Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 50 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Suspension. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
50 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2001
Power Train
WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LE…
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WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE RED LIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS A RESULT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #744004
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2000
Structure
PLASTIC USED IN THE DOOR TRIMS IS VERY BRITTLE. SUZUKI SAYS IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. THERE IS NO SUPPORT UNDER IT.
NHTSA ODI #738303
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #874445
Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #864221
Mileage unknown · May 26, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainUnknown Or Other
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED MORE THAN 30 DAYS AGO & IT ALREADY HAS STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT SHAKES REAL BADLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862625
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
SteeringCrash
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH GOING AROUND A LEFT HAND CURVE WHEN STEERING SPINDLE FAILED ,COMPLETLY SNAPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.CONSUMER CLAIMED IT WAS ALREADY 1/3 SNAPPED, DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #862312
Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingParking BrakeUnknown Or Other
ENGINE OIL PAN CRACKED CAUSING AN OIL LEAKED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, SUCH AS EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE FAILURE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859527
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2000
Power Train
THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND SKIDDED ON HITTING ICE AND CRASHED. YH
NHTSA ODI #551516
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, GRINDS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720056
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2000
Suspension
I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR TO BE SAFE AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BREAKING DOWN. I T HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN NOT. THE LATEST IS THAT IT STARTED VIBRATING ABOVE THE SPEED OF 45. WHO COULD FEEL SAFE IN A 3 MONTH OLD VEHICLE THAT CONTINUOUSLY HA…
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I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR TO BE SAFE AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BREAKING DOWN. I T HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN NOT. THE LATEST IS THAT IT STARTED VIBRATING ABOVE THE SPEED OF 45. WHO COULD FEEL SAFE IN A 3 MONTH OLD VEHICLE THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAS THINGS WRONG WITH IT? I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALEER AND THE MANUFACTOER, WHO ASSURE ME THAT THIS IS "PROBABLY THE LAST THING THAT WILL HAPPEN" I WANT TO GET MY $ BACK AND I FORWARN ALL, I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE PINCHED WIRES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION/CONDITION OF THE REAR WIRING HARNESS AND REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, IF NECESSARY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS WERE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REAR SPEAKER INSTALLATION AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETORQUE BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.
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.
1999 Suzuki Vitara Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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