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2006 Suzuki Forenza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 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

240 reports with mileage · 40 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 116 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports8 fire reports20 injury reports

Power Train complaints

116 reports
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80,000 miles · Nov 18, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE THAT EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN 'X' ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEXT TO THE 'D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE THAT EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WOULD ALSO BE AN 'X' ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEXT TO THE 'D' FOR DRIVE ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR. THE CONTACT WAS AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RANGE TRANSMISSION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10794712

110,000 miles · Oct 21, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THE ISSUE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10785217

39,000 miles · Aug 26, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

AT SPEED ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THE CAR SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF GEAR, AND LOST SPEED RAPIDLY. DASH TRANSMISSION DISPLAY SHOWED SCRAMBLED GEAR IN PLACE OF D. CAR CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR INCIDENTS AND DOES NOT PROPERLY CHANGE GEARS; OCCASIONALLY DISPLAYS SCRAMBLED LETTER IN PLACE OF APPROPRIATE DISPLAY (R,N,D, 3, ETC.)

NHTSA ODI #10759547

121,000 miles · Jun 7, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

BATTERY INDICATOR AND BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE CLUSTER PANEL. WHEN IN DRIVE, THE DISPLAY SHOWING WHAT GEAR YOU ARE IN FLASHES AN UNRECOGNIZABLE SIGNAL. SOME TROUBLE ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI #10723822

15,897 miles · Jan 9, 2015
Power Train

VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. UNDER 16,000 MILES ONE OWNER. HARD SHIFTED OUT OF PARK OR REVERSE. LOST POWER WHEN IN DRIVE WITH NORMAL RPM'S~ DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. REPLACEMENT PART ALSO FAULTY. PLEASE NOTE MECHANIC USED TERM "FAULTY". EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. I EXPECT SUZU…

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VEHICLE PURCHASED NEW IN 2006. UNDER 16,000 MILES ONE OWNER. HARD SHIFTED OUT OF PARK OR REVERSE. LOST POWER WHEN IN DRIVE WITH NORMAL RPM'S~ DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. REPLACEMENT PART ALSO FAULTY. PLEASE NOTE MECHANIC USED TERM "FAULTY". EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE. I EXPECT SUZUKI MOTOR COMPANY TO ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL WITH PARTS THAT ARE DESIGNED NOT TO FAIL AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671355

90,500 miles · Oct 9, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IS FAILING AND CAUSED A LOSS OF POWER ALMOST CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR, AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FOR A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643476

104,000 miles · May 25, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE JUMPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OUT OF DRIVE. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD IT TOOK A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF POWER TO GO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT STAY ON WHILE THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10593939

114,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Power Train

I OWN A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGEN WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANS-AXLE THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP (EXPO SUZUKI) SELLING SUZUKI MOTOR CARS, IN KINGWOOD, TEXAS. PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING TO MY CAR WHILE I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, WHEN I NOTICED THE GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR WINDOW ON THE DASHBO…

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I OWN A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGEN WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANS-AXLE THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP (EXPO SUZUKI) SELLING SUZUKI MOTOR CARS, IN KINGWOOD, TEXAS. PROBLEMS STARTED HAPPENING TO MY CAR WHILE I WAS IN MY DRIVEWAY ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, WHEN I NOTICED THE GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR WINDOW ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED DISPLAYING ODD READINGS OTHER THAN PARK OR DRIVE OR A COMBINATION OF ITS RANGE MODES(R,D,N,1 AND 2) WITH A SLASH LINE GOING THROUGH IT, INDICATING THAT AN ERROR/MALFUNCTION IS OCCURRING (THIS STARTED AT 75,000 MILES OR LESS, ON THE VEHICLE'S ODOMETER.), I SHUT OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT WITH NO ERROR/MALFUNCTIONS DISPLAYED; GOOD, BUT THE VEHICLE NOW DROVE SLUGGISH; IT WOULD NOT DRIVE BEYOND 20MPH OR LESS. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP BY TOW-TRUCK WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. INSTANCES ALSO INVOLVING THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH MY SUZUKI FORENZA WAGEN CAME ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MALFUNCTION CAUSED THE CAR TO QUICKLY COME TO A NEAR DANGEROUS STOP IN HEAVY HOUSTON TEXAS TRAFFIC, DUE TO THE NSS(NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH) MALFUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING; ALMOST INVOLVING ME IN A NEAR FATAL COLLISION GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS; I HAPPENED TO LOOK AND SEE THE DASHBOARD GEAR INDICATOR WINDOW HAD THAT SLASH MARK(S) IN IT AGAIN. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR BACK AND FORTH, TO MY SUZUKI DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH PROBLEM, WITH THEM ONLY REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, THIS TIME. DEALERSHIPS IN HOUSTON TEXAS WHO SOLD SUZUKI MOTOR CARS UP UNTIL RECENT, WILL NOT TOUCH THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO JUST REPLACE IT, IF ITS UNDER SUZUKI MOTORS WARRANTY? O.K. FINE. THIS HAS NOT REMEDIED MY ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578136

135,423 miles · Feb 20, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

I REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IN OCTOBER 2013 AND 4 MONTHS LATER IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE. THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO BACK. THE SENSOR GOES BAD REALLY QUICK AND IT KEEPS YOU PAYING MONEY TO GET IT FIX. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND HE AIRBAG LIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE IN 2012 AND 2013. THERE NEEDS TO BE A REC…

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I REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IN OCTOBER 2013 AND 4 MONTHS LATER IT WON'T GO IN REVERSE. THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO GO BACK. THE SENSOR GOES BAD REALLY QUICK AND IT KEEPS YOU PAYING MONEY TO GET IT FIX. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON AND HE AIRBAG LIGHT. I HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE IN 2012 AND 2013. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHY IT HAS NOT HAPPEN BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT. SUZUKI PLEASE FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10565060

32,000 miles · Nov 25, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MIL WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO FOURTH GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ODI #10553702

Official recalls

4

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.

07V315000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Jul 24, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE AND, IN RARE CASES, EVEN THE LOCKED TONGUE WILL POP OUT BY LOW STRETCHING FORCE. IF THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY, THE BUCKLE COULD RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THESE BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH COULD PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THE SEAT BELT OR COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLES WITH THE IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2007. 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.