2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL7

ENGINE OIL LEAKS THROUGH THE EXAUST PIPE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER SEAL. THE BURNING SMELL CAN BE SMELLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I THOUGHT THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY. AT 4250 MILES, I FOUND OIL SPOT ON MY DRIVE WAY. DEALER TOOK OUT THE FROM PART OF ENGINE AND RE-SEALED. AFTER REPAIR, I THINK THE ENGINE IS STILL LEAKING, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL/GREASE IS FROM THE RUST PROOF. I LIKE TO GET A SECOND OPION, BUT THE NEXT AVAILABLE DEALER IS MILLION MILES AWAY. IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG AND DISTURBING PROCESS FOR ME DOWN THE ROAD. SO, I DON'T RECOMMAND SUZUKI TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN PEOPLE I HATE.

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE IN FEB. 2002 FROM CORPORATE MOTORS DBA SUZUKI OF HAYWARD CA. THROUGH ADDISON AVENUE CREDIT UNION HELD AT HP CORPORATE IN PALO ALTO, CA. ON MAY 17TH 2002 MY NEW SUZUKI XL7-4WD BLEW A HEAD GASKET @ 4,057 MILES. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAN JOSE BOB LEWIS SUZUKI DEALER. WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CURTSEY LOANER AND DUE TO PARTS NOT IN STOCK IT TOOK THREE WEEKS BEFORE I RECEIVED MY XL7 BACK.ON MAY 15TH 2003, I TOOK IT IN FOR A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 17,956. ALL WENT WELL, BUT WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I GET ALL NEW TIRES SOON, TIRES WORN.ON JULY 2ND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE, AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE READING STATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE HEAD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.MONDAY JULY 7TH 2003, TOOK IT TO CORPORATE MOTORS DBA SUZUKI OF HAYWARD. PRIOR BEFORE TAKING, I CHECKED ON RECALLS AND COMPLAINTS @ WWW.NHTSA.DOT.GOV ON SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7. PRINTED OUT LISTING AND GAVE A COPY TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. ALSO NO CURTSEY LOANER WAS PROVIDED.WINDSHIELD RECALL/SUSPENSION/TIRES AND STEERING/ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.THURSDAY JULY 10, 2003 SPOKE WITH VICTOR FLORES; HE INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE BOTH HEAD GASKETS. THE WORK DONE FROM SAN JOSE BOB LEWIS ON THE BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON MAY 17TH 2002 DID NOT USE THE NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE TIRES WERE WORN BUT NOT ABLE TO REPLACE THEM. NO MENTION ON WINDSHIELD RECALL. *AK