Model year record

2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara recalls & problems

The 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara has 2 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (7 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints13filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsMar 7, 2019

Sensor › Occupant classification

Recall 19V18700031,302 vehicles

Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.

Components: Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification; Seats

Power trainFeb 9, 2017

Manual transmission

Recall 17V085000791 vehicles

Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.
Risk: If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.

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

2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV AWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	18.5%

2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV RWD

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★
Rollover risk	19.1%

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

22mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 25 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Grand Vitara

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Grand Vitara 4WD

20mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/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	Typical mileage*
Air bags	7	1	0	46,000 mi
Seats	2	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	1	0	0	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	0	1	—
Exterior lighting	1	0	0	—
Electrical system	1	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	0	—
Power train	1	0	0	—
Seat belts	1	0	0	—
Steering	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
The airbag system defect light went on and stayed on. The diagnosis from an authorized former Suzuki dealer (Lincoln of Wayne, Wayne, New Jersey), charging approximately $270 for the diagnosis, was that the occupant sensing pad including the bottom seat on the passenger side had failed. This particular part had already been replaced under an NHTSA-related safety recall campaign approximately three years ago. The replaced part had not previously actually failed, but now the replacement part has failed. Contacting Suzuki headquarters in California, I found that they were saying the replacement part needed is not in stock and if it were in stock, they would be charging approximately $2700 for…
Dec 26, 2025
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL. MY SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2012 HAS THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. I CALL FOR TWO TIMES TO THE DEALER THAT SUZUKI FACTORY DELEGATE THE SERVICES, BUT THEY TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT IN THE LIST. I USE THAT CAR TO TAKE MY WIFE TO HER QUIMIOS AND I AND AFRAID THAT SHE IS HURT WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG.
Jul 30, 2019 · 30,000 miles
Air bags
SEATBELT LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME.
Apr 22, 2019 · 121,000 miles
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED LATER AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT 02/02/2018 & 02/03/2018 IN REFERENCE TO THE DEFECT. *TR
Jan 1, 2018 · 35,000 miles
Air bags
TROUBLE CODE B1312 OCM SENSOR MAT FAULT. AIR BAG AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT INDICATOR LIGHT ARE ON ALL THE TIME.
Dec 8, 2017 · 64,200 miles
Air bags
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AND IT JUST SUDDENLY LIT.
Jun 1, 2017 · 46,000 miles
Air bagsCrash
ON SEPTEMBER 12 2016 APROXIMATELY AT 2:00AM MY WIFE WAS IMPACTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAITING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STANSTILL WHEN A JEEP LATE 90S MODEL HIT HER FULL FORCE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, LUCKILY THE FORTIFICATION OF THE BAR INSIDE THE DOOR THAT GOES ACROSS TOOK THE BLUNT OF THE IMPACT AND MY WIFE ONLY CAME OUT WITH MINOIR BRUISES AND CUTS FROM THE DRIVERS WINDOW. NEITHER THE DRIVERS AIRBAG OR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THAT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WASS ESTIMATED TO BE GOING AROUND 40MPH WHEN IT IMPACTED MY WIFES CAR. IVE NOTIFIED MY LOCAL DEALER WHERE SUZUKI VEHICLES ARE DEALT WITH AND ITS BEEN SAID THAT SINCE THERES NO RECALL THERES NOTHING…
Sep 12, 2016
Power train
I OWN A 2012 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA WITH 38,000 MILES. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BROKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS ROUNDING A CORNER AND PREPARING TO DOWNSHIFT IN ORDER TO NEGOTIATE A LARGE HILL ON A MAIN STREET. I GRABBED THE GEARSHIFT DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR WHEN I PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT BACK INTO THE 4TH GEAR POSITION THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE POP AND THE THE GEARSHIFT WAS EXTREMELY LOOSE. I LET OUT ON THE CLUTCH AND REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN 5TH GEAR. THE GEARSHIFT WAS OBVIOUSLY NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE TRANSMISSION BUT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE BACK STREETS TO OUR MECHANIC'S SHOP WHILE AVOIDING ALL STOP LIGHTS. THIS IN MY OPINION SHOULD BE A…
Dec 11, 2016 · 38,500 miles

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