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: 7 of 50 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 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 reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
50 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A TRUCK AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A TORN LIGAMENT TO HER ARM, SKIN …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A TRUCK AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A TORN LIGAMENT TO HER ARM, SKIN TISSUE INJURIES, AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/08/10 * BF UPDATED 11/10/10
NHTSA ODI #10348236
235,300 miles · Apr 1, 2010
Structure
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY STOP TO AVOID HITTING A DEER RUNNING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR.ANCHOR FOR THE RIGHT "A" ARM IS RUSTED OUT IN THE FRAME FRONT CROSS MEMBER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DIVE TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC WHEN T…
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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY STOP TO AVOID HITTING A DEER RUNNING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR.ANCHOR FOR THE RIGHT "A" ARM IS RUSTED OUT IN THE FRAME FRONT CROSS MEMBER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DIVE TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER CROSSING THE ROAD. FRAME CROSS MEMBER AND RELATED PARTS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS NOW UNSTABLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #10323384
128,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPAIRING THE BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED CORROSION ON THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER (FRAME). THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT IF THE FRAME COMES APART, IT CAN CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPAIRING THE BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED CORROSION ON THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER (FRAME). THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT IF THE FRAME COMES APART, IT CAN CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,000.
NHTSA ODI #10238761
125,000 miles · Aug 18, 2008
StructureSuspension
FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON MY 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CHEVROLET TRACKER, WHICH IS THE SAME CAR HAS HAD A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238726
138,000 miles · Jul 9, 2008
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IT REMAINS IN A FIXATED POSITION. HE INSPECTED THE STEERING FLUID AND CONCLUDED THAT THE LEVELS WERE NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA C…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IT REMAINS IN A FIXATED POSITION. HE INSPECTED THE STEERING FLUID AND CONCLUDED THAT THE LEVELS WERE NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V324002 (STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR), THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.
NHTSA ODI #10233633
100,000 miles · Dec 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 35 MP ENGINE LOCKED UP. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT IT WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK....*AK
NHTSA ODI #10103801
Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH A COLLISION OCCURRED, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED BAD INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10101255
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2004
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 04V427000. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SUZUKI CORPORATION, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS A PART OF THE RECALL. THEN, SUZUKI TURNED AROUND, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT BEING EXCLUDE FROM THE RECALL WAS UNFAIR…
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THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 04V427000. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SUZUKI CORPORATION, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS A PART OF THE RECALL. THEN, SUZUKI TURNED AROUND, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT BEING EXCLUDE FROM THE RECALL WAS UNFAIR AND THAT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR THE 6 CYLINDER AND NOT THE 4 CYLINDER. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10098924
6 miles · Apr 9, 2004
Suspension
1999 VITARA HAS LOUD VIBRATION BETWEEN 55 TO 65 MPH. HAVE TO DRIVE BELOW OR ABOVE MPH RANGE TO STOP VIBRATION. SAFETY ISSUE. NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON FILE. FEEL INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10065816
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2004
Exterior Lighting
BRAKE LIGHTS KEPT BLOWING OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED SIX TIMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE PINCHED WIRES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION/CONDITION OF THE REAR WIRING HARNESS AND REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, IF NECESSARY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS WERE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REAR SPEAKER INSTALLATION AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.
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.
1999 Suzuki Vitara Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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