IllustrationWHILE 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
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 reportsPASSENGER'S FRONT SIDE BOUNCES, CAUSING TIRE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER FRONT SIDE WHICH MAY CAUSE A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
SEVERE SHAKE/VIBRATION AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH, FEEL A LOSS OF CONTROL. WHEN STOPPED NOISE IN DRIVE BUT NOT PARK.
VEHICLE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT IS LEAKING, CAUSING FUMES, RESULTING IN DISCOMFORT. *YC
VEHICLE MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE WHEN GOING ABOVE 60 MPH AND THERE IS SOME VIBRATION. DEALER HS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WITH ONE OR TWO WINDOWS OPENED, AND IN 2ND THROUGH 5TH GEAR, VEHICLE WILL SHAKE/VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH OR MORE) INTENSE VIBRATION IS FELT. IT MAKES ME FEEL AS IF I AM OUT OF CONTROL. I TEST DROVE ANOTHER ONE THAT DID THE SAME THING AND FOOLISHLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THAT ONE. I AM RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME OTHERS HAVE BEEN COMING BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. …
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DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 MPH OR MORE) INTENSE VIBRATION IS FELT. IT MAKES ME FEEL AS IF I AM OUT OF CONTROL. I TEST DROVE ANOTHER ONE THAT DID THE SAME THING AND FOOLISHLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THAT ONE. I AM RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT. THE SERVICE PERSON TOLD ME OTHERS HAVE BEEN COMING BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED WHAT THE PROBLEM TURNED OUT TO BE SHE WOULDN'T TELL ME ! SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON HERE. *AK
CONSUMER HEARING A HUMMING NOISE FRON THE AIR CONDITIONING AND IS FEELING VIBRATIONS WHICH MAKE HER FEEL SHE IS LOOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
DURING SUDDEN STOPS THE BRAKES FADE AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE.
OEM TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE CREATES DANGEROUS HANDLING PERFORMANCE ON SNOW COVERED/ICEY ROADS. VEHICLE PERFORMANCE SUFFERS DRAMACTICALLY DUE TO TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE GIVEN VEHICLE'S WEIGHT. LACK OF CONTACT TRACTION SEVERLY EFFECTS BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL EVEN AT MUCH LESS THAN REASONABLY SAFE SPEED. QUESTION MANUFACTURER'S CHOI…
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OEM TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE CREATES DANGEROUS HANDLING PERFORMANCE ON SNOW COVERED/ICEY ROADS. VEHICLE PERFORMANCE SUFFERS DRAMACTICALLY DUE TO TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE GIVEN VEHICLE'S WEIGHT. LACK OF CONTACT TRACTION SEVERLY EFFECTS BRAKING AND STEERING CONTROL EVEN AT MUCH LESS THAN REASONABLY SAFE SPEED. QUESTION MANUFACTURER'S CHOICE OF TIRE DESIGN AND SIZE SELECTION AS A SAFETY CONCERN IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY WHEN VEHICLE IS PROMOTED AS A 4-WHEEL DRIVE SUV CAPABLE OF PERFORMING "BETTER THAN AVERAGE" IN ADVERSE WEATHER. THIS IS NOT ONLY MISLEADING; IT IS A DANGEROUS REAL-WORLD COMBINATION OF POORLY ENGINEERED PERFORMANCE.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/60-16 )
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.