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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

Power Train complaints

79 reports
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55,000 miles · Sep 9, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFTED. THE ENGINE RPM'S THEN DECREASED ABNORMALLY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AS THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFTED. THE ENGINE RPM'S THEN DECREASED ABNORMALLY LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10542572

49,885 miles · Aug 22, 2013
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

EVERY TIME I CHANGE GEARS, MY CAR THUNKS UNDER THE HOOD AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. A MACHINE WAS HOOKED UP TO MY CAR AND IT READS THAT THERE IS A BAD TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH, AND NOTICE AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE/PART. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN MY VEHICLE,…

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EVERY TIME I CHANGE GEARS, MY CAR THUNKS UNDER THE HOOD AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CONTINUOUSLY ON. A MACHINE WAS HOOKED UP TO MY CAR AND IT READS THAT THERE IS A BAD TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. I'VE DONE MY RESEARCH, AND NOTICE AN UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE/PART. WHEN THIS HAPPENS IN MY VEHICLE, IT DRIVES VERY POORLY AND FEELS LIKE IT CANNOT SHIFT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. THIS IS UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536737

64,500 miles · Aug 11, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A WEIRD NOISE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS GOING DOWN TO 30 MILES AN HOUR, AT THE SAME TIME THE RPM"S WERE GOING HIGHER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE SHIFT GAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FLASHING WEIRD. IT HAD A D WITH A LINE TH…

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MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A WEIRD NOISE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP AND THE SPEEDOMETER WAS GOING DOWN TO 30 MILES AN HOUR, AT THE SAME TIME THE RPM"S WERE GOING HIGHER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE SHIFT GAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS FLASHING WEIRD. IT HAD A D WITH A LINE THRU IT. WE HAD TO SHIFT IT MANUALLY FROM 1ST GEAR UP TO DRIVE. IT WAS SCARY SINCE THERE WAS A TRUCK WITH A TRAILER BEHIND ME COMING UP FAST. IT HAS DONE THIS TO US TWICE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.I HAVE SEEN THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OR SIMILAR. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. WHEN WE HAVE A WARRANTY WE STILL SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE FOR SOME PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAND CAR" POWER TRAIN AND SPEED CONTROL SENSORS. GOING OUT AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534790

78,000 miles · Aug 10, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, I DECIDED I WAS A LITTLE TO FAR INTO THE ROAD. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND NOTICED IT SHIFTED REALLY HARD. I PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND PULLED OUT ONTO THE ROAD - AGAIN IT SHIFTED HARD. WHEN TRYING TO SPEED UP, THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T SPEED UP.…

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WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, I DECIDED I WAS A LITTLE TO FAR INTO THE ROAD. I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND NOTICED IT SHIFTED REALLY HARD. I PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND PULLED OUT ONTO THE ROAD - AGAIN IT SHIFTED HARD. WHEN TRYING TO SPEED UP, THE CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULDN'T SPEED UP. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT IS A BAD TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534672

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

I NOTICED MY CAR HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY FEEL THE ENGINE JUMP WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. LUCKILY IT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ACCELERATE TO SPEED. THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSIO…

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I NOTICED MY CAR HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY FEEL THE ENGINE JUMP WHILE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. LUCKILY IT TURNED ITSELF BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY ACCELERATE TO SPEED. THE SHOP SAID THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SENSOR. A YEAR AGO THE CAR WAS DISPLAYING FUNNY SYMBOLS AND WOULD NOT START OCCASIONALLY. AGAIN THE SAME SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. A THIRD TIME THE CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS AGAIN HAVING DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. THE ACCELERATION ISSUE AND THE LIGHT ARE INTERMITTENT, IT HAS NOW AGAIN BEGUN DOING THE ENGINE "JUMP" IT IS SCARY BEING AT A LIGHT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE. IT IS VERY SCARY STOPPING TO TURN LEFT INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX AND NOT KNOWING IF MY CAR WILL RESPOND WHEN I HAVE A GAP IN TRAFFIC TO TURN. TOOK IT TO A SHOP TODAY TO FIND OUT THAT THE CODES FROM THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ARE AGAIN THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SENSOR. THE CAR HAS UNDER 65K AND I HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES THREE TIMES. I AM THANKFUL THAT IT HAS NOT CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525982

42,677 miles · Jul 17, 2013
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY. DISPLAYS A SCRAMBLED MESSAGE ON THE DASH INFORMATION CONSOLE. DANGEROUS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE STRUCK AND KILLED BY A 18 WHEELER. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BY THIS. IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10525491

25,000 miles · Jul 11, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION THUMPS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CAR WILL ONLY DRIVE SLUGGISHLY. GOES AWAY EVENTUALLY, BUT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. LOOKING ON INTERNET, IT APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. ALSO, THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILED, AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. US…

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WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE TRANSMISSION THUMPS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. CAR WILL ONLY DRIVE SLUGGISHLY. GOES AWAY EVENTUALLY, BUT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. LOOKING ON INTERNET, IT APPEARS TO BE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. ALSO, THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILED, AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. USED THE OVER-RIDE HOLE TO GET CAR OUT OF PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524302

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…

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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

49,789 miles · Jun 12, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

OWNER STATES THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND LOSES POWER..CAR WILL GO FROM DRIVE TO A DIFFERENT GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS (WHEN AT RED LIGHTS..GOING UPHILL ( WHICH IS DANGEROUS IF THERE IS A VEHICLE BEHIND YOU) AND REGULAR DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO TRANSMISSION SHOP 6 TIMES AND AFTER SPENDING OVER 750.00 …

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OWNER STATES THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND LOSES POWER..CAR WILL GO FROM DRIVE TO A DIFFERENT GEAR. THIS HAPPENED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS (WHEN AT RED LIGHTS..GOING UPHILL ( WHICH IS DANGEROUS IF THERE IS A VEHICLE BEHIND YOU) AND REGULAR DRIVING. TOOK VEHICLE TO TRANSMISSION SHOP 6 TIMES AND AFTER SPENDING OVER 750.00 ON RANGE SENSOR AND COMPUTER BOARD PROBLEMS...STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT..LOSS OF POWER AND GEAR SLIPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519572

49,000 miles · Apr 19, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER REPLAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE AS IF IT WERE ATTEMPTING TO STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SWITCH FOUR TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE SECOND REPAIR, THE MANUFACTURER ASSISTED WITH 100 PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508780

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.