1999 Suzuki Esteem

MY 99 ESTEEM STARED PULLING TO ONE SIDE WHILE DRIVING. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET IT HOME THE WHEEL WOULD RUB ON THE INNER FENDER WELL WHEN TURNING. UPON INSPECTION WHEN I GOT HOME I FOUND THE DRIVER SIDE SUBFRAME RUSTED THROUGH ON TOP AND OUTER SIDES WITH ONLY THE INSIDE PORTION INTACT. THIS PART HAD BENT ALLOWING MY WHEEL TO CHANGE POSITION. THE REST OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE SEEMS TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE WHILE THIS SECTION HAS RUSTED AWAY. THANKFULLY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR THAT I DID NOT HIT A POTHOLE WHILE DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE BROKEN AND CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL, ENDING IN INJURIES AND/OR FATALITIES NOT ONLY TO THE OCCUPANTS OF MY VEHICLE BUT TO OTHER CARS IN MY VICINITY. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON ON THIS VEHICLE AN SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MERITS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED. *TR *KB

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER CORROSION OF 1999 SUZUKI ESTEEM GLX WAGON I HAVE THIS VEHICLE AND RUNNING OK FOR 5 YEARS. WHEN I DID MY ANNUAL CHECK UP THIS WEEKEND, IT WAS FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS BEEN RUST-THROUGH AND FORMED A CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE RIGHT FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHMENT BRACKETS. BY VISUAL INSPECTION, THIS MEMBER IS HIGHLY CORRODED COMPARED WITH OTHER PARTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DID MY INSPECTION WAS SURPRISED THAT I WAS STILL DRIVING THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IF I HIT A POTHOLE ON THE ROAD AND THIS SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER COULD EASILY BREAK AND WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I COULD BE KILLED. I DID A LITTLE SEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN SIMILAR MODELS OF SUZUKI VEHICLES. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE. I THINK THIS IS A VERY SERIES ISSUE AND COULD CAUSE SERIES INJURIES AND FATALITIES NOT ONLY OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL. I WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND OUT OF THIS ISSUE IF I HADN'T DONE THE ANNUAL CHECK UP. A SIMILAR CORROSION PROBLEM WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE 1999-2004 CHEVROLET TRACKER AND GM INITIATED A RECALL ON THIS. I WILL TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX IT BUT I FEEL I SHOULD FILE A COMPLAINT TO LET OTHER OWNER KNOW THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY SAVE SOME LIVES. THANK YOU. WEI TU *TR

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MPH; BRAKES WERE APPLIED HARD; SUBFRAME (PART THAT ALL BALL JOINTS AND SUSPENSION ARMS BOLTS INTO) COLLAPSED ON PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE CAUSING WHEEL TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND SEVERELY OUT OF ALIGNMENT. (WHEN MEASURED, THE PASSENGER WHEEL WAS +/-1-1/2" CLOSER TO THE REAR OF INNER FENDER, AND WOULD GRIND ONTO THE INNER FENDER. THE PART WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT PART. THE OLD PART WAS RUSTED THROUGH AT SEVERAL POINTS. THE OLD PART IS IN MY POSSESSION AND PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB