IllustrationDEALER HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE 4 WHEEL DRIVE, INCLUDING THE SHIFTER. *AK
1999 Suzuki Vitara
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 Vitara 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: 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 reportsRECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V273002. CONTACTED DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS, CONSUMER WAS URGED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER & RECORDING CAME ON ASKING FOR NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE & SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH. SO FAR NO ONE HAS CALLED. *AK
CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 99V273002 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE WOULD DRIFT RIGHT LIKE ITS STEERING BY ITSELF. WOULD HIT BUMPS OR ROUGH PATCH IN ROAD & LOSE CONTROL. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK
FIRST TIME ON OPEN HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50 AND 65 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A VERY BAD SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. MOST OF THE SHIMMY IS GONE BUT, NOW IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY TIME THE CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT. IT HAS ONLY DONE THIS FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT WILL SHIMMY AT…
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FIRST TIME ON OPEN HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50 AND 65 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A VERY BAD SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. MOST OF THE SHIMMY IS GONE BUT, NOW IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY TIME THE CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT. IT HAS ONLY DONE THIS FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY SPEED OR ROAD CONDITIONS. NATURALLY THE TECHNICIAN CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT, IT IS THERE. I STILL FEEL THAT IT IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK
WHENEVER VEHICLE IS STARTED, IT WOULD STALL OUT. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON UNTIL THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED. FINALLY, ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD FAIL TO COME ON. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL WIRES CHECKED. *AK
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT COME UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE, HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE PEDAL UP TO GAIN CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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: )
INTENSE VIBRATION/SHAKING AT 60 MPH AND OVER, LOUD ENGINE NOISE WHEN IN GEAR,
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE OVER 60 MPH THE CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IT ALSO VIBRATES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THE TIRES WERE REBALANCED BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL STANDS. *AK *ML
Official recalls
499V273002 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.