IllustrationWHENEVER THE VEHICLE RUNS OVER A BUMP IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL LINE. WITHIN A FEW WEEKS THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*AK
2001 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: 13 of 27 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 →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 4 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 reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reportsDRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE BEEN STOPPED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR FAULTY REAR TAILLIGHTS. IT SEEMS THE LIGHT BULBS WILL WORK THEIR WAY OUT OF THE SOCKETS AND LIGHT UP SOME OF THE TIME BUT USUALLY NOT AT ALL. *NM
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION OF MY 2001 SUZUKI VITARA. I WAS TOLD BY THE LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER THAT THIS HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. I FEEL THAT IF THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALL OF THESE VEHICLES, SUZUKI SHOULD RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPLACE IT WITH ONE THAT WILL NOT WEAR OUT.*AK
2001 GRAND VITARA 4 DOOR R235-60-16 TIRES; VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SWERVES SUDDENLY TO THE SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; FORCES CONSTANT CONTROL OF VEHICLE; EXPERIENCED BY AT LEAST 2 OTHER DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE; TIRES REPLACED; ALIGNMENT DONE; NO CHANGE; VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE UNSAFE ON TE HIGHWAY; IF TIRES ENCOUNTER AN IMPERFECTION IN T…
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2001 GRAND VITARA 4 DOOR R235-60-16 TIRES; VEHICLE DRAMATICALLY SWERVES SUDDENLY TO THE SIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; FORCES CONSTANT CONTROL OF VEHICLE; EXPERIENCED BY AT LEAST 2 OTHER DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE; TIRES REPLACED; ALIGNMENT DONE; NO CHANGE; VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE UNSAFE ON TE HIGHWAY; IF TIRES ENCOUNTER AN IMPERFECTION IN THE ROAD SUCH AS AN INDENTATION WHERE THE ASPHALT MEETS, IT WILL HIT THAT SPOT AND JUMP TO THE SIDE; SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS; REPORTED TO DEALER WHO SAID THERE IS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY; HOWEVER, IT APPEARDED IN THE LAST YEAR; ACTS AS IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH STEERING MECHANISM; HAD THIS PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE ON A DIFFERNT VEHIVLE & IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN *AK
THE TAIL LIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING, THEN CAME BACK ON SOME HOURS LATER. THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BRIDGESTONE DEALER TO GET THE TIRES ROTATED. DEALER STATED THAT TREAD ON THE TIRES WERE GONE, AND CONSUMER SHOULD BUY FOUR NEW TIRES. BRIDGESTONE HT TIRES.*AK
I HAVE BEEN DISSATISFIED WITH MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA SINCE I GOT IT. MY HUSBAND HAS HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL NUMBEROUS TIMES EVEN PRIOR TO THE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN TIMES WHEN HE WOULD CHANGE THE OIL, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO STAY ON AND I WOULD TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED THEN THE LIGHT…
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I HAVE BEEN DISSATISFIED WITH MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA SINCE I GOT IT. MY HUSBAND HAS HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL NUMBEROUS TIMES EVEN PRIOR TO THE REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN TIMES WHEN HE WOULD CHANGE THE OIL, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO STAY ON AND I WOULD TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED THEN THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO STAY ON. I HAVE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE BEEN VERY DISSATIFIED WITH IT. I HAVE TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES TO EVEN HAVE A KEY MADE FOR IT. THE DOME LIGHTS DON'T COME ON UNTIL YOU TURN THEM ON MANUALLY. THE KEYLESS ENTRY DOESN'T WORK AMONG OTHER THINGS. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK. WHEN I CONTACT THE DEALER FOR ANYTHING, THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISSAPPOINTED WITH THEM AS WELL AS THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *AK
WHILE APPLYING BRAKES FRONT END SHAKES AND STEERING WILL VIBRATE. *AK
VEHICLE BURNS 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. 2ND ROW SAFETY BELTS ARE FRAYED ON PASSENGER & DRIVER SIDE FROM RUBBING AGAINST INTERIOR PLASTIC OF VEHICLE.
THE LEFT REAR DOOR CAME OPEN WHILE MOVING AND WITHOUT WARNING! THERE IS NO DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ON DASH TO ALERT DRIVER THAT A DOOR IS OPEN. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.