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2008 Suzuki Forenza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Suzuki Forenza do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 156.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

129 reports with mileage · 23 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 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports10 fire reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

32 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2017
Air BagsPower TrainSeats

THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR HAS GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER OWNERS SUZUKI VEHICLES AND THEY TO ARE HAVING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSORS. DEALER SERVICE CENTERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PART BREAKS OFTEN AND THEY KEEP EXTRA IN STOCK. THIS ISSUE WILL BEGIN WITH CAUSING VEHICLES TO SHIFT ROUGH AND EN…

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THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR HAS GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY OTHER OWNERS SUZUKI VEHICLES AND THEY TO ARE HAVING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSORS. DEALER SERVICE CENTERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS PART BREAKS OFTEN AND THEY KEEP EXTRA IN STOCK. THIS ISSUE WILL BEGIN WITH CAUSING VEHICLES TO SHIFT ROUGH AND END WITH VEHICLES NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF OR INTO PARK. THE AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS THE CUSHION SENSOR AND WILL COST $1500 TO REPLACE. AGAIN, AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER SUZUKI CAR OWNERS, THEY TOO HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE. SUZUKI ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND OWNERS ARE BEING CHARGED TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. SUZUKI HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES BY OTHER OWNERS AND HAVE COVERED REPAIR COSTS FOR A FEW, BUT HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI #11006019

107,000 miles · May 5, 2016
Air Bags

ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 4 YEARS. THE WIRING UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS TO BE REDONE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT RESET. IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS AT THIS POINT WHO KNOWS IF THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10863313

61,000 miles · Mar 15, 2016
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THEN IT STAY ON ITS BEEN ON NOW FOR THREE DAYS NOW

NHTSA ODI #10849829

78,125 miles · Dec 23, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,125.

NHTSA ODI #10811878

100,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN THE SEAT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO THE CONTACTS EARDRUM AND THE SEAT WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN THE SEAT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO THE CONTACTS EARDRUM AND THE SEAT WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10808923

81,937 miles · May 28, 2015
Air BagsStructureCrash

WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME STOP ABRUPTLY. I HIT THEM. DRIVER SIDE FENDER, HOOD, BUMPER ALL SMASHED. IN AREA WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS, IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. WE TOO HAD ISSUE WITH THE FLASHING PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIX S…

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WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME STOP ABRUPTLY. I HIT THEM. DRIVER SIDE FENDER, HOOD, BUMPER ALL SMASHED. IN AREA WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS, IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. WE TOO HAD ISSUE WITH THE FLASHING PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIX SAID IT WAS TEMPERAMENTAL ON HOW YOU SIT IS SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10722054

131,981 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,981.

NHTSA ODI #10702164

200,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO RESET THE CODE MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO RESET THE CODE MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10676785

84,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK AND A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK AND A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. ......UPDATED 01/12/15*BF UPDATED 01/15/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10668777

34,500 miles · Nov 1, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System

BOUGHT VEHICLE APPROX 1 1/2YRS AGO. IT HAD ABOUT 26,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS APPROX 34,500 AD STILL HAS THE SUZUKI WARRANTY. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION RANG SENOR AND NOW BEING TOLD CODES B1382, B114, B1102, B1103, B1405 CAME ON AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS!! I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE U…

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BOUGHT VEHICLE APPROX 1 1/2YRS AGO. IT HAD ABOUT 26,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS APPROX 34,500 AD STILL HAS THE SUZUKI WARRANTY. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION RANG SENOR AND NOW BEING TOLD CODES B1382, B114, B1102, B1103, B1405 CAME ON AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS!! I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I AM TOLD IT WILL COST $1400.00 AND THE AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY UNTIL I GET WORK DONE! I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THIS!!! THIS "SENSOR MODULE" SEEMS DEFECTIVE TO ME IF ALL THESE PROBLEMS KEEP ARISING. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WILL NOT TURN OFF SINCE TIME OF PURCHASE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10651779

Official recalls

1

14V262000 · 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.

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.