2001 Suzuki Vitara recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Engine and engine cooling › Engine

  THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER POP'S OUT WHEN IT DONE TO WERE I CAN'T FIND IT, IT HAS BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS IN MY TRAY,AND FLOOR. ALSO THE GAS PEDAL STICK'S WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON IT TO GIVE A VERBAL ACCELERATION TO GET AROUND SOMEONE ETC. THE AIR IN THE TIRE'S ARE ALWAYS GOING DOWN. THE OIL SAYS IT LOW EVERYTIME I LOOK AT IT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE BELT ON THE AC KEEP LOSING AND NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE IT NOW HAS FREEZED UP ON ME. THE RADIO AT 12:00 AM AND PM READS 00. THEN THE MINUTES ONLY DISPLACED. THERE'S A RATTLE UNDER THE CAR, DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS? WHEN I PUT THE 4X4 ON IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING BACK INTO THE REGULAR GEAR. SO REALLY JUST NEEDED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESES…

  Mar 30, 2006
• Vehicle speed controlCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM ZERO TO APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CARPORT. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE ROADS AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE DEALER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CARPORT AND THE SHED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE RAINY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT DID NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH ANY INFORMATION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE CONSUMER…

  Feb 1, 2007 · 67,000 miles
• Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaft

  WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 (2001) THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN MY HANDS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RIP IN THE RUBBER BOOT UNDER THE SUV ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (FRONT). I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED A 1/2 SHAFT. I STUCK MY FINGER IN THE RIP OF THE RUBBER BOOT AND FELT A BUNCH OF PIECES ON METAL & LARGE BALL BEARINGS LAYING IN THERE. I HAD TO PARK THE SUV AND CALL SOMEONE TO PICK UP MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN SO THAT WE COULD PICK UP THE WIFE WHICH WAS BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. I RENTED A U-HAUL TRUCK WITH A TRAILER (185.00) AND DROVE IT BACK FROM MILWAUKEE. DECEMBER 24TH. I PLACED THE SUV ON JACK…

  Dec 23, 2006 · 78,390 miles
• Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WENT INTO A MEDIAN AND HIT A TREE. THE FRONT MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE HIT THE TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THEREFORE, SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THE SPEED. SHE MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP. NO ONE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT BROKE HER NOSE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - *NM

  Oct 19, 2005
• Engine and engine cooling

  OIL LEAK THAT HAS BEEN A KNOWN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND NOT YET CORRECTED BY SUZUKI

  Jan 1, 2005 · 70,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling › Engine

  2001 SUZUKI GR.VITARA 25,000 MILES ON ENGINE. TICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE,LOSS OF POWER. SUZUKI STATED TIMING TENSIONER IS THE CAUSE. REPAIRED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY 3 TIMES, WITHIN 6 MONTHS. EXTRA COSTS PLACED ON COMSUMER. SUZUKI RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF TIMING CHAINS,AND WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. THE ENGINE FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND COULD HAVE SEIZED. FIRST REPAIR ON 12-21-04, SECOND ON 03-15-05, LAST REPAIR ON 06-06-05. AT PICKUP ON DATE OF LAST REPAIR, BELTS FROM FRONT OF ENGINE WERE SHREDDING OF THE PULLEYS! ON THAT DAY I TRADED-IN THE CAR, AS I WAS TIRED OF FIGHTING WITH SUZUKI AND MY FORMER DEALERSHIP FOR RERPAIRS.

  Jun 6, 2005 · 25,800 miles
• Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury

  DT: RAN OFF THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ONTO THE SIDEWALK. CONSUMER HIT AN ELECTRICAL BOX AND STREET SIGN. THE CAR STOPPED AND THE POLICE AND EMV CAME. THE POLICE STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AS A PRECAUTION. CONSUMER DID HAVE PREVIOUS BACK PROBLEMS AND DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS. *TT

  Mar 28, 2005 · 24,000 miles
• Engine and engine cooling

  DRIVING AND SUDDENLY ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE AND STOPPED. ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHT CAMEON, I DID NOT START THE VEHICLE. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. ONCE THE MECHANIC GOT IT STARTED HE TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT I HAD MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. DECIDED TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY NEPHEW'S MECHANIC WHOM I WOULD TRUST, AND THE FOUND THAT THE TIME CHAIN APPARTENTLY JUMPED STOPPED WHICH CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. ALSO, THEY HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THE REASON WHY THE TIMING CHAIN DID THIS WAS DUE TO A FOREIGN PIECE OF MEDAL THAT LOOKED LIKE A WASHER WHICH EVIDENTIALLY WORKED ITS WAY AND GOT CAUGHT INTO THE THE CHAIN. HE SAID THAT THE ONLY WAY THIS PIECE OF MEDAL COULD HAVE GOTTEN THERE WAS…

  Mar 14, 2004 · 57,000 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.