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2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Compare all Grand Vitara XL7 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

Limited mileage data: 9 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Tires. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

18 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2018
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.

NHTSA ODI #11143858

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2016
Engine

KEEP HAVING A OIL LEAK FROM THE VALUE COVER GASKET. I HAVE HAD IT FIX BEFORE AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON MY MOTOR AND IS SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IT. THE PLACE SAYS THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 1 YR WARRANTY . IT HAS COST ME OVER $500 BEFORE TO FIX AND NOW THE SAME . NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE A RECALL. FIRST DATE OF PROBLEM WAS 1/…

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KEEP HAVING A OIL LEAK FROM THE VALUE COVER GASKET. I HAVE HAD IT FIX BEFORE AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON MY MOTOR AND IS SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IT. THE PLACE SAYS THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 1 YR WARRANTY . IT HAS COST ME OVER $500 BEFORE TO FIX AND NOW THE SAME . NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE A RECALL. FIRST DATE OF PROBLEM WAS 1/28/2013 AND NOW THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10925059

160,000 miles · Feb 1, 2015
Suspension

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM WORK AND I WAS ONLY GOING 40MPH AND MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF IT AND SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED AND NOTICED THE CROSS MEMBER WAS BROKE. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND CAN'T…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM WORK AND I WAS ONLY GOING 40MPH AND MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF IT AND SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED AND NOTICED THE CROSS MEMBER WAS BROKE. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND CAN'T DRIVE IT CAUSE IT DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10680354

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2007
SuspensionTires

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR TALLAHASSEE, FL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR BRIEFLY SHOOK/VIBRATED. I LET OFF THE GAS PERPLEXED WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY CAR CAREENED TO THE LEFT AND WITH A DEATH GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I MOVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS …

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I WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR TALLAHASSEE, FL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR BRIEFLY SHOOK/VIBRATED. I LET OFF THE GAS PERPLEXED WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY CAR CAREENED TO THE LEFT AND WITH A DEATH GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I MOVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE 2 LANES OF INTERSTATE AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE GAINING CONTROL. PARTS OF TIRE AND PLASTIC WERE FLYING BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT MILE MARKER 193. IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES FOR ME TO GET MY COMPOSURE. I WAS CRYING, SHAKING AND VERY SCARED. WHEN I FELT CALM AND SAFE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I SAW THAT MY TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED BUT WAS NOT EVEN FLAT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT, IT RIPPED OUT ALL MY TIRE GUARD, IT TORE MY FENDER, MY BUMPER WAS TOUCHING THE GROUND AND I COULD SEE PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204536

8,000 miles · Nov 23, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO CRASHES AS A RESULT OF THE SURGING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OVER FIFTY TIMES. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10143565

3,000 miles · Aug 12, 2004
Power Train

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A HUMMING NOISE IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. DEALER FIRST REPLACED AN AXLE BEARING. SECOND TIME REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR, DRUM TO DRUM. THIRD TIME DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CHANGE FROM THE SECOND TIME WHEN THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR.

NHTSA ODI #10086700

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V512000 REGARDING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL COULD CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDU…

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CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V512000 REGARDING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL COULD CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10068552

21,000 miles · Mar 10, 2004
Tires

BRIDGESTONE DUELER 687 P235/60R16 TIRES PREMATURE WEAR, UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SUZUKI HAS 21,000 MILES, STEERING SHAKES, TIRE DEALER STATES IT MAY BE CAR ALIGNMENT WILL NOT REPLACE. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT STATED INTERVALS, HOWEVER, MAINTENANCE HAS FAILED TO HELP THE PREMATURE WEAR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND CANNOT FIND ANY RECA…

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BRIDGESTONE DUELER 687 P235/60R16 TIRES PREMATURE WEAR, UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SUZUKI HAS 21,000 MILES, STEERING SHAKES, TIRE DEALER STATES IT MAY BE CAR ALIGNMENT WILL NOT REPLACE. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT STATED INTERVALS, HOWEVER, MAINTENANCE HAS FAILED TO HELP THE PREMATURE WEAR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND CANNOT FIND ANY RECALL ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A WEAR PROBLEM THIS BAD. I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT ONLY REPLACE THE TIRES BUT LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS. ARE THEY HIDING SOMETHING?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10061879

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE CABLE ACCELERATOR CASING CAP. DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. NO DEALERSHIP IN PUERTO RICO HAD THE PARTS ON RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10061649

4,250 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL LEAKS THROUGH THE EXAUST PIPE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER SEAL. THE BURNING SMELL CAN BE SMELLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I THOUGHT THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY. AT 4250 MILES, I FOUND OIL SPOT ON MY DRIVE WAY. DEALER TOOK OUT THE FROM PART OF ENGINE AND RE-SEALED. AFTER REPAIR, I THINK THE ENGINE IS STILL LEAKING…

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ENGINE OIL LEAKS THROUGH THE EXAUST PIPE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER SEAL. THE BURNING SMELL CAN BE SMELLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I THOUGHT THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY. AT 4250 MILES, I FOUND OIL SPOT ON MY DRIVE WAY. DEALER TOOK OUT THE FROM PART OF ENGINE AND RE-SEALED. AFTER REPAIR, I THINK THE ENGINE IS STILL LEAKING, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL/GREASE IS FROM THE RUST PROOF. I LIKE TO GET A SECOND OPION, BUT THE NEXT AVAILABLE DEALER IS MILLION MILES AWAY. IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG AND DISTURBING PROCESS FOR ME DOWN THE ROAD. SO, I DON'T RECOMMAND SUZUKI TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN PEOPLE I HATE.

NHTSA ODI #10070729

Official recalls

1

03V223000 · Visibility:windshield

Jun 16, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

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.