IllustrationTHE 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.
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 →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: 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
Visibility complaints
4 reportsAIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY.
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
WINDSHIELD CRACKS WITH THE SMALLEST BLOW.
Official recalls
100V008000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.