IllustrationDT: CONSUMER HAD CAR FOR 2 YEARS. ABOUT EVERY 5,000 MILES HAD TO CHANGE THE TIRES ON THE FRONT END DUE TO THEM WEARING OUT ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENT. FRONT END ALIGNMENT DID CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TT
2002 Suzuki XL-7
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Suzuki XL-7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all XL-7 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
40–25K
925–50K
550–75K
175–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
23 reports with mileage · 12 unknown
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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
35 reportsON A RAINY WEDNESDAY MORNING, CAME TO A STOP SIGN SIGNALED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN UPON MAKING THE LEFT TURN THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED AND WENT INTO A WALL. CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR
CONSUMER PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. SEVERAL DAYS AFTER PURCHASE THE SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE CONSUMER CAME TO A 4 WAY STOP, AS THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN, IT BROKE DOWN. THIS WAS DUE TO THE REAR AXLE SHAFT.*AK *JB
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING.*MR THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT OCCASIONALLY AND LEAK COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COOLANT, RADIANT, THERMOSTAT AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED AND WHITE SMOKE COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S ACCEL…
Read full complaint
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE OVERHEATING.*MR THE VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT OCCASIONALLY AND LEAK COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE COOLANT, RADIANT, THERMOSTAT AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED AND WHITE SMOKE COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL VIBRATED AND NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING. THE TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
BROUGHT VEHICLE TO ONE DEALER, MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING ENGINE COOLANT EMPTY, OVERHEATING. FIRST DEALER STATED WAS BAD RADIATOR CAP. REPLACED, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. WENT TO THIS DEALER 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION. FINALLY WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND FOUND CYLINDER HEADS TO BE BAD, STATED PROBLEM COULD HAVE B…
Read full complaint
BROUGHT VEHICLE TO ONE DEALER, MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING ENGINE COOLANT EMPTY, OVERHEATING. FIRST DEALER STATED WAS BAD RADIATOR CAP. REPLACED, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED. WENT TO THIS DEALER 3 TIMES FOR PROBLEM WITH NO RESOLUTION. FINALLY WENT TO ANOTHER DEALER, AND FOUND CYLINDER HEADS TO BE BAD, STATED PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF DIAGNOSED EARLIER. ORIGINAL DEALER WANTED FEE FOR DIAGNOSIS, EVEN THOUGH CAR STILL UNDER FULL WARRANTY. AFTER REPLACEMENT, ENGINE NOW MAKES CONSTANT TICKING/KNOCK AND PING NOISE WHEN DRIVING, AND MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN ACCELERATING. SECOND DEALER STATED UNABLE TO RECREATE PROBLEM, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO OCCUR EVEN 1 YEAR LATER. *JB
NHTSA RECALL 03V-512 000. ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP: THIS RECALL WAS DONE ON JANUARY 22,2004. CONSUMER HAVE A CONCERN THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 9,2004, WHICH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING OFF A GRAVEL PARKING LOT OF 5 MPH. CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HIT A PARK…
Read full complaint
NHTSA RECALL 03V-512 000. ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP: THIS RECALL WAS DONE ON JANUARY 22,2004. CONSUMER HAVE A CONCERN THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JULY 9,2004, WHICH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING OFF A GRAVEL PARKING LOT OF 5 MPH. CONDITION CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HIT A PARKING VEHICLE BEFORE STOPPING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA
INNER FRONT BRAKE PADS FELL OUT OF THE BRAKE CALIPERS CAUSING THE CALIPER PISTON TO DIRECTLY CONTACT THE BRAKE ROTOR. THIS WORE DOWN THE ROTOR AND CALIPER PISTON CAUSING BOTH TO REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THIS ALSO CAUSED BRAKING TO BE GREATLY REDUCED. *JB
KEY GETS STUCK IN CHAMBER, HAVE TO TURN KEY OFF SUPER FAST TO PULL KEY OUT. JIGGLING DOESN'T HELP MUCH. JUST SHEER FRUSTRATION THAT KEY WONT COME OUT
WHEN ON THE FREEWAY AND ACCELLERATING OVER 55MPH, A RATTLING-VIBRATIONS SOUND OCCURS. IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS COMING FROM THE 4WD STICK OR GEAR SHAFT AREA. THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS PULLED OFF AND CARPET AND WIRES WERE CHECKED TO SEE IF SOME THING WAS STUCK BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND.
WHILE PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
205V452000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Oct 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS ON THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 10, 2005. THESE VEHICLES ARE LOCATED ON ST. THOMAS ISLAND (VIRGIN ISLANDS). OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI DEL CARIBE AT 787-622-0600.
03V512000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Dec 5, 2003
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE THROUGH THE CAP CAN CAUSE THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME FRAYED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE BECOMES FRAYED, IT CAN STICK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE SPEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, WHICH INCLUDES THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.