Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
540–25K
4925–50K
5950–75K
4375–100K
31100–150K
4150K+
240 reports with mileage · 40 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 116 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports8 fire reports20 injury reports
What owners actually said
280 reports
37,000 miles · Jan 11, 2010
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON JANUARY 9, 2010 AND RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE WEEKEND. THE SPEED SENSITIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT THE GEARS IN DR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON JANUARY 9, 2010 AND RECURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE WEEKEND. THE SPEED SENSITIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO SHIFT THE GEARS IN DRIVE 2 IN ORDER TO DRIVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WILL NO LONGER SHIFT INTO DRIVE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE DRIVEN IN DRIVE 3 TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37000.
NHTSA ODI #10299005
71,000 miles · Jan 2, 2010
Air BagsCrash
AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN I WAS IN A CRASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297827
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2009
Power Train
2006 SUZUKI FORENZA, BRAKE SENSOR WENT OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. I FIXED THAT AND THEN ON DECEMBER 19, 2009 I WAS DRVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL. I ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. IN A PANIC I …
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2006 SUZUKI FORENZA, BRAKE SENSOR WENT OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF PARK AND INTO DRIVE. I FIXED THAT AND THEN ON DECEMBER 19, 2009 I WAS DRVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL. I ALMOST WRECKED BECAUSE I COULDN'T GET THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. IN A PANIC I PUT THE CAR IN 3RD GEAR AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME. THE MECHANIC HAS HAD THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10296983
40,000 miles · Dec 13, 2009
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WHICH I BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY 2008. THE INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BROKE OFF WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER A YEAR AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE. NORMAL USE OF HANDLES (TRYING TO EXIT VEHICLE). NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AFTER READING THROUGH YOUR COMPLAINTS, I SEE OTHERS HAVE THE SA…
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2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WHICH I BOUGHT IN FEBRUARY 2008. THE INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE BROKE OFF WITHIN 4 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER A YEAR AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE. NORMAL USE OF HANDLES (TRYING TO EXIT VEHICLE). NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AFTER READING THROUGH YOUR COMPLAINTS, I SEE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT TO DEALER WHO HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL. HE INFORMED ME OF THE COST OF $120+ TO REPAIR THE TWO PLUS THE COST OF THE HANDLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10295504
5,700 miles · Dec 4, 2009
Air BagsCrashFire
FRONT END COLLISION, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND STARTED A FIRE WHICH CAUGHT MY CLOTHING ON FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10294459
51,850 miles · Nov 9, 2009
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, SHE LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE BUT HAD NOT RECEIVE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. WHEN SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, SHE LEFT A VOICE MESSAGE BUT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,923. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,850.
NHTSA ODI #10291441
Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2009
Exterior Lighting
ELECTRICAL/EXTERIOR LIGHTING: JUST PRIOR TO 10/10/2009, I BEGAN NOTICING MY LIGHTS WERE PERIODICALLY FLICKERING. ON OCT. 10, 2009, I NOTICED WHAT SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING (ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL). THE FOLLOWING EVENING I STARTED MY CAR AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS, THEY DIDN'T COME ON, HOWEVER MY RUNNING LIGHTS DID COME O…
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ELECTRICAL/EXTERIOR LIGHTING: JUST PRIOR TO 10/10/2009, I BEGAN NOTICING MY LIGHTS WERE PERIODICALLY FLICKERING. ON OCT. 10, 2009, I NOTICED WHAT SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING (ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL). THE FOLLOWING EVENING I STARTED MY CAR AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS, THEY DIDN'T COME ON, HOWEVER MY RUNNING LIGHTS DID COME ON WHEN I RELEASED MY BREAK (5 SPEED), I WAS ALSO WITHOUT THE USE OF MY HI-BEAMS, HOWEVER THEY WORK WHEN I PULL BACK ON MY TURN SIGNAL/HI-BEAM HANDLE. AFTER DOING A LITTLE INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS ONCE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED SUZUKI, I WAS OF COURSE TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL! HOW NICE! THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST NOT LESS THEN $150 TO FIX! I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2006, IT IS NOW JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD! I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS, JUST HAPPENED TO HEAR ABOUT THE DOOR HANDLE RECALL BECAUSE I HAD ANOTHER ISSUE AND HAD TO CONTACT A DEALER (NOT THE ONE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM, EITHER) AS I HAVE NOT HAD THE BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. MY MECHANIC TRIED TO INQUIRE AS TO HOW TO OBTAIN THE WIRING DETAIL FOR THIS CAR SO THAT HE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THUS SAVING ME A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY...$150! I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND WOULD HOPE THAT A CAR THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WOULD NOT HAVE THE DIFFICULTIES THIS CAR HAS HAD IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. FOR THE MOST PART, I HAVE ENJOYED THE CAR, BUT THE FACT THAT SUZUKI IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THIS CAR OR AT LEAST THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS SO DISHEARTENING TO ME. THIS IS CERTAINLY A ROAD HAZARD NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF, MY CHILDREN AND ANY PASSENGER I MAY HAVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10289237
21,000 miles · Oct 10, 2009
Power Train
2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGON. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT VERY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JUST LIKE WE ARE. IT IS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR & VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE, REVS WAY TO HIGH WHEN REACHING POSTED SPEEDS.BOTH ARE VERY DANGEROUS. WHY IS THIS NOT A…
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2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGON. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT VERY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JUST LIKE WE ARE. IT IS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR & VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE, REVS WAY TO HIGH WHEN REACHING POSTED SPEEDS.BOTH ARE VERY DANGEROUS. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? WE FEEL WE ARE DESTROYING THE ENGINE. WE BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR,USED & WITH NO WARRANTY. WE FEEL WE HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF . THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP US(DODGE DEALER). WE CALLED A SUZUKI DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. WHAT CAN WE DO? PLEASE HELP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT HER VEHICLE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND LANDED IN HER HAND. THE SAME FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT HER VEHICLE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND LANDED IN HER HAND. THE SAME FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 10/27/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SHIFT RELAY WAS INOPERATIVE. THE SHIFTER LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN INTO THE UNLOCK SAFETY LOCK AND PUSH THE SHIFTER IN AN UNLOCKED POSITION, THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION LOCKS UP. UPDATED 10/29/09
NHTSA ODI #10286744
59,200 miles · Oct 2, 2009
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR ON 2006-2007 SUZUKI FORENZA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS HIGH FAILURE RATE AND IS DANGEROUS. CAR KICKS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE MOVING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR
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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE AND, IN RARE CASES, EVEN THE LOCKED TONGUE WILL POP OUT BY LOW STRETCHING FORCE. IF THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY, THE BUCKLE COULD RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH COULD PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THE SEAT BELT OR COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH THE IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2007. 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2006 Suzuki Forenza Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year