← New search

1999 Suzuki Esteem

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Esteem years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 20 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM I PURCHASED STARTED HAVIN G TROU BLE KEEPING UP SPEED ON 5-29-02,THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT, UNTIL A MONTH LATER WHEN I WENT BACK UP THERE AGAIN. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS HTAT THERE IS SEALANT ON THE #1 PLUG, AND ALL THEY SAY IS WRONG WITH IT…

Read full complaint

THE 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM I PURCHASED STARTED HAVIN G TROU BLE KEEPING UP SPEED ON 5-29-02,THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT, UNTIL A MONTH LATER WHEN I WENT BACK UP THERE AGAIN. THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS HTAT THERE IS SEALANT ON THE #1 PLUG, AND ALL THEY SAY IS WRONG WITH IT IS THE #1 FUEL INJECTOR,WHICH THEY WANT $500.00 TO PUT IT IN.IVE HAD AT LEAST 3 OTHER MECHANICS TELL ME THAT THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN, OR THE HEAD IS CRACKED ON THE CAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM REFUSED TO CHECK IT OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765259

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER NOTICE OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDING STOPPING. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8014794

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other

VEHICLE STALLED AT 20 MPH. TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. FUEL GAUGE SENDING UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8013894

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON JUNE 13, 1999 AND AFTER TWO WEEKS NOTICED DROPS OF OIL IN DRIVEWAY, THE PROBLEM WASN'T VERY NOTICEABLE AT FIRST THAN AROUND 5 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VECHICLE NOTICED MORE OIL BUT BIGGER DROPS AND UNDER THE HOOD OIL THAT HAD BEEN SPRAYING OVER THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE VECHICLE IN ON JULY 28, 1999 TO THE DE…

Read full complaint

WE BOUGHT THE CAR ON JUNE 13, 1999 AND AFTER TWO WEEKS NOTICED DROPS OF OIL IN DRIVEWAY, THE PROBLEM WASN'T VERY NOTICEABLE AT FIRST THAN AROUND 5 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE VECHICLE NOTICED MORE OIL BUT BIGGER DROPS AND UNDER THE HOOD OIL THAT HAD BEEN SPRAYING OVER THE ENGINE. WE TOOK THE VECHICLE IN ON JULY 28, 1999 TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS SHOWN TO BE A CRACKED GASKET COVER . THE VECHILE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 1 WHOLE WEEK . WE PICKED UP THE VECHICLE WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THE VECHICLE WAS CHECKED OVER AND REPAIRED ON AUG 4TH 1999. ON FRIDAY TWO DAYS AFTER PICKING UP OUR VECHICLE WE NOTICED OIL ON THE DRIVEWAA Y AGAIN. TODAY WHICH IS SATURDAY AUGUST 7, WE ARE LOSING OIL BUT MORE AS A DRIP INSTEAD OF JUST A FFEW DROPS. UNDER THE HOOD THERE IS A POOL OF OIL AROUND THE BASE OF THE ENGINE AND AROUND THE SPARK PLUGS. WE FEEL VERY FRAUSTRATED AS WE THOUGHT WE PURCHASED A RELIABLE VECHICLE. ON MONDAY AUGUST 9, WE WILL BE TAKING THE VECHICLE BACK IN TO THE DEALER. NOT ONLY HAS THIS BEEN A INCONVIENCE AS WE NEED THE VECHICLE TO GO TO WORK BUT WE FEEL WE HAVE PURCHASED A LEMON.

NHTSA ODI #709722

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.