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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

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

1 reports
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60,000 miles · Dec 23, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

ONE DAY, WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT "CLUNKED" INTO GEAR, THE GEAR DISPLAY WAS SCRAMBLED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN, THINKING IT WAS A FLUKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND IT ALSO "CLUNKED" INTO DRIVE. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM'S WERE 5-10 HIGHER THAN NORMAL…

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ONE DAY, WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE, IT "CLUNKED" INTO GEAR, THE GEAR DISPLAY WAS SCRAMBLED, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN, THINKING IT WAS A FLUKE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND IT ALSO "CLUNKED" INTO DRIVE. WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE, THE RPM'S WERE 5-10 HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND IT TOOK A LITTLE LONGER TO "GET UP AND GO." SOMETIMES, MY CAR WILL INITIALLY RUN FINE UNTIL A FEW MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE, WHEN IT FALLS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING, THEN GOES BACK TO DRIVE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN, AND THE PROBLEMS RESURFACE. I TOOK IT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND THE MACHINE SAID TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM BUT THEY SAID THAT COULD MEAN ANYTHING AND WOULD BE FINE TO DRIVE. AFTER TAKEN OFF THE MACHINE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF, ONLY TO COME ON AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I DROVE IT. MY BROTHER (WHO HAS MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE) CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR AND FILTER, HOPING IT WOULD HELP, BUT IT DIDN'T. AS I GO TO A SMALL TOWN COLLEGE THREE HOURS AWAY FROM HOME AND MAKE A 3 MINUTE DRIVE TO AND FROM CLASSES EVERYDAY, I LET IT BE FOR THE SEMESTER, INSISTING THAT IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. WELL, IT'S CHRISTMAS AND IT NEVER WENT AWAY; EACH DAY I DRIVE MY CAR IT PRESENTS ME WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY BROTHER TOOK MY CAR BACK TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND THE MACHINE READ THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE, PLUS A POSSIBLE WIRE SHORT. THEY DIDN'T SUGGEST ANY FIXES SO HE CHECKED FOR SHORTS IN THE WIRES AND FOUND NONE. IT APPEARS IT MUST BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. AFTER READING UP ON THE TRS, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING AS EARLY AS 30K MILES ON CARS SOME BOUGHT NEW. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS ISSUE HAS ALSO CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR (REDUCED GAS MILEAGE/BATTERY FAILURE) AND IS CAUSE FOR A FACTORY RECALL, AS ITS APPEARANCE IS WIDESPREAD AND THE EFFECTS ARE NUMEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10489550

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.