TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,171 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
2005 Suzuki Forenza
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Suzuki Forenza do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 156.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forenza years →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
124 reports with mileage · 32 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
156 reportsNHTSA CAMPAIGN #: 07V452000. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE WIRING HARNESS, I BELIEVE THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED BECAUSE THE SAME INDICATOR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT IS AGAIN MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER REPAIR OF THE HARNESS, THE MENTIONED LIGHT INDICATOR AGAIN WORKED PROPERLY, WHEREAS BEF…
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NHTSA CAMPAIGN #: 07V452000. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THE WIRING HARNESS, I BELIEVE THAT IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED BECAUSE THE SAME INDICATOR INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT IS AGAIN MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER REPAIR OF THE HARNESS, THE MENTIONED LIGHT INDICATOR AGAIN WORKED PROPERLY, WHEREAS BEFORE THE REPAIR IT WAS NOT. I SPOKE WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND SUZUKI CORPORATE, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOT A LOW BEAM INDICATOR LIGHT ON MY CAR. HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING MY CAR FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS I KNOW THAT WHEN THE DLL LIGHTS ARE NOT USED, (AMBER) THE LOW BEAM INDICATOR LIGHT (GREEN) COMES ON. UNLESS IT IS QUITE DARK OUT, I CANNOT TELL IF MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. SUZUKI IN BREA, CA SUGGESTED THAT I GET OUT OF MY CAR AND LOOK TO SEE IF MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I CAN TELL IF MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON BECAUSE THE DLL LIGHT IS OFF. THE INDICATOR LIGHT MAY BE A "DUMMY" LIGHT, BUT IT IS THE ONLY WAY THAT I KNOW MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD LIKE A DIRECTIVE TO HAVE TO HAVE MY WIRING HARNESS RE-INSPECTED. THEY CITE LACK THE LACK OF WARRANTY TO LOOK AT ANYTHING, OTHERWISE THE COST IS $100.00. I SAY THIS BECAUSE MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, BUT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT MY AIRBAG, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME $100.00 I REALLY WANT TO ORDER A NEW ONE BUT THEY WILL NOT DO THAT WITHOUT THE CHARGE TO "LOOK" AT IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEPT TURNING OFF. WITHIN AN HOUR OF SOMEONE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE, WHICH TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE FAILURE. TWO M…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEPT TURNING OFF. WITHIN AN HOUR OF SOMEONE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLEARED THE CODE, WHICH TEMPORARILY REPAIRED THE FAILURE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHT BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION AGAIN. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, BUT WAS NEVER SUCCESSFUL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,035 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ATTACHED A HARNESS UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT.. UPDATED 09/10/8. *JB
KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF. RE-STARTED ENGINE AND CHANGED GEAR. COULD HEAR CLICKING BUT ONCE RETURNED TO PARK WAS STILL UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS OF CHANGING GEARS I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO GO FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR. *TR
I HAVE A SUZUKI FORENZA 2005 AND HAD LOTS OF PROBLEMS. THE LATEST ONE IS THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF. THIS IS HOW IT IS FIRST I GET A BIG BUBBLE ON THE CAR THEN IT PEELS AND IS EVERYWHERE ON THE CAR. THE OTHER PROBLEMS WERE TAKING CARE OF BY THE DEALER. BUT NOT THE PAINT. *TR
I WENT ON A TRIP TO EL PASO,TEXAS WITH MY FAMILY AND ON MY WAY BACK I HAD THE WORST TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. MY CAR STARTED JERKING A BIT. I THOUGH NOTHING OF IT AND KEPT GOING JUST HOPING TO GET HOME WITH MY KIDS. ON MY WAY BACK HOME I STOPPED BY A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY INFORMED IT WAS THE SENSORS IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WERE NO …
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I WENT ON A TRIP TO EL PASO,TEXAS WITH MY FAMILY AND ON MY WAY BACK I HAD THE WORST TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. MY CAR STARTED JERKING A BIT. I THOUGH NOTHING OF IT AND KEPT GOING JUST HOPING TO GET HOME WITH MY KIDS. ON MY WAY BACK HOME I STOPPED BY A MECHANIC SHOP AND THEY INFORMED IT WAS THE SENSORS IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT WERE NO GOOD. BUT IT IS A NEWER CAR SO I THOUGH THEY MUST BE WRONG. I DID MAKE IT SAFELY TO MY HOME. IT STOPPED DOING THE JERKING. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT STARTED BACK UP. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SINCE MARCH 4,2008. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY ME BUT I HAVE FOUND OUT BY AUTOZONE THAT A FEW PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEIR CAR FRO THE SAME ISSUE. SO I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD B REPAIRED BECAUSE I DID NOT DO ANYTHING. I WAS TAKEN MY CHILDREN 2 DAYS AGO TO THE DOCTOR AND WHAT SEEMED LIKE A NORMAL TRIP BECAME A NIGHTMARE. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO(PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE AT THE 5:00 P.M. TRAFFIC) THE ENGINE JUST REVED VERY HIGH AND I PUT MY FOOT DOWN ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THEN IT WENT FORWARD WITH A JERKING MOTION FORWARD. I WAS SO SCARED AND STILL AM THAT I DON'T WANT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO TRY TO STALL ON ME AND NOT SHIFT GEARS. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR NOT EVEN 7 MONTHS AGO FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT IS OVER THE 36,000 MILES AND I DO EXPECT FOR THIS ISSUE TO GET RESOLVED AND FOR YOU AS A COMPANY FIX THE ISSUE. I DID RESEARCH AND I DO SEE ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS MODEL OF CAR. ARE YOU EXPECTING A MAJOR ACCIDENT FOR YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE?? I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IN AN UNSAFE VEHICLE WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN! WOULD YOU? I DO NOT WANT TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT IN ORDER FRO YOU TO TAKE CARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CARS KEEPS JERKING AND YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR WHOLE FOOT TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER FRO IT TO SHIFT I NEED RESULTS!!!! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FARENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM, BATTERY, FUSES, RADIO, DAY TIME RUNNING …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FARENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM, BATTERY, FUSES, RADIO, DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, BATTER, AND IGNITION FUSES. THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME NON-START PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS LAST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND LOOSING POWER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,081 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,203.
I NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN MY FRONT WINDSHIELD ORIGINATING BENEATH THE COWLING. WITHIN 48 HOURS IT HAS SPREAD ABOUT 6 INCHES UP AND 3-4 FEET VERTICALLY. THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM ROAD DEBRIS AND NO IMPACT SITE ONLY A CRACK THAT CONTINUES TO SPREAD EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY. *TR
THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD OF THE CAR. WHEN IT INITIALLY HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WOULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT THE TIME. WE TOLD THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE DEALER AND THEY …
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THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR BOARD OF THE CAR. WHEN IT INITIALLY HAPPENED IT ALMOST CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH WOULD'VE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY THERE WASN'T ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AT THE TIME. WE TOLD THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY 2008 FOR THE 2 SAFETY RECALLS TO BE REPAIRED. THE VERY NEXT DAY MY CAR STRUGGLED TO SHIFT 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY. THEY DROVE THE CAR AND SAID IT WASN'T DOING AN…
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
Official recalls
314V262000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 19, 2014
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.
12V397000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash; Exterior Lighting:headlights
Aug 14, 2012
Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights
Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash
Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
07V452000 · Exterior Lighting
Sep 25, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY 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
1PE07039 · Headlight / Drl Malfunction
Opened Jul 24, 2007 · Closed Oct 2, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights
ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2007, SUZUKI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEARS 2004 -2006 FORENZA AND RENO VEHICLES TO CORRECT A DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHT AND/OR DRL FUNCTION.THIS RECALL AFFECTS 93,963 VEHICLES.NHTSA ASSIGNED NUMBER 07V-452 FOR THIS RECALL.NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION INITIALLY FOCUSED ON 2005 FORENZAS, THEN EXPANDED IT TO 2004-2005 FORENZAS (TOTAL OF 58,448 VEHICLES). SUZUKI BROADENED THE RECALL SCOPE TO COVER 2004-2006 FORENZAS & RENOS (93,963 VEHICLES).THE WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTAINS A SPLICE PACK TO CONNECT THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL).INCREASED RESISTANCE DUE TO POOR CONTACT BETWEEN TERMINALS CAN GENERATE HEAT WHICH CAN LEAD TO MELTING OF THE SPLICE PACK IN THE AREA OF WIRES AND THE LOSS OF HEADLIGHT AND/OR DRL FUNCTION. FOR THE REMEDY, DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRLS FREE OF CHARGE.SUZUKI'S RECALL CAMPAIGN (MANUFACTURER RECALL NO. NB) IS EXPECTED TO START AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
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