SUZUKI EQUATOR · model year

2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR

5 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009SUZUKIEQUATOR carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 EQUATOR is air bags with 2 filings, followed by fuel system, other (1) and vehicle speed control (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2009 EQUATOR. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

5
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS2
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recalls (1)

10V39200001/09/2010

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SX4, 2010 GRAND VITARA, AND 2009 THROUGH 2010 EQUATOR VEHICLES THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH A GARMIN NUVI MODEL 750, 760, AND 765 NAVIGATION SYSTEM. THE BATTERIES CONTAINED IN THE AFFECTED GPS UNITS CAN OVERHEAT.

Recent Complaints

20160923AIR BAGS

UPDATED VIN FOR COMPLAINT OF 6/21/16 ID NUMBER: 10875514 I NEED TO BE ON RECORD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING(CURRENT MILES 52639). I BELIEVE MY PROBLEM CAN BE TRACED TO THE RIGHT CRASH ZONE SENSOR. THERE WAS A SIMILAR SAFETY RECALL FOR NISSAN FRONTIER ISSUED IN DECEMBER 2008. NISSAN BUILT THE EQUATOR TRUCK FOR SUZUKI. AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTORS IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND DECLARED BANKRUPTCY. I EXPECT PROPER HANDLING OF THIS REPAIR BY SUZUKI. THERE WERE A LIMITED NUMBER OF THESE UNITS SOLD AND I AM CONCERNED NHTSA IS NOT RESPONDING.

Mileage: 49,000

20160621AIR BAGS

NO ACCIDENT, SRS WARNING LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AT MILEAGE 49,000 APPROXIMATE. NO RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ABOUT POSSIBLE CORROSION ON FRONT SENSOR DUE TO ROAD SALT. ORIGINAL OWNER LIVES IN PENNSYLVANIA. THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT BY NISSAN FOR SUZUKI (NOW OUT OF BUSINESS IN UNITED STATES) AND DESIGN IS SIMILAR TO FRONTIER PICKUP.

Mileage: 49,000

20120926FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THERE WERE NO BOLTS OR SCREWS OR ANCHORS TO HOLD THE RUBBER INLET IN PLACE IN THE NECK OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED HE EMAILED THE DEALER BUT RECEIVED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 59,000. DT

Mileage: 59,000

20110815VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO NOTIFIED AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THE FLOOR MATS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,666 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

Mileage: 22,666

20100304FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE GAS TANK GETS TO 3/4 FULL. FILL IT UP AND IT GOES OFF. BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE (WITH SERVICE LIGHT ON), WAS TOLD IT WAS GAS CAP NOT SEALING RIGHT (THEY HAD THIS PROBLEM ALOT - SERVICE MANAGER SAID). INSTRUCTED TO FILL UP WITH GAS, DON'T OVER FILL, TIGHTEN CAP TILL IT CLICKS SEVERAL TIMES. DID WHAT WAS INSTRUCTED, BUT STILL PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR

Mileage: 350

Compare 2009SUZUKIEQUATOR to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR have?
The 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR has 5 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR?
Yes, the 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM). Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR?
The most-complained component for the 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR is AIR BAGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 2009 SUZUKI EQUATOR safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.