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2008 Suzuki Forenza

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Suzuki Forenza do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 156.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

129 reports with mileage · 23 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 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports10 fire reports5 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

32 reports
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6,211 miles · Jun 14, 2011
Air BagsPower Train

PURCHASED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA ON 9/8/2008. ACCELERATION CONCERNS, A RINGING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT WAS REPORTED 9/16/08. TOLD BY PHONE THE CAR WAS NEW AND WOULD NEED TO BE DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO WARN UP. 9/16/08 RINGING NOISE WAS LOUDER HAD ACCELERATION CONCERNS, TIMIN…

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PURCHASED A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA ON 9/8/2008. ACCELERATION CONCERNS, A RINGING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR-BAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT WAS REPORTED 9/16/08. TOLD BY PHONE THE CAR WAS NEW AND WOULD NEED TO BE DRIVEN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO WARN UP. 9/16/08 RINGING NOISE WAS LOUDER HAD ACCELERATION CONCERNS, TIMING COVER HAD MELTED DUE TO FRICTION FROM THE BELTS SLIDING. INVOICE REFLECTS ELECTRICAL BODY WORK AS SUCH: ' SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT NOT ON TENSION ON WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR UNDER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGERS SEAT COULD CAUSE HIGH RESISTANCE - RELOCATE BOTH HARNESS AND SECURE THEM." 10/27/08 REPORTED TAPPING NOISE AT ENGINE WHEN STARTING CAR, ACCELERATION WAS DRAGGING AND AIR BAG LIGHT. INVOICE FINDINGS - NO PROBLEM FOUND - TOLD NOT TO EXPECT PERFORMANCE ON ACCELERATION. 1/17/09 (CAR RELEASED 1/23/09) SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATES IT IS OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DROPPING, TRANSMISSION NOT ACCELERATING, ENGINE RUNNING LOUD UNTIL WARMED UP: RESOLUTION - TIMING COVER REPLACED OTHER ISSUES FOUND TO BE WORKING TO FACTORY SPECS. 6/18/2009 -ACCELERATION IS SLOW, CAR DOWNSHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING WELL WHILE COASTING, MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP TO SWITCH INTO GEAR: RESOLUTION - SUZUKI HELPDESK TICKET 175996598 SUGGESTED TO RE-INITIALIZE TCM (TRANSMISSION SWITCH). 10/1/09 - SAME ISSUE AS 6/19/09 - REVVING HIGHER AND LOUD IN COLD AND DAMP WEATHER TOLD NO NEW INFO: ISSUE SEEMED TO SUBSIDE ' NO WORK DONE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. 12/30/09 SAME ISSUES AS 6/19 & 10/1 TIMING COVER ADJUSTED TOLD ACCELERATION WAS NORMAL. FIX FOR TIMING COVER JANUARY 5, 2010. 8/1/10 & 10/26/10 TAKEN IN FOR ACCELERATION & MAINT. AFTER NEAR ACCIDENTS AND PROBLEMS DRIVING BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 15 AND 60 MPH: NOTHING ADDRESSED. 1/4/11 - TRANSMISSION SWITCH WAS REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT SUZUKI CENTER. TOLD TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE CAN GO OUT. ACCELERATION ISSUES HAVE RETURNED SIDE AIRBAG STILL SHOWS OFF WHEN OCCUPIED BY PERSON 120 PLUS POUNDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10406896

46,835 miles · Dec 8, 2010
Air BagsPower Train

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS PUT ON MACHINE AND GOT A PO700 AND PO705 WHICH REQUIRED A SENSOR WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON A BRAND NEW CAR. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON THIS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS DO TO NOT BE…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS PUT ON MACHINE AND GOT A PO700 AND PO705 WHICH REQUIRED A SENSOR WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ON A BRAND NEW CAR. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN DONE ON THIS BECAUSE MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS DO TO NOT BEING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO SUZUKI'S RULES.

NHTSA ODI #10370135

11,942 miles · Feb 13, 2010
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN PASSENGER SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310123

16,000 miles · Jan 27, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR INJURIES SUFFER TO THE NECK AND BACK. DURING THE CRASH THE FRAME WAS DAMAGE AND THE ENGINE MOVE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR INJURIES SUFFER TO THE NECK AND BACK. DURING THE CRASH THE FRAME WAS DAMAGE AND THE ENGINE MOVED. THE CONTACT FEELS THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED SINCE THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH WAS SEVERE. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. UPDATED 3/24/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

NHTSA ODI #10302610

20 miles · Dec 18, 2009
Air Bags

WE HAVE A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE WITH SOMEONE OF AN APPROPRIATE WEIGHT SITTING IN THE SEAT WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. IF THE CAR IS RUNNING WHEN SOMEONE SITS DOWN SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4- 5 TIMES AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RIS…

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WE HAVE A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT ACTIVATE WITH SOMEONE OF AN APPROPRIATE WEIGHT SITTING IN THE SEAT WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED. IF THE CAR IS RUNNING WHEN SOMEONE SITS DOWN SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 4- 5 TIMES AND THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK FOR THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. YOUR HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10296378

18,000 miles · Nov 19, 2009
Air Bags

I HAVE A 2008 FORENZA, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME BOUT 3 OR 4 WKS AGO AFTER A DAY, IT WENT OFF. NOW YESTERDAY NOV. 18TH ITS CAME ON AGAIN AN THIS TIME IT DOESN'T GO OFF. NOW AFEW MONTHS AGO I HAD TO GO TO PUGMIRE IN MARIETTA, FOR MY SEAT BELT PROBLEM, AN THEY WERE REAL HATEFUL, WHEN THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS WARRANTY…

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I HAVE A 2008 FORENZA, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME BOUT 3 OR 4 WKS AGO AFTER A DAY, IT WENT OFF. NOW YESTERDAY NOV. 18TH ITS CAME ON AGAIN AN THIS TIME IT DOESN'T GO OFF. NOW AFEW MONTHS AGO I HAD TO GO TO PUGMIRE IN MARIETTA, FOR MY SEAT BELT PROBLEM, AN THEY WERE REAL HATEFUL, WHEN THEY FOUND OUT IT WAS WARRANTY. THEY SHOULDN'T GOT MAD OR MEAN THEY STILL GET PD FOR WARRANTY. CAN U HELP ME OUT? IT SCARES ME TO DRIVE IT LIKE THAT. THANKS TINA DILLARD *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292858

18,261 miles · Oct 21, 2009
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MISCLASSIFIED AN ADULT AS A CHILD. AS A CONSEQUENCE IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT OR THE SENSOR. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG MISCLASSIFIED AN ADULT AS A CHILD. AS A CONSEQUENCE IN A SITUATION THAT WARRANTS THE AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT OR THE SENSOR. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18261.

NHTSA ODI #10289263

9,000 miles · May 13, 2009
Air Bags

PURCHASED THE CAR ON 2/12/2009. UPON USE, I FOUND THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR TO BE DEFECTIVE. ONLY PASSENGERS OF 140+ POUNDS OR SO CONSISTENTLY TRIGGER THE SENSOR, WHICH ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG. FOR PASSENGERS WHO WEIGH LESS THAN 140 LBS, THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT TRIGGERED, THUS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE.…

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PURCHASED THE CAR ON 2/12/2009. UPON USE, I FOUND THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR TO BE DEFECTIVE. ONLY PASSENGERS OF 140+ POUNDS OR SO CONSISTENTLY TRIGGER THE SENSOR, WHICH ACTIVATES THE AIRBAG. FOR PASSENGERS WHO WEIGH LESS THAN 140 LBS, THE AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT TRIGGERED, THUS THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE. I HAD THREE SEPARATE PEOPLE FROM 100LB TO 120LB SIT IN THE CAR AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE FOR ANY OF THE THREE PASSENGERS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT THE SENSOR SHOULD BE TRIGGERED BY A PASSENGER WEIGHING 54 LB OR MORE. I HAVE GONE TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES, MADE MULTIPLE CALLS TO SUZUKI NATIONAL, AND APPLIED FOR MEDIATION THROUGH A SUZUKI SPONSORED PROGRAM (WHICH WENT NOWHERE). SUZUKI DID NOT PROPERLY INSPECT THE VEHICLE (180LB MECHANIC SAID SINCE IT WORKS FOR HIM, ITS NOT DEFECTIVE), THEY NO IGNORE MY PHONE CALLS AND SAID IT IS NOT BROKEN AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE THE SENSOR. MY CAR IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO PASSENGERS. I HAVE ALSO FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE ONLINE, WITH THE SAME CAR AND PROBLEM, WHO ALSO ARE RECEIVING RUDE SERVICE FROM SUZUKI AND HAVE NOT HAD THEIR PROBLEM REPAIRED EITHER. SUZUKI NEEDS TO REPAIR THIS DEFECTIVE COMPONENT OR ISSUE A RECALL. MY CAR IS UNUSABLE, AND MY NEXT STEP IS TO GO TO COURT TO ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THE MONEY I SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268675

20,000 miles · Mar 7, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

****THIS IS FOR AN EARLIER COMPLAINT FILED (ODI#10261017) TO CORRECT AN E-MAIL ADDRESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261054

20,000 miles · Mar 7, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN AT NIGHT AND I DID NOT SEE. THE CAR MADE IMPACT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND ACCORDING TO THE COLLISION CENTER, SUSTAINED 70% WORTH OF DAMAGE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH SO THAT TH…

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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH MY CAR REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN AT NIGHT AND I DID NOT SEE. THE CAR MADE IMPACT ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND ACCORDING TO THE COLLISION CENTER, SUSTAINED 70% WORTH OF DAMAGE. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH SO THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BENT. I SUSTAINED HEAD, FACE, NECK, AND KNEE INJURIES. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261017

Official recalls

1

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.

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.