2003 SUZUKI AERIO

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.

STARTED THE CAR TO WARM IT UP, AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF DASH BOARD, MAKING GLASS WHERE SPEEDOMETER IS SMOKEY AND IT STILL IS. SMELT LIKE WIRE BURNING AND SHUT IT OFF IMMEDIATELY. WHEN CHECKED ON, A WIRE INSULATION HAD BURNT OFF CAUSING THE SMOKE AND SMELL. AFTER REPLACING THE WIRE COATING, IT WAS FINE FOR A WHILE, THEN COMING BACK FROM A TRIP TO AUGUSTA THE SPEEDOMETER NUMBER GOT DIMMER, BUT I DID NOT SMELL ANY SMOKE. SO NOT SURE WHAT THE DEFECT IS, JUST KNOW THIS CAN'T BE RIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO SX WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DISLODGED FROM THE FIFTH GEAR WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE FIFTH GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FIFTH GEAR WAS EXTERNALLY HOUSED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE REMAINING GEARS WERE ALL INTERNALLY HOUSED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRS WERE AGAIN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Mileage: 82,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO SX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLE BROKE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN IT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE DOOR HANDLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,586 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

Mileage: 10,586

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS AND IT SEEMS IT NEVER ENDS. SERIOUS POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSES A LOT OF INCONVENIENCES FOR A SINGLE MOTHER LIKE ME, TAKEN TO SOME SHOPS, MONEY WASTED ON NOTHING BECAUSE IT SEEMS THIS IS ONE OF THE WEAKEST AND WORST PROBLEMS A SUZUKI AERIO 2003 COULD HAVE. CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND ALL OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ! *LN

Mileage: 61,000

THE REASON IS THAT I BOUGHT ONE USED GOOD YEAR TIRE BUT I JUST RUN ON HIGH WAY FOR FEW MILES ONLY IT WAS SERIOUSLY FLAT ON LAST SATURDAY (MAY 9, 2009). I DID NOT KNOW WHY AN INFERIOR TIRE WOULD BE SOLD IN THE STORE, WHEN I PURCHASED IT SEEMS VERY GOOD LIKE A NEW GOOD YEAR TIRE, AND I WAS NOTICED I NEED TO PAY FOR REPLACE IT. I NOTICED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SOMETHING WAS MELTED---A FLIMSY PIECE OF MATERIAL. COULD YOUR OFFICE INVESTIGATE THOSE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE IF THOSE TIRES WERE EQUIPPED TO THE FRONT OF THE CARS WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE HIGH WAY?. COULD YOU INVESTIGATE WHY THEY HAVE/SELL THOSE INFERIOR TIRES? THE USED TIRE STORE INFORMATION: AFFORDABLE TIRE & WHEELS; 12099 BALLAIRE BLVD, HOUSTON, TX 77072. *TR WENLUO ZHANG

2003 SUZUKI AERIO CV JOINT KEEPS COMING OUT DUE TO SNAP RING IN REAR END,CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. CAR DEALER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY,SAYS REAR AXLE IS A AFTER MARKET PART, THIS IS NOT TRUE,WHY WOULD WE HAVE CAR WORKED ON WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, WE ARE THIRD OWNER OF CAR AND KNOW THE TWO PREVIOUS OWNERS WHICH IS A FATHER AND SON,THEY ARE ADAMANT NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR,THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET FIXED SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, ITS VERY EASY FOR THE MECHANIC TO GET SOME REAR END AXLE AND SAY IT CAME OUT OF MY CAR ,JUST TO AVOID FIXING MY CAR,THEIR CLAIM IS IF SOMEONE ELSE WORKED ON THIS CAR THAT VOIDS THE WARRANTY, SO THIS IS THEIR CONVENIENT WAY OF GETTING OUT OF FIXING MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

2003 SUZUKI AERIO CV JOINT KEEPS COMING OUT DUE TO SNAP RING IN REAR END,CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. CAR DEALER WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY,SAYS REAR AXLE IS A AFTER MARKET PART, THIS IS NOT TRUE,WHY WOULD WE HAVE CAR WORKED ON WHEN UNDER WARRANTY, WE ARE THIRD OWNER OF CAR AND KNOW THE TWO PREVIOUS OWNERS WHICH IS A FATHER AND SON,THEY ARE ADAMANT NO WORK HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR,THEY WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO GET FIXED SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, ITS VERY EASY FOR THE MECHANIC TO GET SOME REAR END AXLE AND SAY IT CAME OUT OF MY CAR ,JUST TO AVOID FIXING MY CAR,THEIR CLAIM IS IF SOMEONE ELSE WORKED ON THIS CAR THAT VOIDS THE WARRANTY, SO THIS IS THEIR CONVENIENT WAY OF GETTING OUT OF FIXING MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

CRACKING AND BENDING OF RIM WHERE THE TIRE BEAD SEALS,HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE DIFFERENT RIMS IN THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

I AM WRITING IN REFERENCE TO TIRE DEBRIS BEING LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK'S HIGHWAYS. THESE SITUATIONS CREATE HAZARDOUS ROAD CONDITIONS AND SHOULD BE HANDLED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. TODAY, I WAS TRAVELING ON 495 GOING WEST AND A HUGE TIRE WAS LEFT IN THE MIDDLE LANE, I WAS NOT ABLE TO SWERVE SO IT CREATED DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE OF WHICH I AM SEEKING TO B E COMPENSATED. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V307000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER IS GIVING THE CONTACT THE RUN AROUND. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER HAS THE PART, BUT THE DEALER STATED OTHERWISE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS NOT RETURNED HIS PHONE CALLS. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN CALLING TO CONFIRM THE PART IS AVAILABLE ALWAYS RECEIVES THE RUN AROUND FROM THE DEALER. UPDATED 02/19/08 *TR

DRIVING HOME ON I-72 WESTBOUND FROM CHAMPAIGN, IL. 2003 SUZUKI AERIO HAD BEEN IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE AT 65MPH. TOOK OFF CRUISE TO PASS A SEMI TRAILER. CAR ENGINE REVVED UP AND DOWN RESULTING IN NO POWER FOR A MOMENT. WAS ABLE TO PULL BACK IN BEHIND SEMI, ALLOWING CAR FOLLOWING ME TO GO AROUND. LOST ALL POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL SAFELY OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER JUST EAST OF THE EXIT RAMP TO RT 47. CAR WAS TOWED IN TO SHOP IN CLINTON, IL. MECHANIC LOOKED UP TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TS 02 06284- M/T LEFT DRIVESHAFT POPS OUT OF FINAL DRIVE. CAR HAS JUST OVER 108,000 MILES, SO IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY FATAL SITUATION TO HAVE BEEN IN. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS BECOMING A PROBLEM WITH THESE MODELS, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO SUZUKI VIA THEIR 800-934-0934 NUMBER. CASE NUMBER IS 1-140908504. THEY STATED THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO COVER ANY COSTS BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF THE 7 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. REASON FOR SUBMITTIN

Mileage: 108,575

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED AS TIME PROGRESSED. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.

Mileage: 73,000

I OWN A 2003 AERIO SUZUKI SX 5-SPEED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IT'S BEEN POPPING OUT OF 5TH GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. THEY SAID THEY TEST DROVE IT AND COULD NOT "DUPLICATE CONCERN". THE VERY RUDE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME EVEN IF PROBLEM WAS FOUND THEY DO NOT HAVE EQUIPMENT TO REPAIR IT AND TO TAKE IT SOMEPLACE ELSE. SHE ALSO MADE A COMMENT ABOUT NOT NEEDING "FREE WORK",LEADING ME TO BELIEVE BECAUSE IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO EXTENSIVE WORK FOR FREE!! I CALLED SUZUKI AND THEY SAID MOST DEALERS PROBABLY WOULDN'T TEST DRIVE IT MORE THAN 20 MILES AND IT IS HARD TO FIX AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND TO TRY ANOTHER DEALER. DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HAVING GEARS POP OUT SHOULD GET MORE ATTENTION THAN AN" INTERMITTENT PROBLEM". OTHER DEALERS ARE MORE THAN 30 MILES AWAY AND HARD TO LEAVE VEHICLE THERE. I READ ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON LINE AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE 'S DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS PREMATURE WEAR IN THE 5TH GEAR SYNCHRO AS

Mileage: 54,400

DEVELOPMENT OF "BRAKE SHAKE" UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, I.E. USAGE UNDER 15,000 MILES ANNUALLY; WARPED FRONT DISCS DUE TO INFERIOR MANUFACTURE/MATERIALS; ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE UNDER WARRANTY; ADVISED BY SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE BRAKE PADS CHANGED AGAIN, NORMAL BRAKE PAD SEATING REACTION, OTHER LIES, ETC. *NM

Mileage: 30,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BUTTON USED TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOORS JAMMED. THE OCCUPANTS IN THE BACK SEAT WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DOOR WAS RIGGED WITH A SCREW DRIVER TO RELEASE THE PASSENGERS AND FIX THE DOOR JAM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.

Mileage: 170

APPROXIMATELY IN JUNE 2005 A NOISE AND VIBRATION DEVELOPED WHEN RUNNING THE A/C AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE S-BELT TENSIONER, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, AT CRAWFORD SUZUKI ON AIRWAYS BLVD. IN EL PASO, TEXAS.ON JUNE 12, 2006, WHILE RETURNING FROM TUCSON, AZ, MY WIFE NOTICED A VIBRATION AND NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO CRAWFORD SUZUKI ON 6/15/2006 (SMCS345882). AFTER THE CAR WAS EXAMINED BY THE TECHNICIAN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MISALIGNED, FACTORY INSTALLED POWER STEERING BRACKET. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICEMAN ABLE AGUIRRE, I WOULD HAVE TO FULLY PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE CAR IS OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.ON SATURDAY 17, I SPOKE TO JAVIER, THE OWNER OF THRIFTY CAR SALES AND HE AGREED THAT SUZUKI SHOULD REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. AT CRAWFORD THEY AGREE THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF A FACTORY DEFECT AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.ON FRIDAY 23, I SPOKE TO A PERSON WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS ''MANNY'' THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT

Mileage: 58,000

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BIRMINGHAM SUZUKI BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR IT WOULD MAKE A POPPING NOISE. THEY REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACKING PINION AND THE TIE ROD. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CARE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED IT. I TOOK MY CARE BACK IN ON SEPT. 6, 2005 BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE REPAIR SHOP AT BIRMINGHAM SUZUKI INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT MY ECM HAD LOOSE WIRING. THEY PUT IT BACK IN AND THEN THE CAR RAN FINE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THAT BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS REPLACED. *JB

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO BIRMINGHAM SUZUKI BECAUSE MY CAR WAS SHAKING AND WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR IT WOULD MAKE A POPPING NOISE. THEY REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACKING PINION AND THE TIE ROD. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE CARE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT WAS REPAIRED. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED IT. I TOOK MY CARE BACK IN ON SEPT. 6, 2005 BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THE REPAIR SHOP AT BIRMINGHAM SUZUKI INFORMED ME THAT WHEN THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTIC THAT MY ECM HAD LOOSE WIRING. THEY PUT IT BACK IN AND THEN THE CAR RAN FINE. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THAT BECAUSE THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS REPLACED. *JB

DT: 2003 SUZUKI AERIO, VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED UNLESS THE CONSUMER PULLS VEHICLE FORWARD FIRST, THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ALL THE TIME, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DIRECTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THE CABLE BUSTED. THEN THE DEALER CHANGED A CABLE CORD. THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. TO DEALER, CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE A SECOND TIME, AND DEALER CHANGED OUT THE GEAR BOX, THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE THIRD TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY . *AK

Mileage: 257

TRUNK POPS UP WHILE DRIVING AND PAINT IS PEELING