Model year record
2000 Suzuki Esteem recalls & problems
The 2000 Suzuki Esteem has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 26 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is structure (10 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2000 Suzuki Esteem.
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.
Fuel economy
Esteem
| City / highway | 26 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel
Esteem Wagon
| City / highway | 26 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
Esteem
| City / highway | 24 / 32 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
Esteem
| City / highway | 24 / 31 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Esteem
| City / highway | 23 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Esteem Wagon
| City / highway | 23 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Esteem Wagon
| City / highway | 23 / 30 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Esteem Wagon
| City / highway | 24 / 31 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| StructureFrame and members; Frame and members › Underbody shields | 10 | 96,000 mi |
| SuspensionFront; Front › Macpherson strut | 8 | 122,367 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control; Engine › Gasoline | 5 | — |
| Unknown or other | 4 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield | 3 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Buckle assembly; Rear/other | 3 | — |
| Power trainManual transmission; Automatic transmission › Gear position indication (prndl) | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components | 2 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 2 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch | 2 | — |
| Exterior lightingBrake lights | 1 | — |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER BAR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Suspension
2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT END PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FRONT END PROBLEMS. WHILE THERE, HE WAS INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR A FRAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY CONFIRMED, THAT IN FACT, THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING A MISTAKE HAD BEEN MADE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS FIVE MONTHS OLDER THAN THE RECALLED COVERED. THE…
- Engine and engine cooling
VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND RUMBLED UPON TURNING... APPARENTLY SUZUKI KNOWS OF THE RECALL BUT IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR OUTSIDE MARCH 2012. *TR
- Structure › Body
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED, SHE WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE SUB FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
- Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM SEDAN. THE SUBFRAME AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED WHILE TURNING CORNER. LOUD GRINDING OF TIRES. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. REPAIRED COST OF $1200. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, BUT IF THESE PARTS HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WROTE TO CORPORATE RELATIONS AT SUZUKI IN BREA CALIFORNIA, THEY CONTACTED ME AND LEFT A MESSAGE THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF REPAIR AND THAT THE WARRANTY FOR…
- Air bagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A DEER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, THE FRONT AXLE, CV JOINT, HOOD, RADIATOR, HEADLIGHTS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,931.
- Suspension › Front
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A POT HOLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE AXLE AND THE A-FRAME WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Structure › Frame and members
2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON. SUBFRAME AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL RUSTED THROUGH AND COLLAPSED WHILE COMING TO A STOP.. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE WHEEL WELL. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED AND IS BEING REPAIRED FOR A COST OF $1000. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT AS THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, BUT IF THESE PARTS HAD FAILED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, IT IS QUITE LIKELY A FATAL ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I HAVE SEARCHED ON LINE AND FOUND THAT OTHER SUZUKI OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE THIS VEHICLE IS RECALLED OR AT LEAST OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.