Model year record

1993 Suzuki Sidekick recalls & problems

The 1993 Suzuki Sidekick has 1 safety recall and 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (3 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints14filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

SuspensionApr 16, 1994

Rear

Recall 94V0730025,247 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: THE RIGHT REAR AND LEFT AXLE SHAFT HOUSING TUBES WERE INCORRECTLY WELDED AND CAN FRACTURE. FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE SHAFT HOUSING CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE LINE.
Risk: SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAN CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE LINE RESULTS IN LOSS OF ONE-HALF OFTHE BRAKING SYSTEM, INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. IN EITHER CASE, AN ACCIDENTCAN OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS OF THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLIES ON INVOLVED VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE COMPLETE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY.

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

Sidekick 2WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Sidekick Hardtop 4WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Sidekick Soft-top 4WD

23mpg combined

City / highway	22 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

Sidekick Hardtop 2WD

22mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

Sidekick Hardtop 4WD

22mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel

Sidekick Hardtop 2WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Sidekick 2WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

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

Sidekick Hardtop 4WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Sidekick Hardtop 4WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	19 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Sidekick Hardtop 4WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel

Sidekick Soft-top 4WD

21mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.6 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/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*
Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; Wiring › Interior/under dash	3	0	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	2	0	0	0	—
SteeringLinkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm	1	0	0	0	—
Seats	1	1	0	2	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly	1	0	1	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Pads	1	0	0	0	—
VisibilityDefroster/defogger/hvac system	1	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront › Retractor	1	0	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkagesTailgate › Latch	1	0	0	0	—
TiresTread/belt	1	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
AT APPROX. 90,000 MI., TURN SIGNAL STEM BEGAN MAKING LOUD BUZZING NOISE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MOVED UPWARD (RIGHT BLINK). PROBLEM INCREASED SO THAT BY 138,000 MI. BUZZING HAPPENED WHENEVER STEM WAS MOVED UPWARD OR DOWNWARD (RIGHT OR LEFT BLINK). BY 140,000 MI. BUZZING WAS CONSTANT, WHETHER TURN SIGNAL STEM WAS ENGAGED OR NOT. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF DEALER FROM 1997 - 1999. DEALER WAS NON-RESPONSIVE, SAYING THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. WIRING WAS REPAIRED BY INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP, COSTING OVER $200. PROBLEM IS BEGINNING INTERMITTENTLY AGAIN LESS THAN 500 MILES LATER. THERE APPEARS TO BE FAULTY OEM WIRING INSIDE STEERING COLUMN AND DASHBOARD. VEHICLE (ORIGINAL OWNER) HAS…
Aug 5, 1997 · 90,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
APPROXIMATELY. 14 MO. AFTER PURCHASE, SPEEDOMETER CABLE ASSEMBLY BEGAN MAKING NOISE, GOT WORSE (INTERMITTENTLY), AND CULMINATED 7 YRS. LATER IN A "FROZEN" SPEEDOMETER PLUS EXTREMELY LOUD SCREECHING (STUCK CABLE HEAD) AT SPEEDS OVER 20 MPH. REPLACEMENT OF COMPLETE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ASSEMBLY BY INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP WAS COMPLICATED BY LACK OF AVAILABLE USED UNITS (WE LOOKED UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR OVER 8 MOS.). USED UNIT FINALLY FOUND BUT NOT CORRECTLY DIGITIZED (5 SETTINGS INSTEAD OF MANUFACTURED 6 SETTINGS). ONLY OPTION OFFERED BY DEALER WAS NEW UNIT AT COST OF $700. I PAID $300 TO INSTALL USED (AND INCORRECTLY DIGITIZED) REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WITHIN FIRST 14…
Oct 5, 1994 · 12,000 miles
Tires › Tread/belt
AS MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROX. 60 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD PEELED OFF A CHUNCK OF TREAD. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY, WHERE I WAS CALLED TO CHANGE IT WITH MY SPARE, WHICH IS A BRIDGESTONE( DOT NUMBER: 19681 TIRE SIZE: P20575R15 )
Jul 31, 2000
Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
POWER PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP DUE TO REGULATOR GOING OUT. POSSIBLE SHORTING OUT AND WINDOW ROLLING DOWN BY ITSELF. VEHICLE WAS SECURED WHEN LEFT, AND WHEN RETURNED PASSENGER WINDOW WAS DOWN. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS: 350.00 BECAUSE SUZUKI DOES NOT MAKE REGULATOR'S WITHOUT A WHOLE NEW MOTOR.
Sep 29, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages › Tailgate › Latch
THE SPRING WHICH CONTROLS THE REAR LIFTGATE GOT OUT OF ITS PLASTIC DUE TO WIRE MELTING THE PLASTIC, AND CAUSED THE REAR DOOR TO OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSD INJURIES. THE REAR DOOR WILL NOT SHUT CLOSED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
Mar 26, 1999
Electrical system
ELECTRICAL FIRE.
Dec 4, 1996
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
THE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE LOCKS WHERE IT CAN NOT COME OUT OF ITS RETRACTOR AND IS UNABLE TO BE USED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Jan 6, 1997
Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
LACK OF GRILL OVER AIR VENTS ALLOWS RODENTS TO ENTER VENTILATION SYSTEM.
May 28, 1996

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

NHTSA defect investigations

REAR AXLE HOUSING FAILUREClosedLed to recall 94V073001
There is no summary currently available
PE94011 · opened Feb 3, 1994 · closed Apr 20, 1994