Model year record

2003 Suzuki Aerio recalls & problems

The 2003 Suzuki Aerio has 2 safety recalls and 36 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (12 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints36filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainJul 15, 2007

Manual transmission

Recall 07V30700014,251 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.
Risk: REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

VisibilityJun 16, 2003

Windshield

Recall 03V2230005,319 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.
Risk: IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2003 Suzuki Aerio 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Aerio

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Aerio

25mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Aerio SX

25mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Aerio SX

25mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

Aerio 4WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Aerio SX 4WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainManual transmission; Driveline	12	0	0	41,180 mi
WheelsRim	6	1	1	16,125 mi
Electrical systemWiring; Ignition	4	0	0	22,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc	3	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	0	0	—
SteeringRack and pinion; Hydraulic power assist system	2	0	0	—
Tires	2	0	0	—
Structure	1	0	0	—
Air bagsFrontal	1	1	1	—
SuspensionFront › Wheel bearing	1	1	4	—
Fuel system, gasoline	1	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

EngineFire
STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT UP, AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF DASH BOARD, MAKING GLASS WHERE SPEEDOMETER IS SMOKEY AND IT STILL IS. SMELT LIKE WIRE BURNING AND SHUT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHEN CHECKED ON, A WIRE INSULATION HAD BURNT OFF CAUSING THE SMOKE AND SMELL. AFTER REPLACING THE WIRE COATING, IT WAS FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN COMING BACK FROM A TRIP TO AUGUSTA THE SPEEDOMETER NUMBER GOT DIMMER, BUT I DID NOT SMELL ANY SMOKE. SO NOT SURE WHAT THE DEFECT IS, JUST KNOW THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT. *TR
Sep 23, 2014 · 15,000 miles
Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO SX WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DISLODGED FROM THE FIFTH GEAR WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE FIFTH GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FIFTH GEAR WAS EXTERNALLY HOUSED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE REMAINING GEARS WERE ALL INTERNALLY HOUSED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRS WERE AGAIN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE…
Sep 1, 2010 · 82,000 miles
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE DOOR HANDLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,586 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Mar 1, 2011 · 10,586 miles
Unknown or other
I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS AND IT SEEMS IT NEVER ENDS. SERIOUS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSES A LOT OF INCONVENIENCES FOR A SINGLE MOTHER LIKE ME, TAKEN TO SOME SHOPS, MONEY WASTED ON NOTHING BECAUSE IT SEEMS THIS IS ONE OF THE WEAKEST AND WORST PROBLEMS A SUZUKI AERIO 2003 COULD HAVE. CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ! *LN
Oct 14, 2010 · 61,000 miles
Tires
THE REASON IS THAT I BOUGHT ONE USED GOOD YEAR TIRE BUT I JUST RUN ON HIGH WAY FOR FEW MILES ONLY IT WAS SERIOUSLY FLAT ON LAST SATURDAY (MAY 9, 2009). I DID NOT KNOW WHY AN INFERIOR TIRE WOULD BE SOLD IN THE STORE, WHEN I PURCHASED IT SEEMS VERY GOOD LIKE A NEW GOOD YEAR TIRE, AND I WAS NOTICED I NEED TO PAY FOR REPLACE IT. I NOTICED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SOMETHING WAS MELTED---A FLIMSY PIECE OF MATERIAL. COULD YOUR OFFICE INVESTIGATE THOSE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE IF THOSE TIRES WERE EQUIPPED TO THE FRONT OF THE CARS WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE HIGH WAY?. COULD YOU INVESTIGATE WHY THEY HAVE/SELL THOSE INFERIOR TIRES? THE USED TIRE STORE INFORMATION: AFFORDABLE TIRE & WHEELS; 12099…
May 9, 2009
Power train › Manual transmission
2003 SUZUKI AERIO CV JOINT KEEPS COMING OUT DUE TO SNAP RING IN REAR END,CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. CAR DEALER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY,SAYS REAR AXLE IS A AFTER MARKET PART, THIS IS NOT TRUE,WHY WOULD WE HAVE CAR WORKED ON WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, WE ARE THIRD OWNER OF CAR AND KNOW THE TWO PREVIOUS OWNERS WHICH IS A FATHER AND SON,THEY ARE ADAMANT NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR,THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET FIXED SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, ITS VERY EASY FOR THE MECHANIC TO GET SOME REAR END AXLE AND SAY IT CAME OUT OF MY CAR ,JUST TO AVOID FIXING MY CAR,THEIR CLAIM IS IF SOMEONE ELSE WORKED ON THIS CAR THAT VOIDS THE WARRANTY, SO THIS IS THEIR CONVENIENT WAY OF GETTING OUT OF…
Dec 7, 2008 · 60,000 miles
Wheels
CRACKING AND BENDING OF RIM WHERE THE TIRE BEAD SEALS,HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE DIFFERENT RIMS IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. *TR
Feb 16, 2005 · 65,000 miles
Tires
I AM WRITING IN REFERENCE TO TIRE DEBRIS BEING LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK'S HIGHWAYS. THESE SITUATIONS CREATE HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AND SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. TODAY, I WAS TRAVELING ON 495 GOING WEST AND A HUGE TIRE WAS LEFT IN THE MIDDLE LANE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SWERVE SO IT CREATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OF WHICH I AM SEEKING TO B E COMPENSATED. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR
Jul 18, 2008

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.