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2005 Suzuki XL-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 16 of 18 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 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 reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

18 reports
77,000 miles · Sep 29, 2008
Seat Belts

THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCHED AND, UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION, WOULD NOT UNLATCH THEREFORE TRAPPING THE CHILD IN THE CAR. THE CHILD HAD TO EXTRICATE THEM SELF FROM THE LATCHED BELT TO BECOME FREE OF THE CAR. THE SEAT BELT IS STILL LATCHED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND…

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THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCHED AND, UPON ARRIVAL AT DESTINATION, WOULD NOT UNLATCH THEREFORE TRAPPING THE CHILD IN THE CAR. THE CHILD HAD TO EXTRICATE THEM SELF FROM THE LATCHED BELT TO BECOME FREE OF THE CAR. THE SEAT BELT IS STILL LATCHED AND WILL NOT RELEASE. I CONTACTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO FIX OR REPLACE THE BELT AT THEIR EXPENSE. IF I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD RESULT IN DEATH. THIS IS A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION TO THE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10243849

10,000 miles · Apr 25, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S CLOCK CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE AN ADULT WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND ONCE WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE DEALER HAS R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S CLOCK CONTINUOUSLY FLASHES. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE AN ADULT WAS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, AND ONCE WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE DEALER HAS RESET THE SEAT SENSOR AND MADE FOUR DIFFERENT ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE SEAT FRAME ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,332.

NHTSA ODI #10225681

32,200 miles · Feb 13, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-60 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED BEFORE DECELERATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2007 AND FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 2-60 MPH WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED BEFORE DECELERATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THE ROTORS AND PADS WERE REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2007 AND FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,883.

NHTSA ODI #10217932

38,500 miles · Jul 24, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE DRIVE POSITION INDICATOR WAS NOT ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER HOUSE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND CAB…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED AND THE DRIVE POSITION INDICATOR WAS NOT ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER HOUSE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE HOUSE AND VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 38,500.

NHTSA ODI #10197325

20,000 miles · Jun 11, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE INCIDENT REOCCURRED AT 23,000 YET, THERE WAS NO CRASH. AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATO…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE INCIDENT REOCCURRED AT 23,000 YET, THERE WAS NO CRASH. AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE BEFORE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23285. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20000.

NHTSA ODI #10192934

35,000 miles · Jan 23, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*- WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON A 2005 SUZUKI XL7 TURNED ON. WITHIN MINUTES OF THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, GOING FROM 60 MPH AND DECREASING ITS SPEED UNTIL IT STOPPED RUNNING. THE CONTACT TOWED VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THA…

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TL*- WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON A 2005 SUZUKI XL7 TURNED ON. WITHIN MINUTES OF THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER, GOING FROM 60 MPH AND DECREASING ITS SPEED UNTIL IT STOPPED RUNNING. THE CONTACT TOWED VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO ENGINE COOLANT, AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE NEVER GOT ANY INDICATION OR WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDED TO BE SERVICED ON THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10179448

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2006
Structure

THE 2005 SUZUKI XL-7 IS RAKED DOWN IN THE FRONT SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND THE VEHICLE (WITHIN 15 FEET OR SO) WHEN BACKING UP. IF A SHORT PERSON OR CHILD WERE WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER COULD NOT SEE THEM. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10156033

750 miles · Mar 2, 2006
Interior LightingVisibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE WHY THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THERE WAS A NOISE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY DETERMINED THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE WHY THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA ODI #10151626

Official recalls

2

10V250000 · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:pump

Jun 9, 2010

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MODEL YEAR 2006 GRAND VITARA AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 XL-7 VEHICLES. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (IF EQUIPPED) HAS AN OUTER PORTION THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC. REPEATED HEAT STRESS CAN CAUSE THE PLASTIC MATERIAL TO DETERIORATE AND PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN BREAK OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: BROKEN PIECES OF THE PULLEY CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PULLEY AND THE DRIVE BELT, CAUSING THE DRIVE BELT TO COME OFF AND RESULTING IN THE DRIVER NEEDING INCREASED EFFORT TO STEER THE VEHICLE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP DRIVE BELT TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 28, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

05V452000 · 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.

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.