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1997 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 →
36Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
21
199426
199559
199636
199727
19981
2000
Compare all Sidekick years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
9Suspension
9Power Train
7Air Bags
4Unknown Or Other
4
All reported categories
Visibility
4Electrical System
3Equipment
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
3Structure
1Tires
1Vehicle Speed Control
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 36 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 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH UNDER COLD/ DRY CONDITIONS WHEN VEHICLE HIT A DIP IN ROAD, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND VEHICLE WENT OVER A SNOW BANK, AND IMPACTED A TREE ON FRONT CENTER AREA OF VEHICLE. DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT GIVEN CONSUMER ANY REASON FOR…

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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH UNDER COLD/ DRY CONDITIONS WHEN VEHICLE HIT A DIP IN ROAD, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND VEHICLE WENT OVER A SNOW BANK, AND IMPACTED A TREE ON FRONT CENTER AREA OF VEHICLE. DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT GIVEN CONSUMER ANY REASON FOR CAUSE OF DEFECT. *SUZUKI WAS IN POSSESSION OF AIR BAGS, AND VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #886214

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ODI #543968

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 1999
Air BagsPower TrainSuspension

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT, AND THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE HEATER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #834272

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1998
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 12 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #820989

Official recalls

1

00V008000 · 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.