← New search

2001 Suzuki Vitara

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Vitara years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 13 of 27 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 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 reports3 injury reports

Power Train complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment Adaptive/mobilityPower Train

THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER POP'S OUT WHEN IT DONE TO WERE I CAN'T FIND IT, IT HAS BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS IN MY TRAY,AND FLOOR. ALSO THE GAS PEDAL STICK'S WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON IT TO GIVE A VERBAL ACCELERATION TO GET AROUND SOMEONE ETC. THE AIR IN THE TIRE'S ARE ALWAYS GOING DOWN. THE OIL SAYS IT LOW EVERYTIME I LOOK AT IT ONCE EVERY TW…

Read full complaint

THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER POP'S OUT WHEN IT DONE TO WERE I CAN'T FIND IT, IT HAS BURNT SEVERAL ITEMS IN MY TRAY,AND FLOOR. ALSO THE GAS PEDAL STICK'S WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN ON IT TO GIVE A VERBAL ACCELERATION TO GET AROUND SOMEONE ETC. THE AIR IN THE TIRE'S ARE ALWAYS GOING DOWN. THE OIL SAYS IT LOW EVERYTIME I LOOK AT IT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS. THE BELT ON THE AC KEEP LOSING AND NOW IT NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE IT NOW HAS FREEZED UP ON ME. THE RADIO AT 12:00 AM AND PM READS 00. THEN THE MINUTES ONLY DISPLACED. THERE'S A RATTLE UNDER THE CAR, DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT IS? WHEN I PUT THE 4X4 ON IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING BACK INTO THE REGULAR GEAR. SO REALLY JUST NEEDED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS ON THESES PROBLEM'S? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232727

78,390 miles · Jan 20, 2007
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 (2001) THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN MY HANDS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RIP IN THE RUBBER BOOT UNDER THE SUV ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (FRONT). I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED A 1/2 SHAFT. I STUCK MY FINGER IN THE RIP…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 (2001) THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY IN MY HANDS. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RIP IN THE RUBBER BOOT UNDER THE SUV ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (FRONT). I BELIEVE IT WAS CALLED A 1/2 SHAFT. I STUCK MY FINGER IN THE RIP OF THE RUBBER BOOT AND FELT A BUNCH OF PIECES ON METAL & LARGE BALL BEARINGS LAYING IN THERE. I HAD TO PARK THE SUV AND CALL SOMEONE TO PICK UP MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN SO THAT WE COULD PICK UP THE WIFE WHICH WAS BEING RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. I RENTED A U-HAUL TRUCK WITH A TRAILER (185.00) AND DROVE IT BACK FROM MILWAUKEE. DECEMBER 24TH. I PLACED THE SUV ON JACK STANDS AND TOOK OFF THE TIRE AND THE CAP FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT ON THE OUTER PART BY THE BREAK DRUM, I FOUND A RETAINER CLIP ABOUT 1" IN DIAMETER. I REMOVED IT AND THE INNER PART OF THE 1/2 SHAFT FELL OFF FROM THE INNER PART OF THE BREAK DRUM. I FOUND OUT THAT THE ONLY THING THAT WAS HOLDING THE DRIVE SHAFT IN PLACE WAS THE RETAINING CLIP. WE DON'T HAVE ANY DEALERS IN THE AREA ANYMORE. I CALLED EVERY PARTS STORE IN THE AREA AND NO ONE COULD SUPPLY ME WITH A NEW PART. I CALLED A NUMBER OF JUNK YARDS TO FIND THE PART AND FOUND 1. THE USED PART COST ME 75.00 I REPLACED IT WITH EASE BUT KNOW THE SUV SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE THE SUV CHECKED OUT BY A SERVICE STATION FOR ALIGNMENT. IT MAY COST US MORE IF THERE IS MORE PROBLEMS THAT ARE NOT NOTICED BY THE EYE. P. S. THERE WAS NOT WARNING THAT THE SUV WAS HAVING ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THANK YOU. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10179242

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2002
Power Train

WHEN DRIVING OVER 60 MPH REAR END WOULD START TO RATTLE. THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND LOUDER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. 5000 MILES LATER, NOISE RESURFACED. THIS WILL MAKE THE THIRD DIFFERENTIAL THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016280

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2002
Power Train

DRIVESHAFT CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH. VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED COMPLETELY OUT, CONSUMER GOT BENEATH THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THAT DRIVETRAIN WAS DISLOCATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. SUZUKI WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED IT WAS …

Read full complaint

DRIVESHAFT CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING 35-40MPH. VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING AND ACTED AS THOUGH IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED COMPLETELY OUT, CONSUMER GOT BENEATH THE VEHICLE, AND SAW THAT DRIVETRAIN WAS DISLOCATED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. SUZUKI WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED IT WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR.*AK DEALER WILL REPAIR. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8009191

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.