PURCHASED THIS SIDEKICK JULY 24, 2001. WITHIN DAYS THE " ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DUE TO A 30 DAY 1000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY I TOOK THE SIDEKICK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP PURCHASED AT. THE SIDEKICK WAS TAKEN TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOLENOID AND VALVE BODY WERE DEFECT…
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PURCHASED THIS SIDEKICK JULY 24, 2001. WITHIN DAYS THE " ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DUE TO A 30 DAY 1000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY I TOOK THE SIDEKICK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP PURCHASED AT. THE SIDEKICK WAS TAKEN TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOLENOID AND VALVE BODY WERE DEFECTED. A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST ANALYSIS. AFTER 1.5 WEEKS IN THE SHOP I PICKED UP "MY" SIDEKICK. WITHIN 3 DAYS THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. RETURNED THE SIDEKICK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. IT WAS RELAYED TO ME THAT THE SUZUKI REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS HAD A VALVE BODY DEFECT. TRANSMISSION NUMBER 2 WAS PULLED AND IN WENT REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION NUMBER 3. I PICKED UP THE SIDEKICK THIS MORNING. WITHIN 2 HOURS AND LESS THAN 30 MILES THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE SIDEKICK WILL BE PICKED UP MONDAY MORNING AND I'LL BE DRIVING ANOTHER LOANER VEHICLE (FOR WHICH I'M VERY GRATEFUL). I'LL FIND OUT IN 2-3 DAYS WHETHER MY NEW TO ME USED TO YOU GETS TRANSMISSION NUMBER 4. I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 31 DAYS, HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF DRIVING IT FOR 7 DAYS TOPS. THE 30 DAY 1000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED. I'VE REQUESTED A COLLATERAL TRADE. I WON'T FIND OUT ABOUT THAT UNTIL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP RETURNS MONDAY. I'VE HAD MORE TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS ONE VEHICLE IN ONE MONTH THAN I'VE HAD IN ALL MY VEHICLES IN THE PAST 15 YEARS! LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. I'VE NOT EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT YET. WOULD LIKE SOME INORMATION ON OUR RIGHTS AS CONSUMERS. THANKS!*AK
NHTSA ODI #751119
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVisibility
THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE BECAUSE A PEBBLE ON THE ROAD STRUCK IT . THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF REPEATEDLY. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL A BABY. THIS CAR IS A DRIVERS NIGHTMARE.
NHTSA ODI #713749
Mileage unknown · May 15, 1999
Unknown Or Other
NEED TO KNOW IF THIS SUV HAS BEEN KNOWN TO ROLL OVER BEFORE I PURCHASE PLEASE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #706533
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
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
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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