1998 Suzuki Esteem

WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY , SLOWED DOWN TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO SIDE ROAD....THERE WAS A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND IMMEDIATE PULL OF CAR TO RIGHT...HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP CONTROL OF CAR...WAS HARD TO STEER BUT DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR...LUCKILY ONLY A QUARTER OF A MILE...PRETTY SURE IF IT HAD LET GO IF I'D HIT A BUMP OR SOMETHING DRIVING 55 ON THE HIGHWAY...THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE FLIPPED...THAT'S HOW QUICKLY I LOST CONTROL...AFTER READING ALL OTHER REPORTS...TOO BAD THIS CAR HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED...I MIGHT NOT NOW BE WITHOUT A CAR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVED ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SUBFRAME SNAPPED ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY JERK RIGHT WITH SUBSTANTIAL FORCE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED BUT THE CAR WAS PULLING VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE TO A SPOT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, I NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WHICH CONNECTS THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL TO THE BODY HAD RUSTED SEVERELY AND BROKE APART, IT WAS SO BAD THE MATERIAL WAS CRUMBLING. IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY OCCURRED. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET CITES HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM RECALLS WERE MADE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL YEAR DESPITE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTING TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,524. ..UPDATED 09-26-12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 10/01/2012 *JS

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER IN 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM CRACKED OPEN WHILE DRIVING AT 25MPH. CAR SUDDENLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT, SINCE IT HAPPEN AT LOW SPEED I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY STOP. UPON INSPECTION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSS MEMBER I FOUND OUT THAT RUSTING WAS SO EXTENSIVE THAT YOU COULD POKE A HOLE IN THE CROSS MEMBER BY SIMPLY PUSHING A SCREW DRIVER ON TO THE SURFACE OF THE CROSS MEMBER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE FRAME ON THE VEHICLE BROKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE FRAME. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER TO CALL NHTSA. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS UNABLE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

98 SUZUKI ESTEEM CROSS MEMBER(ENGINE CRADLE) ON THE SUZUKI ESTEEM THE ENGINE CRADLE OR CROSS MEMBER ROT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COLLAPSE CAUSING INTO AN ACCIDENT ,CROSSMEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE SUPPORTS LOWER CONTROL ARMS WHICH IF THE CROSSMEMBER LET GO WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO POSSIBLE CRASH IN MY EXPERIENCE AS A AUTO MECHANIC EVERY SINGLE SUZUKI ESTEEM THAT HAVE COME TO MY SHOP FOR STATE INSPECTION HAS FAIL DUE TO THE CROSS MEMBER THIS INCLUDES 98 TO 01 SUZUKI ESTEEM ,EVERY SINGLE CAR AT JUNKYARDS ARE RUSTED OUT WHICH MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR A CUSTOMER TO GET A USED REPLACEMENT FOR A CHEAPER PRICE ,,,I BELIEVE THAT FACTORY OR DEALER SHOULD CONSIDER THIS AS A SAFETY RECALL SINCE THIS CAN PUT IN DANGER ALOT OF PEOPLE ,,THANKS AND I HOPE THIS WILL BE TAKE ON CONSIDERATION RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT I HAVE A CUSTOMER WHICH HIS CAR CROSS MEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE LET GO AND WE CANT FIND A USED ONE ANYWHERE ALL JUNKYARDS STATE THAT IT IS A COMMON THING ON SUZUKI ESTEEMS ...ALL DEALERS SHOULD SEND A LETTER TO ALL ESTEEMS OWNER TO GET THE CROSS MEMBER OR ENGINE CRADLE REPLACED AT NO COST. *TR

THIS COMPLAINT DEALS WITH FAILED INNER TIE-ROD IN THE GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN SEVERE PROBLEMS IN CONTROLLING THE CAR AT HIGH SPEED. THE PROBLEM AROSE BECAUSE OF BROKEN BOOT AND SUBSEQUENT MOISTURE BUILD-UP AND DAMAGE TO THE TIE-ROD. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO FAULTY PART AND POOR WORKMANSHIP. THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DANGER TO OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.*AK