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 28 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.
Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. 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.
7 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
28 reports
210,000 miles · Sep 25, 2017
Engine
I HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MILES. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 210,000 MILES AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN AND I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON …
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I HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MILES. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 210,000 MILES AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN AND I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEB SITES AND FROM OTHER SOURCES.
NHTSA ODI #11025465
61,000 miles · Oct 19, 2015
Air Bags
I WENT OUT TO START MY VEHICLE ONE MORNING. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION ON, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO WORKS ON SUZUKIS HERE, I WAS TOLD T…
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I WENT OUT TO START MY VEHICLE ONE MORNING. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION ON, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO WORKS ON SUZUKIS HERE, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS M/M/Y OF VEHICLE, AND THAT THE REPAIR IS BETWEEN $1.5K-$2K. MY VEHICLE IS NOT OLD, ABUSED, NOR HAS IT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WITH THE MILES AT APPROX 61,000... WHY IS THERE A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING MY AIRBAG SYSTEM? AFTER DIGGING AROUND ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS M/M/Y VEHICLE DOES, IN FACT, HAVE A LARGE COMPLAINT AGAINST IT REGARDING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. MOST SPECIFICALLY THE EXACT ISSUE I AM HAVING. IN LIGHT OF THE MASSIVE AIRBAG RECALL ISSUE, ONE WOULD ASSUME SAFETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. I THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA ODI #10783531
109 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering
I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO T…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO MOTION AND NOW I HAVE TO CLICK THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO REVERSE OR STEER PROPERLY (SO THAT I'M NOT ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SETTING) BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BLINKS. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON.
NHTSA ODI #10749384
Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2015
Air Bags
SUZUKI HAS NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL. AS A 71 YEAR OLD, WEIGHING ONLY 90 POUNDS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IN MY CAR. SINCE SUZUKI PULLED THEIR AUTO UNIT OUT OF THE US A FEW YEARS AGO, THOSE OF US WHO PURCHASED A SUZUKI HAVE BEEN LEFT HANGING HIGH AND DRY.
NHTSA ODI #10725456
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
THE FUSE THAT GOES TO THE FUEL INJECTORS KEEPS BLOWING, IT ONLY BLOWS HALF OF THE FUSE, EVERY FEW WEEKS, THE CAR WON'T START AND THE FUSE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626933
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2014
Service Brakes
WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN , BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. MY YOUNG SON WAS IN THE CAR, THIS COULD HAVE ENDED BADLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626931
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2014
Air Bags
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY AND THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BUCKLED. THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES AND BEEPS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626929
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2014
Electrical System
ONE DAY WHEN I GO TO START MY CAR WHEN I TURN THE KEY, A STATIC NOISE COMES FROM WHERE THE KEY GOES. VEHICLE STARTED BUT WHILE DRIVING, WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626927
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAR SUDDENLY LOST SPEED BUT RPM'S KEPT GOING UP, COULD NOT GO OVER 40, WHEN PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK BUT ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10626925
162,000 miles · Jul 11, 2014
Suspension
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING MY BACK AXLE CAME OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE MY VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY THE SPARKS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CAUGHT ON FIRE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE BODY SHOP AND NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE AXLE CAME OFF. MY …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING MY BACK AXLE CAME OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE MY VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY THE SPARKS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CAUGHT ON FIRE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE BODY SHOP AND NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE AXLE CAME OFF. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, THIS HAS COST ME UNFORESEEN EXPERIENCES FOR CAR RENTALS AND MISSING WORK TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *TR
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MODEL YEAR 2006 GRAND VITARA AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 XL-7 VEHICLES. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (IF EQUIPPED) HAS AN OUTER PORTION THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC. REPEATED HEAT STRESS CAN CAUSE THE PLASTIC MATERIAL TO DETERIORATE AND PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN BREAK OFF.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BROKEN PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PULLEY AND THE DRIVE BELT, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF AND RESULTING IN THE DRIVER NEEDING INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
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.
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.
2006 Suzuki XL-7 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year