2005 Suzuki Reno

I HAVE A 2005 SUZUKI RENO. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME AND HAS BEENFOR ABOUT A YEAR. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM SUZUKI ON THE MATTER, SO THEY REALIZE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. SUZUKI WILL NOT REPAIR IT FREE OF CHARGE ALTHOUGH IT IS A DESIGN FAULT. I WOULD LIKE A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ONLY FIXES WHAT IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, CAUSED BY BAD DESIGN, AT MY EXPENSE. HERE IS THE TSB FROM SUZUKI COMPONENT DESCRIPTION: 1. AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE BULLETIN NUMBER: TS0501158 BULLETIN DATE: JAN 2008 VEHICLE: 2,006 SUZUKI RENO SUMMARY: AIRBAG LIGHT ON; DTC B1378 (DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH) AND/OR DTC B1382 (PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RESISTANCE TOO HIGH). FORENZA, SEDAN/WAGON, RENO (RQ420) 2005-2006. VIN(S) -6K425022. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10024195 ). *TR

I WANT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT/INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2005 SUZUKI RENO AIRBAG SYSTEM. I BELIEVE MY CASE TO BE IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE. THE DRIVER HAD BEEN AT A 4-WAY STOP IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, STARTED IN FIRST GEAR THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW AND THE CAR WAS THROWN INTO A CURB. IT APPEARS THAT THE CURB GOT BETWEEN THE RIM AND THE BLOWN TIRE AND ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO USE THE BRAKES TO STOP HE COULD NOT GET TRACTION...LIKE BEING ON A RAILROAD TIE. THE CAR HIT A MAILBOX AND THEN WAS PROPELLED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE CAR HIT SLIGHTLY OFF THE MID CENTER TO THE RIGHT BREAKING THE BUMPER GUARD (TIE) AND ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE DRIVER RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT MEDICAL DAMAGE TO HIS CHIN AND LOSS 3 LOWER FRONT TEETH. ONE TOOTH AT THE CRASH SITE AND 2 SURGICALLY REMOVED AT THE GRADY HOSPITAL, ATLANTA TRAUMA CENTER. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY TO HELP PROTECT THE DRIVER WITH AN IMPACT AS SIGNIFICANT AS THIS ONE. THE DRIVER WILL PROBABLY NEED AT THE LEAST A CHIN SCAR REVISION OR POSSIBLY A CHIN RESTORATION AND 3 DENTAL AIRBAGS. MY CAR INSURANCE HAS ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT SUZUKI TO REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY AGENT DID FINALLY TALK WITH SOMEONE AT SUZUKI THAT AGREED TO REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE BY LOOKING AT THE CAR WITHOUT MY INSURANCE FILING A SUBROGATION CLAIM. THAT WAS 2 WEEKS AGO AND HAVEN'T RECEIVED A REPORT YET. MY DAUGHTER/FAMILY ALSO DRIVES A 2005 RENO AND I AM CONCERNED THAT IF THEY ARE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THE AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY AND SOMETHING WORSE COULD HAPPEN. I NEED TO KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT SOMETHING FAULTY WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OF THE MAKE AND MODEL BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE IS HURT OR KILLED, MY FAMILY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE ONE. PLEASE HELP ME...I NEED PEACE OF MIND AND BEING THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE I AM IN HOPES THAT YOU WILL INVESTIGATE. I CAN PROVIDE DETAILS...THERE SHOULD NOT BE A GENERAL ASSUMPTION THAT THE CAR IS SAFE IF IT IS NOT. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I OWN A 2005 SUZUKI RENO AN BOUGHT IT NEW. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD HAS GONE ON OVER A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I OWNED THE CAR. FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS SUZUKI DEALERSHIP HAS SO CALLED REPAIRED IT, HOWEVER WITHIN 4 WEEKS THE LIGHT ON THE DASH GOES ON AND REMAINS ON, NOW I PAY FOR ALL REPAIRS AND NOVEMBER OF 2009 I SPENT 600 DOLLARS WHICH INCLUDED REPAIR OF THE AIRBAG, SO THE LIGHT WON'T GO ON, THEY TOLD ME THEY REPAIRED IT AND 3 WEEKS LATER THE AIRBAG SAFETY WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AGAIN AND WON'T GO OFF. I WANT TO REPORT THIS BECAUSE I HEARD OF ALOT OF FOREIGN CARS RECALLED AND MY CAR HAS 4 AIRBAGS WHICH KEEPS MALFUNCTIONING, AND THE FIX IS ONLY TEMPORARILY. I AM STILL PAYING OFF THE CAR, AND I NEED YOUR EXPERTISE ADVISE, MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL MATTER. PLEASE HELP ME. [XXX] *TR

I HAD A SUZUKI RENO FOR ABOUT A YEAR WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME AND A FEW WEEKS LATER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONDITIONS HAD TO BE JUST RIGHT FOR IT TO HAPPEN. I AM REFERRING TO THE HOOD BECOMING UNLATCHED WHILE DRIVING AROUND 70MPH WITH HARD WIND GUSTS TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR WOULD SLIGHTLY TWIST AND THEN THE HOOD WOULD AUTOMATICALLY RELEASE AND CATCH ON THE SECONDARY LATCH. IF THE SECONDARY LATCH WAS TO SLIP BEFORE STOPPING THE CAR THEN THE HOOD WOULD SLAM INTO THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS CAR POSED A THREAT TO MY LIFE AND TO THEIRS IF THEY WERE WITH ME. I ATTEMPTED TO GET SUZUKI TO TRY TO FIX IT BUT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I FELT THAT THIS CAR WAS A DEATH TRAP AND REFUSED TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE SO I VOLUNTARILY GAVE IT UP AS A REPO SINCE THE DEALER I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM WOULD NOT DO A "BUY-BACK". NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS CAR, MY CREDIT IS RUINED AND I STILL OWE OVER $6500 FOR WHAT THE BANK LOST AT AUCTION. IF TOYOTA IS BEING SLAMMED FOR THEIR PROBLEMS THEN SUZUKI SHOULD TOO. I ALSO HAD A MASTER MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE STATED THAT THE LATCH WAS PROPERLY ADJUSTED BUT THE QUALITY AND STRENGTH OF THE METALS USED IN THE BODY WERE INSUFFICIENT (FLIMSY). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI RENO. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 40 MPH ON A DARK BACK ROAD, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE SAW SMOKE COMING THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL NUMBER 07V452000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). HE THEN ADDED THAT ANY REPAIRS MADE WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

I WOKE UP TO FIND MY TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. THE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE AUTO SHOP WAS A BAD VALVE STEM, WHICH I HAD TO GET REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD ALL OF THE OTHER TIRES ON MY CAR LEAK AIR TO THE POINT WHERE THEY HAD LESS THAN 5 POUNDS OF AIR LEFT IN THEM. I WENT BACK TO THE SAME AUTO SHOP AND HAD TO REPLACE THE LAST 3 VALVE STEMS ON MY REMAINING THREE TIRES. THE TIME FRAME INVOLVED HERE WAS 4 VALVE STEMS REPLACED, ONE FOR EACH OF MY TIRES IN A TOTAL OF A 2 MONTH PERIOD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI RENO. WHILE DRIVING 10-15 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A NAIL AND A TIRE FLATTENED. THE VEHICLE HAS CARLISLE, SIZE 195/55R15 TIRES. HE DOES NOT KNOW IF THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL OR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ALL FOUR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TWO FRONT TIRES AT THAT TIME AND PLANS TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRES SOON. OTHER THAN THE INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL SIDEWALL FRACTURES FOUND ON THE TIRES, BLACK RUBBER RESIDUE WAS ALSO FOUND ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES. HE STILL HAS THE TIRES AND CAN TAKE PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

I GOT MY CAR IN MAY, 2006. IT WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT, BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP ONLY SIX DAYS AFTER. I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT MY CAR WOULD JERK WHEN IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS (ALTHOUGH IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC). OVER ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME, IT GOT MUCH WORSE AND I HAD TO BRING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED. I BROUGHT IT BACK THREE MORE TIMES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 4TH TIME I BROUGHT IT BACK, IT WAS SO BAD THAT NOT ONLY WAS IT JERKING WHILE SHIFTING, BUT WHILE STAYING AT A STEADY SPEED AS WELL. FINALLY, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WAS BAD. AT THE SAME TIME, MY PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. I WOULD SIT IN THE SEAT AND THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON SAYING "PASSENGERS AIRBAG OFF." I BROUGHT IT BACK MORE THAN 4 TIMES FOR BOTH THE AIRBAG AND TRANSMISSION. SOMETIMES, I WOULD BE TOLD THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN" AND THEREFORE, THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. OTHER TIMES, I WOULD BE TOLD MY CAR HAD BEEN UPDATED AND FIXED AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. AFTER ONLY 5 MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR, I HAD TO FILE A LEMON LAW APPLICATION. NEITHER MY TRANSMISSION OR MY AIRBAG HAVE BEEN FIXED, AND I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING A CAR WITH A BAD TRANSMISSION AND NO PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAG. *JB

CONSUMER 2005 RENO S USED 35 GALLONS OF GAS IN THE FIRST 688 MILES. THE WINDOW STICKER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD RECEIVE 22 MPG CITY AND 30 MPG HIGHWAY. *TS THE VEHICLE GETS ON AVERAGE 19 MPG. THE CONSUMER HAS COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION AND EXTERIOR WORKMANSHIP. *NM