2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AT A STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO REV WITH THE RPM LEVELS VIGOROUSLY FLUCTUATING. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE JUNE 2009. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,330. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

MY 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA (LIMITED 4WD) WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. IT WAS A HILLY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY NEAR PITTSVILLE, MO AND THERE WAS A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW JUST STARTING TO FALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL MADE THE CAR JUMP INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN ASCENDING A HILL TO KEEP IT AT 55 MPH. THE RPM'S JUMPED FROM ABOUT 2,000 TO 5,000 WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR - WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE TRACTION AND I WRECKED INTO 2 HIGHWAY SIGN POSTS AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS ABOUT 50 YARDS INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I DIDN'T ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. IT COST ME $5,000 IN COLLISION DAMAGE TO FIX THE CAR. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES THIS ALL THE TIME STILL WHEN EVEN ON MODERATE HILLS TO KEEP UP WITH THE SET MPH. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED TO JUMP UP TO OVER 5,000 RPM'S JUST TO GO 65 MPH AND STAY UP WITH THE SET CRUISE SPEED. THANKS. DWS *TR

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WHEN ENGAGED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES AND REPLACED THE CABLE ACCELERATOR. *AK THE FIRST OCCASION OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FLYING INTO THE NEXT PARKING SPACE. THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NOTHING CHANGED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED RACING. THE CONSUMER WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN AND WAS BACK TO NORMAL. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO DRIVE AND EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED, BUT ONLY THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND STARTED BACK AGAIN IN FULL THROTTLE. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE. *SC *JB

CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED HESITANTLY ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED ON JANUARY 2004 NHTSA RECALL 03V512000 REGARDING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL COULD CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL LETTER 03V512000 REGARDING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL WHICH COULD CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. *JB