2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT HAS HAD HER VEHICLE REPAIRED TWICE FOR TWO RECALLS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 01V146000 AND 04V427000); HOWEVER, THE DEFECT STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVICED. THE CONTACT FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT WHEN SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE THE FIRST TWO TIMES TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE DEALER DID NOT RE-ROUTE THE FUEL DELIVERY HOSE WITH THE IMPROVED CLAMP. THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE FAILED WAS ON DECEMBER 31, 2007. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VACUUM HOSE WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY AND THE PSI RELIEF WAS EXTREMELY HIGH. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FLOODED. THE MECHANIC PROPERLY REPAIRED THE DEFECT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MECHANIC HAS RECORDS AND DIGITAL PICTURES OF THE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FUEL HOSE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN THE FIRST TWO TIMES FOR THE RECALL REPAIR, IT WAS RECOGNIZED THAT THE FUEL HOSE HAD NOT FAILED AT THAT TIME; HOWEVER,THE RECALL STATED THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL. SHE RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE IN DECEMBER OF 2001 AND THE SECOND NOTICE IN OCTOBER OF 2004. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART DURING THE SECOND VISIT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS NO LONGER THEIR RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,170 (AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST NOTICE) AND 25,325 (AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND NOTICE). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,643.

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A FUEL SMELL WAS COMING THOUGH THE VENTS. THIS HAPPENED ONLY IN COLD WEATHER. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS ON WARRANTY. AS SOON THE WARRANTY EXPIRED DEALER REPLACED, AT OWNER EXPENSE OF $680.00, THE THROTTLE CABLE AND THE GAS FILTER. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE REGARDING FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WHICH CAUSES FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE TO INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, RESULTING IN FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION UNDER EXTREMELY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. WHEN CONSUMER CALLED SEVERAL TIMES FOR AN APPOINTMENT, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTED PART BECAUSE THE COMPANY WOULD NOT SEND THE PART TO FIX THE RECALL. *YD

NHTSA RECALL 01V146000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL X4. GOT RECALL NOTICE, AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER DIDN'T HAVE PARTS. CALLED DEALER ABOUT PARTS, AND DEALER NO LONGER DID RECALLS ON SUZUKI. DEALER DID NOT WARN CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE NOT HANDLING RECALL ANYMORE AFTER 3 MONTHS. HAD TO CONTACT ANOTHER DEALER.*AK

GAS FUMES COMING FROM UNDER HOOD THREW AIR VENTS,THE SMELL OF RAW GAS IS VERY OVERWHELMING.VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY FARRISH AUTOMOTIVE,THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS ONLY THE FUMES FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR.IT HAS MADE MYSELF AND PASSENGERS NAUSIATED AND ALMOST FAINT THIS CANNOT BE A NORMAL WAY FOR A FUEL INJECTOR. SINCERELY [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

01 V 146 000/FUEL PIPE FUEL HOSE: UNABLE TO GET DEALER; ARMORY; ALBANY, NY; PHONE# 518/482-3615 TO HONOR MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK AFTER DRIVING 30 MILES TO RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT, DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PARTS STILL WERE NOT AVAILABLE, DEALERSHIP PUT CONSUMER ON CALL LIST, CONSUMER CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD 25 UNITS HAD ALREADY COME IN BUT WERE GONE AGAIN, STILL WAITING TO HEAR FROM DEALERSHIP. *TT