← New search

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.

About this comparison →

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
79,000 miles · Jun 27, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

FOR A FEW WEEKS THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING A BIT OFF--NOT REALLY CHANGING GEARS RIGHT-BUT NOTHING TO RAISE SERIOUS ALARM-CLUNKED ONE TIME A WEEK AGO WHEN SLOWING DOWN. YESTERDAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO GEAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OF AND THE CAR…

Read full complaint

FOR A FEW WEEKS THE CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING A BIT OFF--NOT REALLY CHANGING GEARS RIGHT-BUT NOTHING TO RAISE SERIOUS ALARM-CLUNKED ONE TIME A WEEK AGO WHEN SLOWING DOWN. YESTERDAY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE CAR MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND WOULD NOT SWITCH INTO GEAR. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OF AND THE CAR WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVE. TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE--THEY RAN A TROUBLE CODE WHICH CAME BACK PO700 AND PO705. WE LOOKED THIS UP AND IT REFERRED TO THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR---THE AUTO PART FELLOW SAID GET IT IN NOW TO BE FIXED. $200 LATER THE CAR IS NOW RUNNING ACCEPTABLE AGAIN. THE CAR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET THE PART IN A COUPLE HOURS BECAUSE THE WAREHOUSE SAID THIS PART HAS AN EXTREMELY HIGH DEMAND FOR IT SO THEY STOCK IT. WE HAD A LONG DISTANCE TRIP PLANNED NEXT WEEK AND THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS TO HAVE COMPLETELY LOST THE ABILITY TO DRIVE OR SOMETHING ELSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522160

31,895 miles · Oct 11, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

I HAVE BEEN GETTING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN SHORTLY AFTER MY BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WELL THE NEXT WEEKEND THE LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW WHEN I SWITCH GEARS I GET A LOUD THUMP AND THE CAR JUMPS REALLY HARD. I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT …

Read full complaint

I HAVE BEEN GETTING SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. THEN SHORTLY AFTER MY BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. WELL THE NEXT WEEKEND THE LIGHT CAME ON AND NOW WHEN I SWITCH GEARS I GET A LOUD THUMP AND THE CAR JUMPS REALLY HARD. I WENT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON THEY WERE ABLE TO RETRIEVE CODES AND VERIFY THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR A CIRCUIT WHILE IN PARK/REVERSE/NUETRAL AND DRIVE. AND THEY ALSO RETRIEVED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SENSOR. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW AND I WILL NOT DRIVE IT TILL IT GETS FIXED. I HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND I AM SCARED THIS CAR WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A VERY UNSAFE CAR AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS. YOU NEED TO DO A RECALL ON THIS CAR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS BADLY INJURED OR KILLED. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429529

73,000 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE WOULD SHIFT ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE WOULD SHIFT ABNORMALLY, CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #10390104

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

I HAVE COMPLAINED CONSISTENTLY ABOUT THE VIBRATIONS AT IDLE AND THE LOUD NOISES IN MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO FUMES COMING THRU MY VENTS THAT BURN MY EYES AT TIMES. ENDED UP IN THE ER ON ONE OCCASION AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR HAD OIL ALL OVER THE VALVE GASKET COVER. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEY SEEN NO OIL BUT …

Read full complaint

I HAVE COMPLAINED CONSISTENTLY ABOUT THE VIBRATIONS AT IDLE AND THE LOUD NOISES IN MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. ALSO FUMES COMING THRU MY VENTS THAT BURN MY EYES AT TIMES. ENDED UP IN THE ER ON ONE OCCASION AND THE NEXT DAY THE CAR HAD OIL ALL OVER THE VALVE GASKET COVER. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEY SEEN NO OIL BUT I HAD PICS OF THE LEAK. STILL GET INTERMITTENT SMELLS OF GAS WHILE DRIVING THAT BURN MY EYES AND THROAT. THE ENGINE GETS HOT FAST AND THAT'S WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO ACCELERATE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS SEARCHING FOR GEARS AND THE RPMS REV UP. I CAN FEEL THE ENGINE IN MY DRIVERS SEAT REALLY BAD. MY WARRANTY IS ALMOST EXPIRED AND IT IS NOW 2011 AND THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TWICE FOR THE SAME COMPLAINTS. NOT TO MENTION HEARING THE STRUTS RATTLE OVER BUMPS AND WHILE MAKING TURNS. THEY REPLACED MY SUSPENSION TWICE. 1ST TIME WAS WHILE I ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 2 MONTHS. I AM NOT GETTING NO RESULTS AND THIS CAR IS VERY UNSAFE. NOW I AM SCARED IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS CAR FOR THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND THE AIRBAGS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT REALLY BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382843

42,400 miles · Dec 10, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL JERKING SENSATION AND A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN UNUSUAL JERKING SENSATION AND A MISFIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT SHE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE BECAUSE PART IN STOCK. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,400.

NHTSA ODI #10369890

57,000 miles · Nov 17, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UPHILL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE UPHILL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10366595

5,000 miles · Jun 15, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

SMOKE AND FUMES COMING THRU VENTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. PURCHASED CAR NEW 05/06/2008, I HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE AND CAR STILL SLIPS AND HESITATES AND HAS CUT OFF TWICE WHILE IN TRAFFIC SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH WARRANT…

Read full complaint

SMOKE AND FUMES COMING THRU VENTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. PURCHASED CAR NEW 05/06/2008, I HAVE HAD PROBLEM SINCE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE AND CAR STILL SLIPS AND HESITATES AND HAS CUT OFF TWICE WHILE IN TRAFFIC SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. REPLACE SERPENTINE BELT WHICH WARRANTY DID NOT COVER. CAR HAS 29,500 MI. LOUD SQUEALING NOISE (THIS WAS WHY I PAID TO HAVE THE BELT REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAID THIS IS WHAT THE ORIGINAL SQUEALING WAS FROM) NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TIRES BUT STATED THEY DID NOT HAVE TIME TO CHECK IT. MY CAR WAS RECENTLY IN THE SERVICE CENTER FOR 3 WEEKS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND THE FIRST NEW REPLACEMENT WENT BAD DURING THE TEST DRIVE AND THEY HAD TO PUT A 3RD TRANSMISSION INTHE CAR AND IT STILL DOES NOT DRIVE RIGHT. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. I AM CLOSE TO WARRANTY ENDING AND I FEEL THIS IS WHY IM GETTING THE RUN AROUND BY THE DEALERSHIP. CAR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS ON ITS OWN. CAR WILL RANDOMLY MISS WHILE IN DRIVE (ENGINE WILL REV UP WHEN I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL WITH CAR IN DRIVE BUT WILL NOT MOVE) I HAVE TO PUT IT IN PARK THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AGAIN TO GET IT TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336348

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.