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2005 Suzuki Forenza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Suzuki Forenza do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 156.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

124 reports with mileage · 32 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports7 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

38 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V452000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME BURNED, CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS, AIR BAGS AND THE RADIO TO FAIL. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 07V452000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME BURNED, CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHTS, AIR BAGS AND THE RADIO TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS CAUSED A SMALL FIRE IN THE WIRING UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE DEALER PERFORMED A SECOND REPAIR AT NO COST TO THE CONTACT HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:12V397000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING;INTERIOR/UNDER DASH) FOR THE WIRING HARNESS BUT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HAD STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR CAUSED THE WIRING FAILURE, THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THE EXACT COMPONENT THAT WAS LISTED IN THE RECALL AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #10482101

50,000 miles · Aug 21, 2012
Air BagsElectrical SystemExterior Lighting

AIR BAG LIGHT ON SINCE BOUGHT CAR IN 2006. WIRING FOR AIRBAGS HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE STILL AN ISSUE AT OWNER EXPENSE. OUTLET AND LIGHTER STOP WORKING YEAR AFTER CAR WAS BOUGHT. HEADLIGHT WIRING REPLACE TWICE AND DAY LIGHTS STILL ONLY COMES ON SOME TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471801

66,021 miles · Jan 10, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train

MY CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND HAS A LITTLE OVER 65,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSIONS RANGE SENSOR CIRCUIT HAS STARTED MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443301

Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS MELTED WIRES NOW THE HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THERE WAS A RECALL TO FIX MELTED WIRES IN A SPLICE PACK BUT SUZUKI WILL NOT HONOR IT BECAUSE NOW THE WIRES ARE MELTED IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10442589

49,000 miles · Oct 9, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

BOTH HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON UPON STARTING THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE AIRBAG WARRING LIGHT ALL OF A SUDDEN CAME ON AND STAYS ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10429260

103,000 miles · May 20, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE HEADLAMPS ON THE CAR DO NOT WORK ALL I CAN USE ARE THE HIGH BEAMS, THE INSIDE LIGHTING FOR THE RADIO DO NOT WORK EITHER AND THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10331376

24,203 miles · Mar 24, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FARENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM, BATTERY, FUSES, RADIO, DAY TIME RUNNING …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FARENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THEY REPLACED THE ALARM, BATTERY, FUSES, RADIO, DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, BATTER, AND IGNITION FUSES. THE CONTACT IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME NON-START PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS LAST TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND LOOSING POWER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,081 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,203.

NHTSA ODI #10222136

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2008
Electrical System

EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGON, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING. I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START, BUT I WOULD THEN HAVE TO TURN THE ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO RESTART AND THEN IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN THREE DIFFERENT TIMES TO TH…

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EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGON, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING. I WOULD TURN THE KEY AND THE ENGINE WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO START, BUT I WOULD THEN HAVE TO TURN THE ALL THE WAY TO THE OFF POSITION TO RESTART AND THEN IT WOULD FINALLY TURN OVER. I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN THREE DIFFERENT TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS. THEY TRY TO SAY IT IS FROM THE COLD OR SOMETHING ELSE AND THEY CLAIM THEY "HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN DO AND THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT." IT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM IN SUMMER, FALL, WINTER, AND SPRING. IT EVEN HAPPENED IN AZ IN SEPTEMBER WHEN IT WAS 110 DEGREES. MY WARRANTY IS UP IN JUNE AND I NEED TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED BEFORE THEN. I ALSO MAINTAIN MY CAR VERY WELL, SO THAT ISN'T THE PROBLEM EITHER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218178

15,000 miles · Dec 7, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES THE FIRST TIME. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE JERKED DURING ACCELERATI…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. TWO WEEKS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES THE FIRST TIME. TWO WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE JERKED DURING ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER SO THE COMPUTER COMPONENT COULD BE UPDATED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE FAILURE AFTER THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE POWERTRAIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000. UPDATED 01-10-08. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10211177

46,000 miles · Oct 1, 2007
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH DAY RUNNING LIGHTS. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS NOT BULBS BUT WOULD BE SAFE - JUST NO DAY RUNNING LIGHTS. THREE DAYS LATER (FIRST TIME RUN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER BEING AT DEALER) SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING. TOOK TO PERSONAL MECHANIC. WIRES ARE MELTED TOGETHER. SINCE TSB ISSUED FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE …

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ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH DAY RUNNING LIGHTS. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT WAS NOT BULBS BUT WOULD BE SAFE - JUST NO DAY RUNNING LIGHTS. THREE DAYS LATER (FIRST TIME RUN WITH HEADLIGHTS ON AFTER BEING AT DEALER) SMELLED ELECTRICAL BURNING. TOOK TO PERSONAL MECHANIC. WIRES ARE MELTED TOGETHER. SINCE TSB ISSUED FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE EXPENSES BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10204511

Official recalls

3

14V262000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

May 19, 2014

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.

12V397000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash; Exterior Lighting:headlights

Aug 14, 2012

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:headlights

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.

Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Consequence: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.

07V452000 · Exterior Lighting

Sep 25, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN THREE PHASES, STARTING AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007 AND CONCLUDING BY THE END OF JANUARY 2008;. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

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

1

PE07039 · Headlight / Drl Malfunction

Opened Jul 24, 2007 · Closed Oct 2, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2007, SUZUKI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEARS 2004 -2006 FORENZA AND RENO VEHICLES TO CORRECT A DEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF HEADLIGHT AND/OR DRL FUNCTION.THIS RECALL AFFECTS 93,963 VEHICLES.NHTSA ASSIGNED NUMBER 07V-452 FOR THIS RECALL.NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION INITIALLY FOCUSED ON 2005 FORENZAS, THEN EXPANDED IT TO 2004-2005 FORENZAS (TOTAL OF 58,448 VEHICLES). SUZUKI BROADENED THE RECALL SCOPE TO COVER 2004-2006 FORENZAS & RENOS (93,963 VEHICLES).THE WIRING HARNESS BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTAINS A SPLICE PACK TO CONNECT THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL).INCREASED RESISTANCE DUE TO POOR CONTACT BETWEEN TERMINALS CAN GENERATE HEAT WHICH CAN LEAD TO MELTING OF THE SPLICE PACK IN THE AREA OF WIRES AND THE LOSS OF HEADLIGHT AND/OR DRL FUNCTION. FOR THE REMEDY, DEALERS WILL SPLICE THE POWER CIRCUIT WIRES FOR THE LOW-BEAM HEADLAMPS AND DRLS FREE OF CHARGE.SUZUKI'S RECALL CAMPAIGN (MANUFACTURER RECALL NO. NB) IS EXPECTED TO START AT THE END OF OCTOBER 2007.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.