CAR ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY. IT WILL STALL OUT IF THE GAS PEDAL IS FLOORED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL BLINK UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR SOMETIMES A FEW DAYS AT A TIME AND THEN TURN OFF. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR GOING UP MANY TIMES. *TR
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 72,000. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND THE SEAT SENSOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE AND THE SEAT SENSOR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
BACK IN NOV 2012 I TOOK MY 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR AS SUGGESTED THE RECALL WAS ON THE WIRING HARNESS THAT PUT THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF (I HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS POPPING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES) SO AFTER I OBEYED THE RECALL I NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED SO IN JAN 12 2013 MY CAR WA…
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BACK IN NOV 2012 I TOOK MY 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA IN FOR A RECALL REPAIR AS SUGGESTED THE RECALL WAS ON THE WIRING HARNESS THAT PUT THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF (I HAD BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY HEADLIGHTS POPPING ON AND OFF AT RANDOM TIMES) SO AFTER I OBEYED THE RECALL I NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED SO IN JAN 12 2013 MY CAR WAS SITTING AT A LOCAL APPLEBEES PARKING LOT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF NOTHING PLUGGED IN NO LIGHTERS IN THE CAR JUST SITTING THERE WHEN SOMEONE RAN INTO THE RESTAURANT AND SHOUTED "WHOSE GOLD SUZUKI IS THAT? ITS ON FIRE" NEEDLESS TO SAY WHEN I RAN OUT THE DASHBOARD WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES THE FIRE DEPT CAME TO RESCUE AND AT MY REQUEST A FIRE INVESTIGATOR INVESTIGATED THE INCIDENT AND CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRE STARTED AS A RESULT OF A ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS...(YES THE "RECALLED'' "FIXED" PART) THE ACTUALLY DEALERSHIP THAT "FIXED" THE RECALLED PART HAS ALREADY STATED THAT THEY ARENT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT & I AM WAITING TO SUZUKI CORPORATE TO CONCLUDE THEIR FINDINGS I TRULY HOPE SUZUKI DOES THE RIGHT THING IN THIS UNFORTUNATE MATTER IF NOT I AM PREPARED TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION BUT IM PRAYING THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
AFTER FIRST PURCHASING THE CAR, THERE WERE PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AND THEN CAR FAILED. POWER STEERING HAD TO BE FIXED, TIMING BELT REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER SPEAKERS STARTED TO GO IN AND OUT, RADIO LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF, ETC. IN 2010 HEADLIGHTS FAILED. BEING A BROKE COLLEGE STUDENT I RODE WITH MY BRIGHTS FOR ALMOST A YEAR UNT…
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AFTER FIRST PURCHASING THE CAR, THERE WERE PROBLEMS ACCELERATING AND THEN CAR FAILED. POWER STEERING HAD TO BE FIXED, TIMING BELT REPLACED. A FEW MONTHS LATER SPEAKERS STARTED TO GO IN AND OUT, RADIO LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF, ETC. IN 2010 HEADLIGHTS FAILED. BEING A BROKE COLLEGE STUDENT I RODE WITH MY BRIGHTS FOR ALMOST A YEAR UNTIL I LOOKED UP THE RECALL ONLINE AND GOT THAT FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP. 2011 REPLACED SPEAKERS, STILL DON'T WORK ON ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR AND BACK OF DRIVER SIDE. ONE SPEAKER WORKS, VERY WEAK AND SOMETIMES GOES OUT COMPLETELY. INTERIOR LIGHTS GO IN AND OUT. STARTED TO LEAK OIL, HAD TO HAVE HEAD GASKET REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THEN HAD TO HAVE RADIATOR HOSE REPLACED. 2012 TIMING BELT POPS, ENGINE DAMAGED COSTING ALMOST $2000. TODAY DECEMBER 2012, RADIATOR CRACKS ALL THE WAY OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF HOLIDAY TRAFFIC. TERRIBLE HORRIBLE CAR TO BE A 2005. SEEMS LIKE I CAN'T GO A MONTH WITHOUT SOMETHING ELSE GOING WRONG. FEELS UNSAFE AT ALL TIMES! *TR
2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MALFUNCTION OF VEHICLE DRIVING LIGHTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2012 AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING THE DEPARTMENT WITH HER INFORMATION REGARDING THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL FROM JANUARY 2012, WHEN THE SAID RECALL HAD IN FACT DISA…
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2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MALFUNCTION OF VEHICLE DRIVING LIGHTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN SEPTEMBER 2012 AND RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY BY CALLING THE DEPARTMENT WITH HER INFORMATION REGARDING THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL FROM JANUARY 2012, WHEN THE SAID RECALL HAD IN FACT DISABLED THE DRIVING LIGHTS ON HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED ALL OF THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK TO BE REVIEWED FOR REIMBURSEMENT. THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY WAS HER FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE DRIVING LIGHTS SHUTTING OFF, WHILE DRIVING IN THE DARK AT 60 MPH. WITHIN 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON, BUT A FEW MINUTES LATER THEY SHUT OFF AGAIN. THE CONSUMER HAD VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS CHECK FOR A LOOSE CONNECTION TO THE LIGHTS, BUT NO ONE COULD FIND ANYTHING, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS HIDDEN WITHIN THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A MELTED SPLICE PACK. THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS CONTACTED THE CONSUMER AND INFORMED HER THE PROBLEM SHE EXPERIENCED BACK IN JANUARY DID PERTAIN TO THE RECALL AND OUT OF THE $513.60 BILL, SHOULD WOULD ONLY RECEIVE $75. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THE MECHANIC WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAD TO SPEND TIME DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE WHICH TOOK HIM FOUR HOURS. SHE THEN INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WITH THE INFORMATION FROM THE RECALL NOTICE, THE SAME REPAIR COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN LESS THAN AN HOUR, WHICH WAS THE AMOUNT THAT WOULD BE REFUNDED. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONNECTION ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY STATED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A CONNECTION ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V452000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME BURNED, CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS, AIR BAGS AND THE RADIO TO FAIL. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V452000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME BURNED, CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS, AIR BAGS AND THE RADIO TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN THE WIRING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SECOND REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE CONTACT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:12V397000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING;INTERIOR/UNDER DASH) FOR THE WIRING HARNESS BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HAD STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR CAUSED THE WIRING FAILURE, THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE EXACT COMPONENT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO BUTTONS TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS NO BUTTONS TO UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY WERE STUCK IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON SINCE BOUGHT CAR IN 2006. WIRING FOR AIRBAGS HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE STILL AN ISSUE AT OWNER EXPENSE. OUTLET AND LIGHTER STOP WORKING YEAR AFTER CAR WAS BOUGHT. HEADLIGHT WIRING REPLACE TWICE AND DAY LIGHTS STILL ONLY COMES ON SOME TIMES. *TR
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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