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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
91,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH, THE STEERING AND THE IGNITION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING AND IGNITION TO RELEASE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE TRAVELING 15 MPH, THE STEERING AND THE IGNITION SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE STEERING AND IGNITION TO RELEASE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WAS NO WARNING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694899

104,541 miles · Mar 15, 2015
Electrical System

WHILE CAR WAS MOVING, IT UNLOCKED TWICE, THEN STOPPED, THEN UNLOCKED TWICE AGAIN. IT KEPT REPEATING THIS OVER AND OVER FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694342

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

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

200,000 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO RESET THE CODE MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED OR NOT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO RESET THE CODE MORE THAN ONCE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ODI #10676785

84,000 miles · Dec 29, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK AND A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A NECK AND A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. ......UPDATED 01/12/15*BF UPDATED 01/15/15.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10668777

58,230 miles · Dec 28, 2014
Power TrainSeat Belts

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND JUST PASSED A SEMI TRUCK GOING ABOUT 65 MPH AND THEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SWITCHED GEARS INTO NEUTRAL ON IT'S OWN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND RESTART THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES FOR IT TO RESET AND GO BACK TO NORMAL. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS INCIDENT …

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND JUST PASSED A SEMI TRUCK GOING ABOUT 65 MPH AND THEN MY CAR SUDDENLY SWITCHED GEARS INTO NEUTRAL ON IT'S OWN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY AND RESTART THE CAR A COUPLE TIMES FOR IT TO RESET AND GO BACK TO NORMAL. I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. THERE HAD BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE PARK/NEUTRAL SWITCH PREVIOUSLY IN MY CAR BUT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE GEAR SWITCHED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NOT WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT INTO GEAR. THAT HAD HAPPENED FREQUENTLY WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT IN DRIVE BUT IT SAID IT WAS IN NEUTRAL BUT THEN AFTER A COUPLE RESTARTS IT WOULD RESET AND WORK CORRECTLY FOR A LITTLE WHILE BEFORE IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ONCE I REPLACED THAT SWITCH I HAVEN'T BEEN HAVING ANY ISSUES WITH IT AGAIN SO FAR. NOW I'M JUST DEALING WITH THE POWER LOCKS STICKING AND LOCKING ON THEIR OWN (THE GUY AT THE DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THAT PROBLEM THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT ONLY NOW AM I HAVING THAT ISSUE) AND ALSO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT NOT STAYING FASTENED WHEN I FIRST CLICK IT. IT FINALLY DOES AFTER JIGGLING IT A LITTLE BIT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10668621

80,200 miles · Nov 18, 2014
EnginePower Train

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN PUTTING MY CAR INTO REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD JUMP WHENEVER PUTTING IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAD A SCANNER PUT ON IT AND THE CODES CAME OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON AND OFF DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH I DRIVE IT. I AM BEING TOLD THIS IS NOT…

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN PUTTING MY CAR INTO REVERSE. THE CAR WOULD JUMP WHENEVER PUTTING IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE. I HAD A SCANNER PUT ON IT AND THE CODES CAME OUT TO BE THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO GO ON AND OFF DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH I DRIVE IT. I AM BEING TOLD THIS IS NOT UNDER THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THIS NEEDS TO BE AS IT IS AFFECTING THE POWER TRAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10659028

60,000 miles · Nov 16, 2014
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD THUNKING NOISE AND JERKED. THE DISPLAY SHOWED THE LETTER "D" WITH A SLASH THROUGH IT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE BY REVVING THE ENGINE UP TO 4000 RPM AND IT SLOWLY CREPT FORWARD. T…

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WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD THUNKING NOISE AND JERKED. THE DISPLAY SHOWED THE LETTER "D" WITH A SLASH THROUGH IT. WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED TO GREEN MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE NORMALLY. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO MOVE BY REVVING THE ENGINE UP TO 4000 RPM AND IT SLOWLY CREPT FORWARD. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY THE PAINT HAS CHIPPED OFF ON ALL THE DOORS AND 2 OF THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655247

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.