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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

10 reports
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95,566 miles · May 20, 2019
EngineExterior LightingPower Train

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP MCCANN CAR LOT IN SPARTA NC MCCANN TOLD ME IT WAS THE BEST CAR ON THE LOT HE DROVE ME THROUGH TOWN TELLING ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THEN LET ME DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE INSURED ME THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME AFTER WE WENT TO GET INSPECTED WHICH NOTHIN…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP MCCANN CAR LOT IN SPARTA NC MCCANN TOLD ME IT WAS THE BEST CAR ON THE LOT HE DROVE ME THROUGH TOWN TELLING ME THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR THEN LET ME DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE INSURED ME THE CAR WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I DROVE THE CAR HOME AFTER WE WENT TO GET INSPECTED WHICH NOTHING WAS CHECKED JUNIOR MCCANN TOLD THEM NOTHING WAS WRONG THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT MELTED THE COVER NOW CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE THE HEATER SMELLS SO BAD I GOT SICK FROM INHALED THE ODOR I REPORTED THIS TO JUNIOR MCCANN HIS REPLY WAS I WAS SMELLING SOMETHING HE DIDN'T SMELL MY HUSBAND ALSO SMELLED THE ODOR AND GOT BAD HEADACHE HE NEVER ONCE SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI #11208565

80,121 miles · Jul 24, 2018
Exterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN UNKNOWN DEALER STATED THAT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT THOUGHT OTHERWISE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,121. THE VINE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11113326

42,000 miles · Jul 2, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

WE WERE SENT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE DATED 7/22/2014 STATING THERE IS A DEFECT RELATING TO ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE HIGH AND/OR LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. THE NOTIFICATION STATES "RECALL SERVICE PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. PROVIDING REPAIR PARTS IS A TOP PRIORITY, HOWEVER, THEIR …

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WE WERE SENT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE DATED 7/22/2014 STATING THERE IS A DEFECT RELATING TO ABNORMAL OPERATION OF THE HIGH AND/OR LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS AND THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS. THE NOTIFICATION STATES "RECALL SERVICE PARTS ARE NOT YET AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. PROVIDING REPAIR PARTS IS A TOP PRIORITY, HOWEVER, THEIR AVAILABILITY IS NOT KNOWN AT THIS TIME. VEHICLE OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY MAIL WHEN REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS CAN THEN BEGIN". IT HAS BEEN NEARLY ONE FULL YEAR AND NO FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA, INC. HAS BEEN RECEIVED. IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE FORCED TO OPERATE A VEHICLE WITH "AN INCREASED RISK OF FIRE" AND WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY SEE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS. MILLIONS OF CARS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH PROPERLY FUNCTIONING HEADLIGHTS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS, THIS CANNOT POSSIBLY BE THAT DIFFICULT OF A REPAIR TO QUICKLY ENGINEER AND IMPLEMENT. IS THIS UNNECESSARY DELAY DUE TO THE FACT THAT SUZUKI NO LONGER SELLS VEHICLES IN THE U.S. AND THEREFORE NO LONGER THINKS IT HAS THE OBLIGATION TO FULFILL RECALL REQUIREMENTS?? ANY HELP THAT CAN BE PROVIDED WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10731838

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY HEAD LIGHTS WERE ON DIM, THERE WAS A FLASH AND ONE LIGHT WENT OUT. ABOUT A MILE LATER, THE OTHER HEAD LIGHT WENT OUT. I HAD TO RUN WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON BECAUSE I HAD NO DIM HEADLIGHTS. I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER THAT STATES THAT MY CAR COULD BE AFFECTED AND I WANT THIS FIXED! THIS CAR IS MY ONLY WAY OF GOING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10700900

118,200 miles · Mar 12, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

THE CAR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE(DRL MODULE) BURNED AND MELTED, LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE DASHBOARD, CAR HAD A BURNED SMELL SO STRONG THAT I HAD TO DETAIL IT AND IT DID NOT GO(THE STRONG BURNING ODOR) AWAY AFTER 2 WEEKS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM OU…

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THE CAR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE(DRL MODULE) BURNED AND MELTED, LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ON, THE DASHBOARD, CAR HAD A BURNED SMELL SO STRONG THAT I HAD TO DETAIL IT AND IT DID NOT GO(THE STRONG BURNING ODOR) AWAY AFTER 2 WEEKS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM OUT OF MY POCKET(DRL MODULE). I SENT ALL THE PROPER DOCUMENTATION TO SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA CUST SVC DEPARTMENT P.O. BOX 1100 BREA, CA 92822-1100, INCLUDING THE RECEIPT OF THE REPAIR, A COPY OF MY DRIVER LICENSE, COPY OF THE REGISTRATION, COPY OF THE TITLE OF THE VEHICLE(ALL DOCUMENTATION THAT THEY ASKED FOR IN THE SAFETY RECALL NOTICE), CASE AND POINT THEY DO NOT WANT TO REIMBURSE ME, THEY ARE GIVING ME A HARD TIME, PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE SUZUKI MOTOR OF AMERICA IS GOING TO FIND ANY EXCUSE NOT TO PAY ME BACK, BECAUSE OF THIS IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR TOWARDS CUSTOMERS AND THE BAD PRODUCTS THEY MAKE ARE OUT OF THE MARKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693839

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2014
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V262000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), BUT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10630189

59,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Exterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V262000 (STEERING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V262000 (STEERING) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618682

47,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR BEING EMITTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUSE W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR BEING EMITTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUSE WAS MELTED AND BURNED. IN ADDITION, THE CARPET NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE WAS BURNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATIONS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V262000 (ELECTRICAL) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10618638

106,000 miles · Jun 23, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605320

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

PLEASE HELP! MY 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA : IS GIVING SO MUCH PROBLEMS,I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. WITH THE CAR,BUT THE LIGHT STAY ON ALL THE TIME ,AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE,CAN YOU HELP ME?THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522063

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.