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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.

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

What owners actually said

152 reports
100,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN THE SEAT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO THE CONTACTS EARDRUM AND THE SEAT WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IN THE SEAT INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO THE CONTACTS EARDRUM AND THE SEAT WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10808923

94,477 miles · Nov 28, 2015
Power Train

THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" IS CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP TO 2 GEAR RANDOMLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE AFTER O START IT. AND OUT OF NO WERE THE ENGINE JUMPS AND THE "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON THE CAR ACTS LIKES ITS NOT IN 1ST GEAR. IT CAN'T GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) WITHOUT IT JUMPING. THEN AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A DAY IT…

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THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" IS CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP TO 2 GEAR RANDOMLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE AFTER O START IT. AND OUT OF NO WERE THE ENGINE JUMPS AND THE "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON THE CAR ACTS LIKES ITS NOT IN 1ST GEAR. IT CAN'T GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) WITHOUT IT JUMPING. THEN AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A DAY IT ACTS FINE FOR THE FIRST TRIP AND THEN IT STARTS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AFTERWARDS. I CAN'T GO UPHILL EITHER WITHOUT IT REAVING HIGH LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. I THINK THIS IS THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" GOING BAD.

NHTSA ODI #10807292

139,000 miles · Oct 24, 2015
Power Train

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING HOME AS NORMAL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING. LOOK DOWN AT MY GEAR SELECTION VIEWER AND IT WAS SCRAMBLED SHOWING A D AND A R OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER FLASHING. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I AM NOT THE FIR…

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THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING HOME AS NORMAL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED JERKING. LOOK DOWN AT MY GEAR SELECTION VIEWER AND IT WAS SCRAMBLED SHOWING A D AND A R OVERLAPPING EACH OTHER FLASHING. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC MODEL OF CAR. THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND WHOMEVER ELSE THIS IS AFFECTING.

NHTSA ODI #10785776

99,448 miles · Sep 25, 2015
SteeringFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,448.

NHTSA ODI #10777684

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2015
Electrical SystemFire

THE DRL STAYED ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF. I JUST CAME HOME WITH MY SON AND NEWBORN THANK GOD WE WERE NOT IN THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, INVESTIGATED AND LOOKED UP RECALLS AND MY CAR WAS ON THE LIST THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ON THE LEFT SIDE. NOW MY CAR IS RUI…

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THE DRL STAYED ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED AND OFF. I JUST CAME HOME WITH MY SON AND NEWBORN THANK GOD WE WERE NOT IN THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT, INVESTIGATED AND LOOKED UP RECALLS AND MY CAR WAS ON THE LIST THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ON THE LEFT SIDE. NOW MY CAR IS RUINED! I HOPE SUZUKI WILL BE REPLACING MY CAR!

NHTSA ODI #10758611

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

81,937 miles · May 28, 2015
Air BagsStructureCrash

WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME STOP ABRUPTLY. I HIT THEM. DRIVER SIDE FENDER, HOOD, BUMPER ALL SMASHED. IN AREA WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS, IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. WE TOO HAD ISSUE WITH THE FLASHING PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIX S…

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WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR VEHICLE IN FROM OF ME STOP ABRUPTLY. I HIT THEM. DRIVER SIDE FENDER, HOOD, BUMPER ALL SMASHED. IN AREA WHERE AIRBAG SENSOR IS, IT SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. WE TOO HAD ISSUE WITH THE FLASHING PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY COULD NOT FIX SAID IT WAS TEMPERAMENTAL ON HOW YOU SIT IS SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #10722054

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

131,981 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A DEER, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,981.

NHTSA ODI #10702164

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

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.