Air Bags. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

161 reports

45,000 miles · Jul 19, 2010

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER FRONT END WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS B…

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NHTSA ODI #10344029

35,921 miles · Jul 19, 2010

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHEN SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSOR DISPLAYED A FAILURE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,921 AND THE CURREN…

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NHTSA ODI #10343918

130,000 miles · Jul 15, 2010

Electrical System

SUV LOST POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC WOULD NOT TAKE GAS TOOK TO DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM TWO WEEKS LATER SAME THING HAD TO GET BOOSTED THREE TIMES TO GET TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS ALTERNATOR THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343406

4,280 miles · Jul 12, 2010

Steering

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V250000 (STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP). AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE RECALLED PART WAS AVAILABLE. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHICH WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 28 MILES FROM HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT REPAIR IT SINCE THE PART WAS NOT IN STOCK. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERNS ABOUT THE PART NOT BEING AVAILABLE AS WELL AS THE UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHEN IT WOULD BE AVAILABLE. HE EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPDATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10342610

49,000 miles · Jul 7, 2010

Seat Belts

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I NOTIFIED MY CAR DEALERSHIP, SUZUKI THAT MY SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THEY STATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $85 FOR THEM TO MAKE A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THEN PAY FOR WHATEVER PARTS/LABOR TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT COME ALL THE WAY OUT, IT APPEARS THAT THE SPRING LATCH THAT CONTROL IT IS BROKEN. THEY STATED THAT THE SEATBELT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY AFTER A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MILEAGE. MY QUESTION IS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THIS IS NOT COVERED, MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. IT APPEARS THAT NO ONE IS CONCERN WITH THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE SEAT BELTS ARE THE NUMBER ONE SAFETY FEATURE IN ADDITION TO THE AIRBAGS. THAT WOULD BE LIKE TELLING ME THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND IF YOU ARE IN AN ACCIDENT AND THEY DON'T DEPLOY THEN WHO IS AT FAULT AND WHO BE SUED IN THE EVENT OF DEATH? I WILL TAKE THIS FURTHER IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED, BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341843

25,768 miles · May 25, 2010

Steering

POWER STEERING FAILS DUE TO LOSS OF TENSION ON BELTS BECAUSE PLASTIC OR NYLON TENSION BAR BRAKES OR FALLS OFF. APPARENTLY HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ON THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH AT SUPER HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10332173

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2010

Electronic Stability Control

2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. CONSUMER STATES CONCERN WITH THE FAILURE OF THE ESP (ELECTRONIC STABILITY PROGRAM) MODULE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPLACEMENT UNIT IS $3,000.00 PLUS INSTALLATION AND TAX. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10325320

28,740 miles · Apr 5, 2010

Air Bags

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I PURCHASED A 2ND HAND 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE LIGHT FOR MY AIR BAG LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS I CONDUCTED MY RESEARCH WITH THE MAINLAND SUZUKI OFFICE AND THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, IT WAS PRESENTED TO ME THAT MANY, MANY VEHICLES OF THE SAME WAS BROUGHT IT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS NOT IN ANY ACCIDENT BUT WAS RESPONSIBLE IN PAYING A LITTLE OVER $2,000.00 OUT OF MY POCKET. APPARENTLY THE "BLACK LISTED" EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT WAS PROVIDED TO ME AT THE TIME OF SALE, DOES NOT COVER RESTRAINTS. I AM UPSET THAT THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS CAR DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, AND FOR 2ND HAND BUYERS - WE ARE MADE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM UPSET ON TOP OF BEING FINANCIALLY DRAINED AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PROCEED IN FILING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. CAN YOU RESPECTFULLY RESPOND AS I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL WARRANTY THAT COVERS RESTRAINTS IN PLACE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323718

32,750 miles · Apr 3, 2010

Steering

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GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY I EXPERIENCED A MAJOR LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO "MUSCLE" IT TO MY OFFICE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY. IN SEARCHING THE WEB, I DISCOVERED THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE BELT TENSIONER WHERE A MOLDED PLASTIC OUTER RING IS PRONE TO FAILURE. WHEN THIS BREAKS, THE BELT BECOMES LOOSE AND LOOSES ITS GRIP ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. SURE ENOUGH, PARTS OF THE BROKEN OUTER RING WERE FOUND IN THE PAN UNDER THE ENGINE. SUZUKI HAS CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON NEWER CARS WITH AN ALL METAL PULLEY AND IT'S AN EASY REPLACEMENT. I WAS LUCKY, HAD THE FAILURE OCCURRED GOING AROUND A CURVE OR TURNING IN AN INTERSECTION IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. SUZUKI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE PART IF THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10323631

41,400 miles · Mar 18, 2010

Steering

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2.7L SUV -TURNING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION WHEN THE POWER STEERING BELT TENSIONER PULLEY LOST IT'S OUTER RING WITHOUT WARNING. THE LOSS OF THIS RING CAUSED THE BELT TO SLIP, RESULTING IN A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, NOT JUST POWER STEERING, BUT OF STEERING ALTOGETHER BECAUSE THE BELT SLIPPAGE WAS CAUSING INTERMITTENT PUMPING OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, CAUSING FLUID CAVITATION AND MAKING THE WHEEL IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. BY SHEER LUCK I MANAGED TO GET MY VEHICLE TO TURN BY ALMOST HITTING A CAR HEAD -ON. SUZUKI KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THE 2006 AND 2007 GRAND VITARA POWER STEERING PUMP TENSIONER PULLEYS AND HAS EVEN RELEASED A REVISED PART THAT USES A METAL OUTER RING ON THE PULLEY INSTEAD OF THE ORIGINAL PLASTIC ONE. HAD TO HAVE MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY SINCE I HAD 41,000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS FAILURE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS DEFECT BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. AFTER DISCUSSING MY CONCERN WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER I CALLED THE 800# FOR SUZUKI AND COMPLAINED AND THE LOCAL DISTRICT MANAGER CALLED MY DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AND DECIDED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT AFTER I TOLD THEM ABOUT WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET ABOUT SO MANY OTHERS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT I WAS GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10320593

Official recalls

19V187000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification; Seats

Mar 7, 2019

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.

Seats

18V667000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System

Sep 25, 2018

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara vehicles. The power steering pump belt tension adjuster pulley has an outer portion that is made of plastic. Repeated heat stress can cause the plastic material to deteriorate, causing pieces of the pulley to break off.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Broken pieces of the pulley can get caught between the pulley and the drive belt, causing the drive belt to come off, resulting in a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering pump drive belt tension adjuster pulley, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is 4009. Note: The vehicles included in this recall were not previously recalled under 10V-250.

13V405000 · Air Bags

Sep 6, 2013

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.

10V250000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump

Jun 9, 2010

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MODEL YEAR 2006 GRAND VITARA AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 XL-7 VEHICLES. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (IF EQUIPPED) HAS AN OUTER PORTION THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC. REPEATED HEAT STRESS CAN CAUSE THE PLASTIC MATERIAL TO DETERIORATE AND PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN BREAK OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BROKEN PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PULLEY AND THE DRIVE BELT, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF AND RESULTING IN THE DRIVER NEEDING INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

07V554000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

Dec 7, 2007

CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION. ' THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER "PARK" LOCK FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A STICKING SHIFT LOCK ARM. THE SHIFT LEVER MAY BE ABLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF "PARK" WITH THE KEY REMOVED AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN GIVE RISE TO INCREASED INCIDENTS OF CRASHES RESULTING FROM THE ROLLAWAY OF PARKED VEHICLES AS A RESULT OF INADVERTENTLY MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT LOCK MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

05V548000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft

Dec 1, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RETAINER REAR DRIVE SHAFT MAY CRACK AND THE GEARS MAY GET STUCK DUE TO OIL LEAKAGE BY THE RETAINER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN LEAD TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GEARS LOCKING UP AND THE VEHICLE MAY BECOME DISABLED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RETAINER REAR DRIVE SHAFT. SUZUKI WILL CALL OWNERS ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 15, 2005. FOLLOWUP LETTERS TO OWNERS WERE MAILED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2006. OWNERS MAY 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

PE13021 · Occupant Classification System Failure

Opened Jun 14, 2013 · Closed Sep 30, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Suzuki Motor of America is conducting a safety recall to remedy the occupant classification system's (OCS) sensor mats in approximately 193,936 model year 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 Suzuki SX4 vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-405 for more details).The sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat can develop an electrical circuit disconnection as a result of repeated flexing of the seat from use of the seat.According to Suzuki, when the failure occurs, the OCS system, by design, will not suppress the frontal passenger air bag for a seated child or small-stature adult.A deploying passenger air bag can cause serious injury to such an occupant.The recall population excludes those vehicles that previously had proper remedies under the special coverage campaign for this issue (~11,600) that began in July 2012.The recall remedy will be to install a new front passenger seat cushion assembly that includes an improved OCS sensor mat and an OCS control module with updated algorithms designed to properly identify the type/size of the seated occupant.Consequently, this recall action will address various OCS related problems, including a programming error (associated with diagnostic trouble code B1318) related to detecting a change or shifting in load on the front passenger seat in the model year 2009 Grand Vitara and SX4 vehicles.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10178750, 10185778, 10200217, 10200123, 10206368, 10217021, 10250561, 10254251, 10263756, 10283309, 10285166, 10294320, 10316125, 10323718, 10324530, 10326910, 10332645, 10347204, 10348957, 10349038, 10350237, 10353604, 10354901, 10355400, 10364190, 10367631, 10369777, 10371056, 10373558, 10375165, 10375789, 10376071, 10376621, 10378154, 10380794, 10382860, 10392447, 10392434, 10392599, 10393975, 10395430, 10395602, 10395821, 10395983, 10398172, 10400092, 10400035, 10401106, 10401424, 10404772, 10405359, 10406459, 10407500, 10409412, 10409993, 10413235, 10418162, 10419237, 10419578, 10425035, 10425212, 10426703, 10434905, 10435090, 10435091, 10437600, 10437892, 10437994, 10438100, 10438501, 10438613, 10439357, 10439979, 10440088, 10442968, 10442759, 10442883, 10443173, 10443592, 10443594, 10444434, 10445034, 10445447, 10446215, 10446580, 10447689, 10448161, 10448446, 10448499, 10448554, 10449238, 10450746, 10451260, 10452961, 10453168, 10453403, 10453376, 10454445, 10454978, 10455231, 10455529, 10456043, 10456367, 10456407, 10459063, 10460417, 10460510, 10462016, 10463337, 10464941, 10464693, 10467988, 10468641, 10479583, 10479929, 10481120, 10484053, 10484863, 10486369, 10486729, 10487379, 10491755, 10499622, 10506034, 10508282, 10511057, 10511439, 10512962, 10521656, 10521779, 10523512, 10523931, 10524266, 10526435, 10533196, 10535513, 10537314, 10537619, 10543672, 10544287.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Air Bags:frontal

Air Bags