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1999 Suzuki Vitara

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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

Power Train complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2003
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT EASILY GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10020833

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2001
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR AXLE BROKE AND TIRE COMPLETELY CAME OFF, CAUSE UNKNOWN. NO COLLISION/ INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #893003

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE DATE, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO 5TH GEAR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE …

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TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE DATE, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO 5TH GEAR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO COME IN AND ONE WEEK TO REPLACE, WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THAT A RECIEPT WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ONE YEAR LATER WHEN HE OBTAINED A RECIEPT STATING THAT TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND NOT REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES BETWEEN 3-23-2000 AND 3-16-2001 IT BECAOME DIFFUCULT TO DOWN SHIFT INTO 3RD GEARAND IMPOSSIBLE TO GO INTO REVERSE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #887679

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2001
Power Train

WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LE…

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WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE RED LIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS A RESULT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #744004

Mileage unknown · May 26, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED MORE THAN 30 DAYS AGO & IT ALREADY HAS STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT SHAKES REAL BADLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862625

Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Power Train

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND SKIDDED ON HITTING ICE AND CRASHED. YH

NHTSA ODI #551516

Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, GRINDS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720056

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2000
Power Train

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE 4 WHEEL DRIVE, INCLUDING THE SHIFTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718241

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

BUMPY/VIBRATION FELT AT 35+ MPH, SMOOTHS OUT TO SOME DEGREE ABOVE 45 UNTIL YOU REACH 60+. VIBRATION ABOVE 60 FEELS AS IF YOU MAY NOT HAVE STEERING CONTROL. A/C CONTROL LEVER DOES NOT OPEN/CLOSE COMPLETELY. A/C FROZE UNDER DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, WOULD NOT COOL, WATER DISCHARGED INTO FLOOR BOARD. DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COOL INTE…

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BUMPY/VIBRATION FELT AT 35+ MPH, SMOOTHS OUT TO SOME DEGREE ABOVE 45 UNTIL YOU REACH 60+. VIBRATION ABOVE 60 FEELS AS IF YOU MAY NOT HAVE STEERING CONTROL. A/C CONTROL LEVER DOES NOT OPEN/CLOSE COMPLETELY. A/C FROZE UNDER DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, WOULD NOT COOL, WATER DISCHARGED INTO FLOOR BOARD. DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COOL INTERIOR IN DIRECT SUN WITH TEMPTS. ABOVE 85. GEAR SHIFTER SOMETIMES (SPORADIC) JAMS - PROBLEM APPEARS TO DEAL WITH 2ND GEAR (SOMETIMES 1ST TO 2ND OR 3RD TO 2ND). WHEN IT JAMS IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS HITTING RUBBER (NO NOISE) AND YOU HAVE TO FORCE SHIFTER INTO PLACE. I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND RELEASE AND REPRESS CLUTCH AND MOVE SHIFTER AROUND ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL. IT DOES HAPPEN SPORADICALLY, CAN MOST OFTEN BE FORCED INTO GEAR AT THIS TIME, SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO SERVICE DEPT. 2 TIRES REPLACED (FLAT SPOTS), ROTATION, SPIN BALANCE, AND ALIGNMENT HAVE BEEN CHECKED. VIBRATION STILL RECURRING PROBLEM. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT. REPLACED CONTROL SWITCH AND LEVER AFTER FREEZE UP OF A/C. REPLACED A RESISTOR AFTER 2ND EPOSIDE OF WATER IN FLOOR. STILL DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #710817

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 1999
Power Train

WHILE TRYING TO SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR THE SHIFTER GETS STUCK IN THE NEUTRAL GATE BETWEEN 5TH AND REVERSE, OTHER TIMES EXCESSIVE FORCE USED TO ENGAGE LOWER GEAR. MJS

NHTSA ODI #548044

Official recalls

4

99V273002 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Oct 15, 1999

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.

99V154000 · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Jun 28, 1999

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.

99V155000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Jun 28, 1999

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.

98V324002 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Feb 9, 1999

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.