Air Bags. Review the 74 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

10 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

101 reports

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2011

Air Bags

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THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY, I WENT TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WERE FAULTY AIRBAG SENSORS IN THE SEAT AND THE ENTIRE SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2000, THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK WITHOUT THE SEAT BEING REPLACED AND NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A SINGLE MOM, SCHOOL TEACHER AND BOUGHT THE VEHICLE EXPECTING RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE TO DRIVE IT OR LOOSE MY JOB AND DO NOT HAVE $2000 TO FIX IT. AFTER I RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL AT THE MANUFACTURERS EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434905

33,000 miles · Nov 4, 2011

Power TrainSteering

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I PURCHASED MY SUZUKI SX4 IN APRIL 2008, FROM A DEALER HERE IN PLATTSBURGH NY, THE CAR SEEMED TO BE WELL MADE FOR THE PRICE, AND THE CAR HAD A DECENT SAFETY RATING, HAD GOOD GAS MILEAGE AND WAS AWD. SEEMED LIKE EVERYTHING WE NEEDED IN A CAR. THE DEALER SOLD A GOOD STORY. I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON SUZUKI BEFORE I MADE THIS PURCHASE. AFTER COMPLETING THE PAPER WORK I DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH A SMILE, THIS WAS THE FIRST BRAND NEW CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED AND WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO DRIVING IT. I PARKED THE CAR THAT NIGHT WITH 30 MILES ON IT. THE NEXT MORNING I WOKE UP TO FIND MY MIRRORS HAD SHORTED AND CAUSED THEM TO SPLIT. I CALLED THE DEALER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEY SAID TO DROP IT OFF AND THEY WOULD FIX IT NO PROBLEM. THE CAR DROVE WELL FOR ALL OF 2008 AND 2009 BUT THEN IN 2010 WHEN I WENT TO GET THE CAR INSPECTED I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WHEEL BARRING IN THE DRIVER SIDE REAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND BECAUSE THE WHEEL BARRING HAD WENT IT CAUSED ONE TIRE TO WEAR MORE THAN THE OTHER, SO MY TIRES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I ENDED UP PAYING FOR 2 REAR TIRES AND THEY FIXED THE WHEEL BARING. THE BEARING HAD TO BE ORDER SO I WAS OUT A CAR FOR 2 DAYS. THEN NOT 2 WEEKS LATER WE START TO HEAR A REALLY WIRED NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR, SO I BRING IT BACK IN AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE CV JOINT HAD FALLEN APART. SO THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATTER I START HEARING A REALLY WIRED CLANKING NOISE IN THE CENTER OF THE CAR SO I BRING IN BACK IN AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE WHOLE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THINGS SEEMED TO BE GOING GOOD UNTIL I JUST RECENTLY HAD TO GET THE CAR INSPECTED AGAIN? GUESS WHAT IT NEEDS A NEW WHEEL BEARING AND A TIE ROD. THEY WILL REPLACE THE WHEEL BEARING AT NO COST BUT THEY WANT 300.00 TO REPLACE THE TIE ROD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434211

56,379 miles · Oct 28, 2011

Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts

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COPIED THIS FROM THIS SITE"THE ECU ALSO PERFORMS REGULAR DIAGNOSTIC CHECKS OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. IF THE ECU IDENTIFIES A PROBLEM, THE AIR BAG READINESS (WARNING) LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MIGHT NOT PERFORM PROPERLY IN A CRASH." PART OF THE REQUIRED SAFETY FEATURES REQUIRED ON MOST NEW VEHICLES IS WHAT WAS STATED. CORRECTED THE MILEAGE FROM PREVIOUS COMPLAINT.... MY 2008 SUZUKI SX4 SHOWS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON ALONG WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT ON(EVEN WHEN OCCUPIED) ACCORDING TO THE ABOVE STATEMENT "WHEN THE AIR BAG READINESS LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MIGHT NOT PERFORM PROPERLY IN A CRASH." SO HERE I AM. I FOLLOWED UP WITH A VISIT TO SUZUKI DEALER AND $45 LATER THEY TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT WAS STATED ON SITES CODE B1312 AND THAT I NEED A NEW PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION, THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT WORKING. THEN THEY HIT ME WITH A COST OF $1009.82 + TAX TO REPLACE A CUSHION...MIND YOU A PART THAT IS MANDATED TO BE ON VEHICLE AND WORKING. THIS IS OBSCENE AND I REFUSED THEN THEY OFFERED TO CUT IT IN HALF $600 +...WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR A OBVIOUS DEFECT IN THEIR SYSTEM AS INDICATED BY OTHER ENTRIES ON HERE AND OTHER SITES PERTAINING TO THE SAME PROBLEM. IS EVERYONE WAITING FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT. ALSO THEY COULD NOT TELL ME IF ALL WAS DISABLED, PART DISABLED OR NONE WERE DISABLED. ACTION IS DEFINITELY NEEDED BY SOMEONE OR SOME AGENCY TO STEP IN AND ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10433166

59,000 miles · Oct 10, 2011

Air Bags

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT OR ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429322

37,000 miles · Sep 12, 2011

Air BagsElectrical SystemVisibility

REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILURE, DOES NOT WORK. PASSENGER AIR BAG NONE FUNCTIONING, LIGHT COMES ON DASH INDICATING PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF! REMOTE TRUNK ENTRY FAILURE, REMOTE LATCH IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THERE IS NO KEY ENTRY LOCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10425035

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER MAKING 5 TO 15 DEGREE TURNS WITH EITHER TURN SIGNAL ACTIVATED, THE SIGNAL WOULD NOT CANCEL SOON ENOUGH OR AFTER COMPLETING A SHALLOW TURN. THIS IS NOT A DEVELOPED MALFUNCTION, BUT, ONE INHERENT ON THE VEHICLE FROM THE MANUFACTURE AUTOMATICALLY WHICH REQUIRED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH TO MANUALLY BE ENGAGED TO DEACTIVATE THE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/13/2011 *LN *TR

NHTSA ODI #10415461

40,000 miles · Jun 29, 2011

Air Bags

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THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON WITH A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT WOULD STAY ON FOR A FEW MINUTES AND EVENTUALLY GO OFF. THIS WENT ON FOR A FEW MONTHS AND WAS INITIALLY BLAMED ON THE POSITION OF THE PASSENGER IN THE SEAT AS WIGGLING WOULD CAUSE THE LIGHT TO GO OFF. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AGO THE LIGHT CAME IN AND STAYED ON, ALONG WITH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG LIGHT. MY DAUGHTER TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO ADVISED IT WOULD COST $2000 TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO THE MILEAGE. WHEN MY BOYFRIEND RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM TO INQUIRE ABOUT A GOOD WILL REPAIR WE WERE ADVISED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER TWO THINGS: FIRST THAT HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SECOND THAT HE DOES THEM ALL THE TIME FOR LOCAL DEALERS BECAUSE OWNERS USUALLY TRADE THEM IN RATHER THAN PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO SELL THEM WITHOUT FIXING THEM. HE REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, RE-STATING WHAT HE TOLD MY DAUGHTER, THAT IT WOULD COST $2,000 TO FIX. IT SEEMED TO US THAT HE CONTRADICTED HIMSELF, EITHER IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE DEALERS BRINGING IN USED VEHICLES TO HAVE THE SENSOR FIXED FOR $2,000 OR IT ISN'T. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO GET SUZUKI TO APPROVE A GOOD WILL REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT IS MORE THAN 75% OF THE REPORTED ISSUES FOR THIS MODEL CAR FOR 2008. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10409412

44,000 miles · Jun 27, 2011

Seats

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI SX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10409125

39,000 miles · Jun 20, 2011

Air Bags

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI SX4. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE SEAT CUSHION WAS BENT OR BROKEN WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE GRID UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ODI #10407500

34,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011

Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS A PASSENGER IN A SUZUKI SX4 2008. WHERE WE SLID OFF THE ROAD A HIT A LOG PILE. NO AIR BAGS OPENED. I BROKE MY FEMUR, NECK, JAW, AND RIBS. CAR WAS TOTALED AND WE AT LEAST HIT THE WOOD AT 45 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405590

Official recalls

13V405000 · Air Bags

Sep 6, 2013

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

Remedy: Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.

10V513000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

Oct 19, 2010

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 SX4 HATCHBACK AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 SX4 HATCHBACK AND SEDAN PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THREE SCREWS THAT SECURE EACH OF THE OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS TO THE MIRROR BASE CAN COME LOOSE DUE TO VIBRATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A REAR VIEW MIRROR FALLS OFF THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER WILL HAVE REDUCED VISIBILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BASE SCREWS ON BOTH OUTER REAR VIEW MIRRORS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985 OR VISIT SUZUKI'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SUZUKIAUTO.COM.

10V392000 · Equipment:electrical:navigational System(global Positioning System)

Sep 1, 2010

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OVERHEATED BATTERIES COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY GARMIN TECHNICIANS BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND INSERTING A SPACER ON TOP OF THE BATTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GARMIN DIRECTLY AT 1-866-957-1981 OR SUZUKI AT 1-887-697-8985. OWNERS MAY ALSO VISIT GARMIN'S WEBSITE AT WWW.GARMIN.COM/NUVIBATTERYPCBRECALL.

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

PE13021 · Occupant Classification System Failure

Opened Jun 14, 2013 · Closed Sep 30, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Suzuki Motor of America is conducting a safety recall to remedy the occupant classification system's (OCS) sensor mats in approximately 193,936 model year 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 Suzuki SX4 vehicles (see NHTSA recall 13V-405 for more details).The sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat can develop an electrical circuit disconnection as a result of repeated flexing of the seat from use of the seat.According to Suzuki, when the failure occurs, the OCS system, by design, will not suppress the frontal passenger air bag for a seated child or small-stature adult.A deploying passenger air bag can cause serious injury to such an occupant.The recall population excludes those vehicles that previously had proper remedies under the special coverage campaign for this issue (~11,600) that began in July 2012.The recall remedy will be to install a new front passenger seat cushion assembly that includes an improved OCS sensor mat and an OCS control module with updated algorithms designed to properly identify the type/size of the seated occupant.Consequently, this recall action will address various OCS related problems, including a programming error (associated with diagnostic trouble code B1318) related to detecting a change or shifting in load on the front passenger seat in the model year 2009 Grand Vitara and SX4 vehicles.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10178750, 10185778, 10200217, 10200123, 10206368, 10217021, 10250561, 10254251, 10263756, 10283309, 10285166, 10294320, 10316125, 10323718, 10324530, 10326910, 10332645, 10347204, 10348957, 10349038, 10350237, 10353604, 10354901, 10355400, 10364190, 10367631, 10369777, 10371056, 10373558, 10375165, 10375789, 10376071, 10376621, 10378154, 10380794, 10382860, 10392447, 10392434, 10392599, 10393975, 10395430, 10395602, 10395821, 10395983, 10398172, 10400092, 10400035, 10401106, 10401424, 10404772, 10405359, 10406459, 10407500, 10409412, 10409993, 10413235, 10418162, 10419237, 10419578, 10425035, 10425212, 10426703, 10434905, 10435090, 10435091, 10437600, 10437892, 10437994, 10438100, 10438501, 10438613, 10439357, 10439979, 10440088, 10442968, 10442759, 10442883, 10443173, 10443592, 10443594, 10444434, 10445034, 10445447, 10446215, 10446580, 10447689, 10448161, 10448446, 10448499, 10448554, 10449238, 10450746, 10451260, 10452961, 10453168, 10453403, 10453376, 10454445, 10454978, 10455231, 10455529, 10456043, 10456367, 10456407, 10459063, 10460417, 10460510, 10462016, 10463337, 10464941, 10464693, 10467988, 10468641, 10479583, 10479929, 10481120, 10484053, 10484863, 10486369, 10486729, 10487379, 10491755, 10499622, 10506034, 10508282, 10511057, 10511439, 10512962, 10521656, 10521779, 10523512, 10523931, 10524266, 10526435, 10533196, 10535513, 10537314, 10537619, 10543672, 10544287.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Air Bags:frontal

Air Bags