2001 Suzuki Esteem recalls & problems
The 2001 Suzuki Esteem has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 21 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is structure (10 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 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
| 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 |
1.8 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* |
|---|---|---|
| Structure Frame and members; Body | 10 | 129,000 mi |
| Suspension Front | 5 | 129,000 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system | 3 | — |
| Electrical system Wiring; Ignition | 2 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components | 1 | — |
| Power train Automatic transmission | 1 | — |
| Steering Column locking › Anti-theft device | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Aug 29, 2015 · 150,000 milesSuspension
I WAS DRIVING ONTO AN EXIT AT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED OVER. THERE WAS NO MORE STEERING. - Apr 25, 2014 · 129,000 milesSuspension
HUSBAND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT TIRE GAVE WAY AND BENT IN FROM FRAME. TOOK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 129,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SHAME ON SUZUKI FOR PRODUCING INFERIOR CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFELY ISSUE! *TR - May 15, 2014 · 115,000 milesSuspension
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE EXIT AND THEN TURNING RIGHT FROM STOP SIGN ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN HEARD A CLICK AND THEN TIRE WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE CAR BODY THE KFRAME GOT RUSTED AND TWISTED PUSHING THE TIRE BACK AND STEERING WHEEL OFF. *TR - Apr 25, 2012 · 199,000 milesStructure › Frame and members
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 199,000. - Oct 26, 2011Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
BOUGHT A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM IN APRIL OF 2011 CAR LOT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SMALL BRACKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY MOTOR AND NEED TO BE REPLACE ASAP HERE TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE WHOLE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE MOTOR AND TRASMISSION FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SUZUKI RECALL ON THAT PART. TOOK THE CAR TO SUZUKI DEALER THE SERVICE GUY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A MODIFICATION DONE TO THE SUBFRAME IT SELF AND THAT IT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME TO HELP SUPPORT IT WHILE WAITING FOR A RECALL SUZUKI DEALER CALLED ME AND SAID SUZUKI CANNOT DO RECALL DUE TO THE MODIFICATION THAT WAS MADE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT - Oct 22, 2010 · 138,800 milesStructure › Frame and members
CROSS MEMBER RECALL WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ROTTED OUT CONTROL ARMS THAT WERE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ROTTED OUT CROSS MEMBER? *TR - Nov 4, 2010 · 183,000 milesSuspension › Front
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL COMPLETELY FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS OFFERED TO THE OWNERS OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE BUT THE WARRANTY WAS VOIDED DUE TO THE MILEAGE LIMITATIONS OF THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000. - Jul 4, 2010 · 110,000 milesStructure › Frame and members
2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. STEERING WAS SUDDENLY OFF CENTER SO I HAD AN ALIGNMENT COMPLETED WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY OFF CENTER AGAIN. A FEW BLOCKS FURTHER (I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT THE TIME, AT SLOW SPEEDS) THE FRONT PASSENGER SUB-FRAME BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL TO SLOPE AND THE SUSPENSION TO PULL OUT FROM THE TRANSMISSION, IMMEDIATELY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM SURE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURS AS I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH AND BREAKING. WHILE…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.