Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
150–25K
3225–50K
3350–75K
2975–100K
19100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
152 reports
65,000 miles · Sep 30, 2016
EnginePower Train
THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON SUZUKI FORENZAS AND OTHER MODELS HAS BEEN SHODDY AT BEST. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 65000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED THE TRS 3 TIMES GETTING READY TO BE A 4TH. THIS IS NOT A SENSOR THAT SHOULD NEED REPLACED REGULARLY. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SLIP OUT OF GEAR AT SPEED DUE TO THIS AND CAN NEVER ACCE…
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THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ON SUZUKI FORENZAS AND OTHER MODELS HAS BEEN SHODDY AT BEST. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 65000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE REPLACED THE TRS 3 TIMES GETTING READY TO BE A 4TH. THIS IS NOT A SENSOR THAT SHOULD NEED REPLACED REGULARLY. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE SLIP OUT OF GEAR AT SPEED DUE TO THIS AND CAN NEVER ACCELERATE WHEN I NEED TO. IM AFRAID THAT IF I NEED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A COLLISION I WONT BE ABLE TO. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE. THEY HAVE MORE THEN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO SEE THIS IS AN ISSUE AND THEY NEED TO ACT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.
NHTSA ODI #10910877
82,000 miles · Sep 28, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE TRANSMISSION ICON ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000.
NHTSA ODI #10910180
63,350 miles · Aug 26, 2016
Power Train
I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ONCE IN OCTOBER OF 2014 AND IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN NOW. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT IS SHIFTING GEARS AND ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS IT HAS JUST SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL FOR NO REASON WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN MOTION. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK ON 8/2…
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I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR ONCE IN OCTOBER OF 2014 AND IT IS ACTING UP AGAIN NOW. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT IS SHIFTING GEARS AND ON A COUPLE OCCASIONS IT HAS JUST SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL FOR NO REASON WHILE THE CAR IS STILL IN MOTION. THE MOST RECENT TIME WAS ON MY HOME FROM WORK ON 8/22/16. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND STOP AND START MY CAR A FEW TIMES TO RESET THE PROBLEM. THE PART SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED EVERY COUPLE YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THIS NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY SUZUKI.
NHTSA ODI #10898681
91,000 miles · Aug 8, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineWheels
CAR HEADLIGHT SHUT OF ON ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD ALONG WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDOWS THEY ALL SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND I HAD TO PULL OVER NEAR THE NEAREST STORE AND CUT CAR OFF THANKS I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THEY ALL SRARTED WORKING ACCEPT THE AIR THAT DIDNT START WORKING AGAIN TILL ABOU…
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CAR HEADLIGHT SHUT OF ON ME WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD ALONG WITH AIR CONDITIONING AND WINDOWS THEY ALL SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND I HAD TO PULL OVER NEAR THE NEAREST STORE AND CUT CAR OFF THANKS I TURNED IT BACK ON AND THEY ALL SRARTED WORKING ACCEPT THE AIR THAT DIDNT START WORKING AGAIN TILL ABOUT THIRTY MINS LATER CAR ALSO JUMPS WHEN PULLING OUT OF PARK IN TO DRIVE OR REVERSE REALLY HARD JUMP THE CAR HEADLIGHTS ALSO FLICKER WHEN PRESSING WINDOWS BUTTONS TO GO DOWN TIRE SENSOR LIGHT WONT GO OUT CAR ALSO HAS A HARD TIME ACCELERATING GOING UPHILL U HAVE PRESS DOWN ALL THE WAY ON GAS FOR IT TO GO
NHTSA ODI #10893886
107,000 miles · May 5, 2016
Air Bags
ABOUT EVERY 3 TO 4 MONTHS THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 4 YEARS. THE WIRING UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS TO BE REDONE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT RESET. IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS AT THIS POINT WHO KNOWS IF THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10863313
108,000 miles · Mar 16, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes
I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA TWICE ALREADY AND IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS, MY CAR JERKS HEAVILY WHEN CHANGING GEARS, AND IT IS AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE. THE RPMS WILL NOT EXCEED 3000, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND "HOLD" FLASHES IN THE DASH. THE CAR ACCEL…
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I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA TWICE ALREADY AND IT HAS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. WHEN IT MALFUNCTIONS, MY CAR JERKS HEAVILY WHEN CHANGING GEARS, AND IT IS AN AUTOMATIC ENGINE. THE RPMS WILL NOT EXCEED 3000, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND "HOLD" FLASHES IN THE DASH. THE CAR ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY SHUDDERS ABOVE 50 MPH. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS DROPPED TO ZERO WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, SO I CANNOT TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING.
NHTSA ODI #10850096
61,000 miles · Mar 15, 2016
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND THEN IT STAY ON ITS BEEN ON NOW FOR THREE DAYS NOW
NHTSA ODI #10849829
87,000 miles · Feb 5, 2016
Electrical SystemPower Train
TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10824572
82,500 miles · Jan 26, 2016
Power Train
THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" IS CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP TO 2 GEAR RANDOMLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE AFTER O START IT. AND OUT OF NO WERE THE ENGINE JUMPS AND THE "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON THE CAR ACTS LIKES ITS NOT IN 1ST GEAR. IT CAN'T GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) WITHOUT IT JUMPING. THEN AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A DAY IT…
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THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" IS CAUSING MY CAR TO JUMP TO 2 GEAR RANDOMLY. THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN FINE AFTER O START IT. AND OUT OF NO WERE THE ENGINE JUMPS AND THE "ENGINE LIGHT" COMES ON THE CAR ACTS LIKES ITS NOT IN 1ST GEAR. IT CAN'T GET IT TO GO INTO GEAR (DRIVE OR REVERSE) WITHOUT IT JUMPING. THEN AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR A DAY IT ACTS FINE FOR THE FIRST TRIP AND THEN IT STARTS THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AFTERWARDS. I CAN'T GO UPHILL EITHER WITHOUT IT REAVING HIGH LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL. I THINK THIS IS THE "TRANS RANGE SWITCH" GOING BAD.
NHTSA ODI #10822260
78,125 miles · Dec 23, 2015
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,125.
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.
2008 Suzuki Forenza Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year