← New search

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Grand Vitara 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: 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

What owners actually said

108 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

RECALL 03V512000 CONCERNING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP FAILURE. DEALER INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER, AND WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10053765

30,000 miles · Dec 30, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS DUE TO THE TENSIONER GOING BAD. THE HUB BEARING AND SENOR ALSO WENT BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 40,000 MILES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10052100

5,000 miles · Dec 29, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

REAR MAIN SEAL ON ENGINE BEGINS TO LEAK, DRIPPING OIL ONTO CHASSIS CROSSMEMBERS AND EXHAUST PIPES, LEAVING AN OIL BURNING SMELL. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN MOST OWNERS ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 GRAND VITARA, AND THAT SUZUKI HAS REDESIGNED THE REAR MAIN SEAL APPROPRIATELY, IN EFFECT ADMITTING THAT THE ORIGINAL SEAL IS DEFECTI…

Read full complaint

REAR MAIN SEAL ON ENGINE BEGINS TO LEAK, DRIPPING OIL ONTO CHASSIS CROSSMEMBERS AND EXHAUST PIPES, LEAVING AN OIL BURNING SMELL. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN MOST OWNERS ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 GRAND VITARA, AND THAT SUZUKI HAS REDESIGNED THE REAR MAIN SEAL APPROPRIATELY, IN EFFECT ADMITTING THAT THE ORIGINAL SEAL IS DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10051235

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003
Air BagsSteeringCrash

VEHICLE TIE ROD BROKE.*MR THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CONSEQUENTLY STRUCK A CONCRETE DIVIDER WALL AND THE AIR BAGS FAIL TO DEPLOY. *PH (PER ALBERTO JIMENEZ THIS DOCUMENT IS CONSIDERED A MAILED IN VOQ) *JB

NHTSA ODI #10042068

69,178 miles · Aug 21, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

I HAVE 1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR STICKING TO THE FLOOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BROKEN LINKAGE. NOW THE PROBLEM IS WHEN I ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEED IT MAKES A WEIRD GRUNTING GURGLING SOUND. I PLANNING ON HAVING IT…

Read full complaint

I HAVE 1999 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR STICKING TO THE FLOOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BROKEN LINKAGE. NOW THE PROBLEM IS WHEN I ACCELERATE AT LOW SPEED IT MAKES A WEIRD GRUNTING GURGLING SOUND. I PLANNING ON HAVING IT CHECKED OUT WHEN I HAVE MY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE IN SEPTEMBER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10033289

43,000 miles · Aug 1, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT BEING APPLIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THEY HAD NO RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE HE SUGGESTED CHANGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022369

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MAKE RATTLING NOISE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND PROBLEM STILL RECURRING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10029769

40,000 miles · Jul 18, 2003
Electrical System

THE WIRES AT THE BACK OF THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER MELTED. WHEN THE CONSUMERS BRAKE ASSIST WAS PLUGGED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER IT BURNED UP, BECAUSE THE WIRE WAS TOO THIN AND WAS UNABLE TO CARRY THAT TYPE OF LOAD. LUCKILY THE FUSE DID NOT BLOW OUT. *NLM *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017458

30,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT 30,000 MILES BECAUSE OF A "CLICKING NOISE" COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO FOUND A PROBLEM WITH THE TENSION ON THE TIMING CHAIN. THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. *NLM *TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #10017956

48,476 miles · May 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, COULD NOT BE JUMP STARTED, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A DEAD CELL BATTERY AT ~48,000 MILES. TWO WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT EVENTUALLY DID AFTER A JUMP START. THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO TRY AND START THE ENGINE, ALL THAT HAPPE…

Read full complaint

THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, COULD NOT BE JUMP STARTED, AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A DEAD CELL BATTERY AT ~48,000 MILES. TWO WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER, BUT EVENTUALLY DID AFTER A JUMP START. THE FOLLOWING TWO WEEKS, WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED TO TRY AND START THE ENGINE, ALL THAT HAPPENED WAS A CLICKING NOISE. JUMP STARTING WAS INEFFECTIVE. IT WAS TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS IS ENGINE SIEZURE. THE VEHICLE IS FOUR YEARS OLD, WITH ~48,000 MILES, AND PERFECT SERVICE RECORDS. THE DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RUN AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10020630

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.