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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2022
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

Every neutral safety switch made for this vehicle is faulty be driving down the road it'll switch from drive to neutral or any other gear I've had it go into reverse while going 50 mph down the road I've replaced this part five times still have same problem part works for about a month then goes out. Other times transmission won…

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Every neutral safety switch made for this vehicle is faulty be driving down the road it'll switch from drive to neutral or any other gear I've had it go into reverse while going 50 mph down the road I've replaced this part five times still have same problem part works for about a month then goes out. Other times transmission won't even go into drive have to screw with shifter to get it to go into gear May last for about a mile and jumps back out of gear. Next problem computer tells me throttle positioning sensor is out car works fine at first then starts to rev around 5-6k or it to rev to half a grand and stall while driving down the road.

NHTSA ODI #11486246

71,844 miles · Apr 8, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO RESPOND AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO RESPOND AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,844. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS. UPDATED 7/16/2015*JS

NHTSA ODI #10704488

70,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A SNOW BANK AND THEN A GARAGE DOOR. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A SNOW BANK AND THEN A GARAGE DOOR. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF ANY INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10692907

78,000 miles · Mar 6, 2015
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A WALL. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPR…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A WALL. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED OR IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 4/6/15*CN

NHTSA ODI #10692542

65,040 miles · May 27, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, MY VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD "CLUNK" NOISE, LURCHED FORWARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD. …

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, MY VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD "CLUNK" NOISE, LURCHED FORWARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I HAD TO PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR TO GET THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WAITED ABOUT A MINUTE, TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON, AND THE PROBLEM HAD GONE AWAY ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. A DAY OR SO LATER, WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE VEHICLE MADE THE "CLUNK" NOISE, LURCHED FORWARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME, BECAUSE I WAS ALREADY IN MOTION, THE RPMS JUMPED UP ABOVE 3000, WHICH IS VERY HIGH FOR A 4 CYLINDER ENGINE ONLY GOING 65 MILES PER HOUR. AGAIN, I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WAITED ABOUT A MINUTE, TURNED THE CAR ON AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NORMALLY AGAIN ALTHOUGH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING RANDOMLY ABOUT 20 TIMES A YEAR OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 2 1/2 - 3 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10594208

100,000 miles · May 15, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND FAIL TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL IN REVERSE, SHIFT GEARS AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE PROPER GEAR. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND FAIL TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL IN REVERSE, SHIFT GEARS AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE PROPER GEAR. THE PROBLEM RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10588682

87,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BENCH FOLLOWED BY A GARAGE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE DEALER AN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BENCH FOLLOWED BY A GARAGE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 04/29/14*LJ THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT, THIRD PARTY ENGINEERING COMPANY, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, AND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION OR BRAKING SYSTEM WERE FOUND. UPDATED 05/13/14

NHTSA ODI #10573461

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

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.