Model year record

2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 recalls & problems

The 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 has 2 safety recalls and 26 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (7 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints26filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineAug 30, 2004

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 04V427000172,093 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.
Risk: FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR, THE FUEL DELIVER HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE CLAMP WITH AN IMPROVED CLAMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT 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

2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7

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

Grand Vitara XL7

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Grand Vitara XL7

17mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Grand Vitara XL7 4WD

17mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Grand Vitara XL7 4WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.7 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/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	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
TiresTread/belt	7	0	0	0	12,528 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	5	2	0	0	—
SuspensionFront	4	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	4	0	0	0	12,175 mi
Electrical system	3	0	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery	2	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	2	0	0	0	—
Engine	2	0	0	0	—
Steering	1	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield	1	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsRear/other	1	0	0	0	—
Air bags	1	1	0	1	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Unknown or other
THE VEHICLE 28610-54G10-000 SUZUKI SOLENOID,SHIFT LOCK IS BAD. CAN NOT FIND PART. IF THEIR ARE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE I WOULD LIKE THEM FIXED IF POSSIBLE PLEASE. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND IS ALSO RUNNING LEAN THE COMPUTUER CODE READS LEAN AND BAD SOLENOIDS.
Aug 12, 2015
Electronic stability control (esc)
WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.
Jan 5, 2018
Engine
KEEP HAVING A OIL LEAK FROM THE VALUE COVER GASKET. I HAVE HAD IT FIX BEFORE AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON MY MOTOR AND IS SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IT. THE PLACE SAYS THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 1 YR WARRANTY . IT HAS COST ME OVER $500 BEFORE TO FIX AND NOW THE SAME . NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE A RECALL. FIRST DATE OF PROBLEM WAS 1/28/2013 AND NOW THE SAME PROBLEM.
Jan 28, 2013
Suspension
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM WORK AND I WAS ONLY GOING 40MPH AND MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF IT AND SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED AND NOTICED THE CROSS MEMBER WAS BROKE. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND CAN'T DRIVE IT CAUSE IT DANGEROUS. *TR
Jan 5, 2015 · 160,000 miles
Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AREA AND A SLIGHT CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
Oct 28, 2013 · 230,000 miles
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 687 (NA) TIRES, SIZE P235/60R17. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE SET OF TIRES TWO YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY, THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE DETERIORATING FROM THE INSIDE. THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 1/8 AND 1/16. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,130.
Jan 14, 2009 · 77,130 miles
Suspension
I WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR TALLAHASSEE, FL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR BRIEFLY SHOOK/VIBRATED. I LET OFF THE GAS PERPLEXED WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY CAR CAREENED TO THE LEFT AND WITH A DEATH GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I MOVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE 2 LANES OF INTERSTATE AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE GAINING CONTROL. PARTS OF TIRE AND PLASTIC WERE FLYING BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT MILE MARKER 193. IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES FOR ME TO GET MY COMPOSURE. I WAS CRYING, SHAKING AND VERY SCARED. WHEN I FELT CALM AND SAFE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I SAW THAT MY TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED BUT WAS…
Sep 28, 2007
Electrical systemFire
STARTED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THE BACK DOOR ARM REST WAS SMOKING. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND PUT OUT FIRE. CALLED THE SUZUKI SHOP AND THEY HAD ME DRIVE IT IN. MY ELECTRICAL WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THEY REPLACED FUSE, SWITCH, HANDLE AND WIRE COMP. ON THE REAR DOOR. $561.00 LATER I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. *NM
May 25, 2006

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