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1986 Suzuki Samurai

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

3Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
19866
198720
19882
1989
Compare all Samurai years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
1Seat Belts
1Steering
1Structure
1Suspension
1

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: 0 of 5 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

5 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2000
SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON FREEWAY 101 THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT WAS IN THE WAY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, HITTING AN EMBANKMENT, THEN HIT A WALL, THEN VEHICLE STOOD UP. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #865188

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WANTED INFORMATION ON HOW EASILY THE SAMURAI TIPS OVER...

NHTSA ODI #704423

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 1997
Structure

PART OF FRAME AROUND WINDSHIELD FELL OFF, LEAVING A HOLE AROUND WINDSHIELD, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, DAMAGING WIRES TO RADIO AND ALSO FLOODED INTERIOR.

NHTSA ODI #514678

Mileage unknown · May 25, 1995
SuspensionCrash

UPON IMPACT, BROADSIDE REAR DRIVER'S, 30MPH SPUN AROUND THEN ROLLED OVER. TT

NHTSA ODI #965995

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 1995
Seat Belts

REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO HOLD PASSENGERS SECURELY, CAUSING CHILD SEATS/PASSENGERS TO BE THROWN FORWARD INTO BACK OF FRONT SEATS. *SKD

NHTSA ODI #482667

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

3

DP89003 · Reconsider Samurai Petition

Opened Dec 9, 1988 · Closed Feb 10, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

RECONSIDER SAMURAI PETITION

DP88019 · Vehicle Stability

Opened Aug 2, 1988 · Closed Sep 1, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

VEHICLE STABILITY

DP88011 · Rollover

Opened Feb 25, 1988 · Closed Sep 1, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

ROLLOVER