IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Forenza years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
3225–50K
3350–75K
2975–100K
19100–150K
1150K+
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 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO ACCELERATE AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
BOUGHT VEHICLE APPROX 1 1/2YRS AGO. IT HAD ABOUT 26,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS APPROX 34,500 AD STILL HAS THE SUZUKI WARRANTY. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION RANG SENOR AND NOW BEING TOLD CODES B1382, B114, B1102, B1103, B1405 CAME ON AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS!! I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE U…
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BOUGHT VEHICLE APPROX 1 1/2YRS AGO. IT HAD ABOUT 26,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS APPROX 34,500 AD STILL HAS THE SUZUKI WARRANTY. I JUST HAD TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION RANG SENOR AND NOW BEING TOLD CODES B1382, B114, B1102, B1103, B1405 CAME ON AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS!! I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE! I AM TOLD IT WILL COST $1400.00 AND THE AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY UNTIL I GET WORK DONE! I SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD THIS!!! THIS "SENSOR MODULE" SEEMS DEFECTIVE TO ME IF ALL THESE PROBLEMS KEEP ARISING. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WILL NOT TURN OFF SINCE TIME OF PURCHASE. *TR
MY HEADLIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN STAYED ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF, AND I FELT A LOT OF HEAT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE; THERE WAS A SMALL RELAY OR MODULE SO HOT YOU COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH IT; I HAD TO THE HEADLIGHTS FUSE OFF AND LET IT COOL DOWN. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE MODULE OFF AND U…
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MY HEADLIGHTS ALL OF A SUDDEN STAYED ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN TURNED OFF, AND I FELT A LOT OF HEAT COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE; THERE WAS A SMALL RELAY OR MODULE SO HOT YOU COULDN'T EVEN TOUCH IT; I HAD TO THE HEADLIGHTS FUSE OFF AND LET IT COOL DOWN. I PROCEEDED TO TAKE THE MODULE OFF AND UNPLUG IT, DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS MODULE CALLED THE DLR MODULE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE PART IN STOCK TO FIX AND REPLACE THIS MODULE, THEY REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF IT, SAYING THAT THEY STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE PART TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY MAIL WHEN THEY DID. THEY'RE WILLING TO SELL YOU THE PART BUT THEY WON'T REPLACE IT. THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! I ASKED TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE CALL ME, BUT THEY HAVEN'T. I WAS LUCKY TO FIND THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IN TIME, OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE HELP. *TR
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.
PAINT CAME OFF ALL DOOR HANDLES AND WHEEL COVERS. *TR
THE LOCKS CLICK AS THOUGH THE DOORS ARE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHILE IDLE OR DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND GOING OFF PERIODICALLY UNTIL IT FINALLY JUST STAYED ON. *TR
I'VE BOTH MY CAR BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND IN OCTOBER 2008 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP IN WHEATON MARYLAND BECAUSE THE GEAR WHEN PUT ON REVERSE THE CAR WOULD JUMP AND THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT GO R FOR REVERSE IT WOULD BLINK BOTH R AND D AND THEN WHEN PUT ON DRIVE WOULD DRIVE ON FIRST GEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN EL…
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I'VE BOTH MY CAR BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND IN OCTOBER 2008 I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP IN WHEATON MARYLAND BECAUSE THE GEAR WHEN PUT ON REVERSE THE CAR WOULD JUMP AND THE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT GO R FOR REVERSE IT WOULD BLINK BOTH R AND D AND THEN WHEN PUT ON DRIVE WOULD DRIVE ON FIRST GEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL/SENSOR PROBLEM AND THEY FIX IT. STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN LATE MAY 2014 EVERY SO OFTEN AND BY LATE JUNE IT WAS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. *TR
I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM SUZUKI CONCERNING A FIRE POSSIBLE STARTING IN THE LIGHTS....I AM VERY CONCERNED DUE TO SMELLING A BURNING SMELL FOR A WHILE NOW WHEN I AM DRIVING ! ...I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR THIS IS MY ONLY CAR WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? ...I HAVE TO DRIVE TWO HOURS TO WORK AND BACK EVERYDAY DOES ANYONE KNOW WH…
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I JUST RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM SUZUKI CONCERNING A FIRE POSSIBLE STARTING IN THE LIGHTS....I AM VERY CONCERNED DUE TO SMELLING A BURNING SMELL FOR A WHILE NOW WHEN I AM DRIVING ! ...I CANNOT AFFORD A NEW CAR THIS IS MY ONLY CAR WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? ...I HAVE TO DRIVE TWO HOURS TO WORK AND BACK EVERYDAY DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN SUZUKI WILL FIX THE PROBLEM?? THANK YOU *TR
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.
Official recalls
114V262000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.