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2003 Suzuki XL-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Suzuki XL-7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.

About this comparison →

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: 19 of 24 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 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 reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2006
Power Train

I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THE MECHANIC MADE ME AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR BREAKS. THE REAR AXLE SEALS HAD LEAKED ON THE REAR BRAKE PADS, DRUMS AND THE REAR AXLE. THE MECHANIC CALLED THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THEIR SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY AXLE F…

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I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THE MECHANIC MADE ME AWARE OF AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR BREAKS. THE REAR AXLE SEALS HAD LEAKED ON THE REAR BRAKE PADS, DRUMS AND THE REAR AXLE. THE MECHANIC CALLED THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THEIR SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY AXLE FREEZING UP AND OF COURSE MY REAR BRAKES WERE NOT UP TO PAR. THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT (MY MECHANIC TOLD ME, THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM) BUT NO RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171421

32,000 miles · Jan 22, 2006
Power TrainFire

SUBTLE BUT NOTICEABLE VIBRATION FELT IN REAR AXLE; WHILE UNDER TOW (BEHIND MOTORHOME) RIGHT REAR WHEEL (TIRE, WHEEL, HUB) SEPARATED FROM AXLE AND LEFT VEHICLE. VEHICLE DRIVETRAIN WAS IN MFG RECOMMENDED POSITION FOR TOWING (TRANSMISSION IN D, TRANSAXLE SET TO N). HEAT GENERATED FROM FAILURE (POSSIBLY BAD WHEEL BEARING) LED TO FI…

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SUBTLE BUT NOTICEABLE VIBRATION FELT IN REAR AXLE; WHILE UNDER TOW (BEHIND MOTORHOME) RIGHT REAR WHEEL (TIRE, WHEEL, HUB) SEPARATED FROM AXLE AND LEFT VEHICLE. VEHICLE DRIVETRAIN WAS IN MFG RECOMMENDED POSITION FOR TOWING (TRANSMISSION IN D, TRANSAXLE SET TO N). HEAT GENERATED FROM FAILURE (POSSIBLY BAD WHEEL BEARING) LED TO FIRE. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY POLICE. SUZUKI REFUSED TO WARRANTY THIS FAILURE UNDER THEIR 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN COVERAGE. SUBSEQUENT TO REAR-END REBUILD FROM THIS INCIDENT, A SIMILAR VIBRATION WAS FELT AGAIN ON RIGHT REAR SIDE. SUZUKI DID AT THIS TIME REPLACE A BAD WHEEL BEARING UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10148290

Official recalls

2

05V452000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor

Oct 5, 2005

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI DEL CARIBE AT 787-622-0600.

03V512000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Dec 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE THROUGH THE CAP CAN CAUSE THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME FRAYED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE BECOMES FRAYED, IT CAN STICK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE SPEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

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.