BEEN DRIVING IT, AND THAT IT WOULD BE FIND. ON OUR WAY TO SC THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. IT START ZIG ZAGING FROM ONE LANE TO THE NEXT. IT THEN FLIP OVER THREE TIMES ON LEVEL GOUND, AND LANDED ON THE TOP THE WHOLE FRONT AXEL FROM WHEEL ON DOWN WAS MISSING FROM THE CAR. MY NEPHEW WAS THROWN OUT THE WINDOW HAD TO HAVE EMERGECY SURGERY. THE DRIVER SUFFER CRACK VERTABRA, AND I SUFFERED INJURY TO MY EYE, HEAD, AND GLASS IN SKIN. MY SON WALKED AWAY WITH CUTS, AND LACERATIONS TO SKIN. I FORGOT TO MENTION THE MECHANIC DID SAY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE CAR. THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS VECHICLE, AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE TO INVESTERGATE THIS COMPLAINT. 770 478-5751*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078970

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2004
Wheels

MY CAR HAS 25,000 MILES ON IT, WENT TO GET NEW TIRES PUT ON FOR THE FIRST TIME TO FIND OUT THAT 2 OF MY RIMS WERE CRACKED AND BENT. I DON'T DRIVE FAR OR ON BAD ROADS FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078927

44,000 miles · Jun 15, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVERE HEAD INJURIES. INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT "THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS". THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10076231

Official recalls

2

07V307000 · Power Train:manual Transmission

Jul 15, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

03V223000 · Visibility:windshield

Jun 16, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.