IllustrationINTERMITTENTLY, WHEN SLAMMING THE DOOR CLOSE OR ANY TYPE OF VIBRATION CAUSES THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE TO RELEASE. THE WHOLE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. OWNER STILL EXPEREINCING A PROBLEM WITH TRUCK IF NOT IN GEAR. *AK
1996 Suzuki Sidekick
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sidekick 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: 1 of 59 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.
- Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
59 reportsENGINE FAN HITS THE RADIATOR, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SMOKE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY CONSUMER HIT A PATCH OF ICE ,SLID AND HIT THE HIGHWAY SLIDING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY , HOWEVER DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. *AK
INSIDE FRONT BRAKE PADS COMPLETELY WORN OUT, CAUSING VIBRATION UPON BRAKING.
SPEEDOMETER CABLE FAILED.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING SMOKING STARTED COMING THROUGH VENTS INSIDE VEHICLE, HEARD POPPING NOISE. VEHICLE WITH DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK
BRAKE PADS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES.
PASSIVE RESTRAINTS, AIR BAGS: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN VEHICLE CAME TO AN INTERSECTION , OTHER VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND WAS HIT HEAD-ON. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AND HE SAID THAT SOMETIMES IT'S BEST IF AIRBAGS DON'T DEPLOY . DEALER WOULD NOT PERFORM REPAIRS. *AK
CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE.
DRIVING ALONG VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING AND HEARD A NOISE, LOST CONTROL AND LANDED IN SOMEONE'S YARD. THE TIE ROD END SNAPPED IN HALF, VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE, HAD TO BE TOWED IN. *AK
Official recalls
200V008000 · Suspension
Jan 20, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE STRUT BROKE LOOSE, A DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT, FOR BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASE AND THE VEHICLE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASES, MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS, AND STRUT BAR STAYS WILL BE REPLACED.
96V121002 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 2, 1996
THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.