Model year record

2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 recalls & problems

The 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 has 3 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (5 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints13filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported 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.

Electrical systemDec 2, 2003

Ignition

Recall 03V49500020,580 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE IGNITION SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE HARNESS CAN RUB AGAINST THE MANIFOLD DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND ABRASION DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS CAN OCCUR.
Risk: DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS CAN CAUSE A SHORT IN THE IGNITION CIRCUIT, WHICH CAN CAUSE THE IGNITION FUSE TO BLOW AND THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR ANY WIRING HARNESS DAMAGE AND WILL ADD ADDITIONAL INSULATION AND A PROTECTOR PLATE TO PREVENT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM BECOMING DAMAGED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 16, 2003. 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

2003 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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads	5	1	1	—
Electrical systemIgnition › Switch	4	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cables	3	2	0	—
SuspensionFront › Shock absorber; Rear › Shock absorber	2	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	1	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield	1	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
EquipmentElectrical › Anti-theft devices	1	0	0	—
StructureBody	1	0	0	—
Service brakes	1	1	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Service brakesCrash
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE AT THE PROPER ELEVATION TO PRESS THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ONE FOOT. BECAUSE IT IS REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE CAR SPEEDS UP WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS IS A TYPICAL ENGINEERING FLAW THAT HAPPENS WITH MANY VEHICLES ("HE THOUGHT HE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE WHEN HE RAN INTO THE CROWD OF PEOPLE..."). THE FRONT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES RELEASE WHEN THE REAR WHEELS WANT TO KEEP TURNING. WITH REGULAR BRAKES, ONE CAN STILL OVERCOME THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE AND STOP A CAR. I RAN INTO A HOUSE TRAILER BECAUSE OF THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE! THE PROBLEM CAN BE ENGINEERED OUT. I HAVE NOT YET FOUND A WAY TO DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION TO ANY NATIONAL…
Oct 22, 2005 · 15,000 miles
Electrical system
I HAD BOUGHT A USED SUZUKI AUTO FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CARS. IN MID-JUNE 2005 I WAS RETURNING TO PHILA. ON I-95 AFTER TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO CAMP IN MASSACHUSETTS. JUST OUTSIDE DARIEN, CONN. ALL THE POWER ON THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AN 18-WHEELER WAS BARRELING DOWN ON ME IN THE CENTER LANE BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THE LANE TO MY RIGHT WAS EMPTY AND THE SHOULDER WAS WIDE ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL OVER. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN DARIEN AND HAVING A REPAIR SHOP TOW THE CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID THERE HAD BEEN A BLOWN FUSE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE AND GAVE ME A SPARE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPLACE IT IF I NEEDED TO ON MY WAY HOME. AFTER I GOT BACK TO PHILA., I TOOK THE CAR TO MY NEAREST…
Jun 16, 2005 · 20,000 miles
Structure › Body
GAS DOOR HINGES RUST AND BREAK CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OFF. *TR
Jul 20, 2007 · 97,000 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM THE PARK IT WAS RAINING A LITTLE BIT SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL STAR GOING THE LEFT, I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR FALL DOWN AND THE CAR STOP COMPLETELY, I CHECK THE WHEEL AND IT WAS ABOUT TO COME OUT. *TR
Oct 17, 2007 · 33,800 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
DT: THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING, AND THE TECHNICIAN CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND WERE STILL SQUEAKING. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR SHOCKS NOT WORKING WELL, AND THIS WAS NORMAL. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WAS NOT COOLING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE ANYMORE.*AK
Mar 22, 2003
Vehicle speed control › CablesCrash
PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ACCELERATING BACKWARDS WHEN TRYING TO PARK. *MR THE VEHICLE HIT A STEEL BEAM. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. (SUZUKI XL 7) *SC THE C ONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE ACCELRATOR CABLE. *JB
Jun 15, 2004
Service brakes, hydraulic
FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM
May 11, 2004
Electrical system
BASED ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT GETTING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE CONSUMER WANT THE WORK DONE OR ANOTHER SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *PH PROBLEMS WITH ALARM SYSTEM AS WELL AS VEHICLE CUTTING OFF AND LOSS OF CONTROL. *MR
Mar 23, 2004

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