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1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Vitara years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Suzuki Grand Vitara are substantially higher than the model-year median of 29.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 25 of 108 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

Power Train complaints

12 reports
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131,559 miles · Feb 4, 2013
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 45 TO 55 MILES PER HOUR WILL LOSE COMPLETE POWER DROPPING FROM 45 OR 55 TO 10 OR 15 MPH VERY RAPIDLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF ACCELERATION OR VEHICLE TILL IT REACHES THE 10 TO 15 MPH RANGE LEAVING YOU IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION IF YOU ARE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SHOULDER OF TH…

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THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FROM 45 TO 55 MILES PER HOUR WILL LOSE COMPLETE POWER DROPPING FROM 45 OR 55 TO 10 OR 15 MPH VERY RAPIDLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OF ACCELERATION OR VEHICLE TILL IT REACHES THE 10 TO 15 MPH RANGE LEAVING YOU IN A VERY DANGEROUS POSITION IF YOU ARE NOT CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO PULL OFF LEAVING YOU THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING IN A COLLISION WITH FASTER APPROACHING VEHICLES FROM THE REAR THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH FROM A REAR END COLLISION AND APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AND THE DEALERS HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS FAILURE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FROM JULY OF 2012 TO THE CURRENT DATE OF 2/4/2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496399

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUZUKI RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE 4 OXYGEN SENSORS. *BF THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE GEAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED YEARS LATER THAT IT WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER HAD EMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS FOR TWO PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE CAME…

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RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR THE SUZUKI RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE 4 OXYGEN SENSORS. *BF THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE GEAR WOULD NO LONGER SHIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED YEARS LATER THAT IT WAS NOT ASSEMBLED CORRECTLY. THE CONSUMER HAD EMISSION PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS FOR TWO PROBLEMS, THE VEHICLE CAME BACK WITH UNRELATED PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE BRAKES WHICH THE DEALER STATED NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, THE FRONT BUMPER WAS HANGING OFF AND WAS MISSING THE SECURING BOLTS, THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY HEAD LIGHTS, IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DETERMINED BY AN ELECTRICAL REPAIR SPECIALIST THAT THE HEAD LIGHT RELAY WAS INTERNALLY DAMAGED, THE CONSUMER STATED THE WAS ALSO AN UNIDENTIFIABLE FUEL LEAK. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109353

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2002
Power Train

REPEATED FAILURE OF 4WD TO REMAIN ENGAGED, EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. LOUD POPPING NOISE IN DRIVETRAIN. VEHICLE POPS OUT OF 4WD IN, FROM 4H TO 2WD. LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM DRIVETRAIN IN 4LOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760971

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2001
Power Train

DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE INTO 2-WHEEL DRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS WAS NORMAL. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE IN HEAVY WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND LACK OF STABILITY WH…

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DURING OPERATION OF VEHICLE IN WET/RAINY CONDITIONS AND WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, TRANSMISSION WILL JUMP OUT OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE INTO 2-WHEEL DRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THIS WAS NORMAL. CONSUMER FEELS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE IN HEAVY WEATHER CONDITIONS DUE TO THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND LACK OF STABILITY WHEN VEHICLE IS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *AK *TT

NHTSA ODI #897617

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT HAS BEEN A MONTH SINCE LAST REPLACEMENT, AND A 3RD REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED ALONG WITH A DRIVESHAFT REPLACEMENT. DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED DEFECT, BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED ACCURATE REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HOWLING/WHISTLING NOISE FROM THE REA…

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DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IT HAS BEEN A MONTH SINCE LAST REPLACEMENT, AND A 3RD REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED ALONG WITH A DRIVESHAFT REPLACEMENT. DEALER HAS RECOGNIZED DEFECT, BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED ACCURATE REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A HOWLING/WHISTLING NOISE FROM THE REAR AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 55 AND 65, AFTER THE FIRST REPLACEMENT THERE WAS HEAVY VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, ANOTHER REPLACEMENT AND STILL NO REMEDY MADE, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY AND DRIVESHAFT. LATCH BROKE OFF OF THE AIR FILTER BOX, DEALER REPLACED THE FILTER BOX. CONSUMER STATES THE BRAKE PEDAL SQUEAKS WHEN BEING RELEASED FAST. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #895262

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2001
Power Train

WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 20 DEGREES VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE UNIT. *AK DEALER REPLACED CONTROLLER THE FIRST TIME, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, DEALER FINALLY DETERMINED PROBLEM WAS THE AIR PUMP, PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #880268

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT, AFTER BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY FOR OVER 20 MINUTES, TRANSMISSION STICKS IN 5TH GEAR, ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES, PROBLEM WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AT 11,000 MILES, DEALER REPLACED TOWER ON TRANSMISSION, STILL HARD TO SHIFT, VEHICLE STALLS AND IS VERY HARD TO GO INTO REVERSE WHEN IT I…

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TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT, AFTER BEING DRIVEN ON HIGHWAY FOR OVER 20 MINUTES, TRANSMISSION STICKS IN 5TH GEAR, ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES, PROBLEM WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AT 11,000 MILES, DEALER REPLACED TOWER ON TRANSMISSION, STILL HARD TO SHIFT, VEHICLE STALLS AND IS VERY HARD TO GO INTO REVERSE WHEN IT IS COLD (BELOW 20) *CJ

NHTSA ODI #559356

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2001
Power Train

I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION, IT CONTINUES TO LOCK INTO 5TH GEAR AND ALSO IS HARD TO SHIFT AT TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES AND NEW TRANSMISSION DOES THE SAME THING. THE LATEST "FIX" ON IT DOESN'T WORK EITHER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #739215

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2000
Power Train

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #731725

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Power Train

4 WHEEL DRIVE, SLIPS GEAR, CONTACTED DEALER, NOTHING THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT...

NHTSA ODI #720834

Official recalls

4

05V452000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Oct 5, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI DEL CARIBE AT 787-622-0600.

04V427000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Aug 30, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

03V512000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Dec 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE THROUGH THE CAP CAN CAUSE THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME FRAYED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE BECOMES FRAYED, IT CAN STICK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE SPEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

01V146000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

Apr 27, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE COULD INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REDESIGNED INTAKE MANIFOLD VACUUM UNION AND A NEW FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME 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.