Total Complaints
8 filings
SUZUKI ESTEEM · model year
1996 SUZUKI ESTEEM
8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996SUZUKIESTEEM carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 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 1996 ESTEEM is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper with 1 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (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.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 1996 ESTEEM. 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.
8
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040501TIRES:TREAD/BELT
AFTER 31,000 MILES, 4 GOODYEAR AQUATREAD TIRES DEVELOPED FEATHERED TREAD BLOCKS ON ALL 4 TIRES. THIS RESULTED IN ROAD NOISE FROM THE TIRES THAT WAS SIMILAR TO THAT OF ALL 4 WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT NORMAL CONVERSATION IN THE VEHICLE WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND ANY EMERGENCY SIGNALS SUCH AS SIRENS OR HORNS COULD NOT BE HEARD. I BELIEVE THAT PROLONGED EXPOSURE WOULD HAVE LEAD TO HEARING LOSS. THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED COULD FIND NO EXCUSE FOR THE TIRES DOING THIS SO HE REFUSED TO HONOR THE TIRES WARRANTY BASED ON MY NOT HAVING HIM ROTATE THE TIRES ON SCHEDULE. EVEN THOUGH I INFORMED HIM THAT I HAD ROTATED THE TIRES MYSELF AND THAT I HAD FOUND MANY POSTINGS ON INTERNET SITES DETAILING THE EXACT OR SIMILAR FAILURE ON THESE SPECIFIC TIRES. I SENT A EMAIL MESSAGE TO GOODYEAR CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THERE WAS LITTLE THEY COULD DO TO CONTROL WHAT THEIR DEALERS DO. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE TIRES AT ANOTHER DEALER AT MY EXPENSE.
Mileage: 73,000
19990701SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. REPEATEDLY AND THEY NEVER FOUND PROBLEMS SO CONVIENANTLY WE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND ENDED UP TURNING THE CAR IN AND LOSSING EVERYTHING WE PUT IN TO IT AND MESSING UP OUR CREDIT DUE TO WE WERE TIRED OF FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. SO OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THESE DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT STRANDED ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN SEVEERAL TIMES NOT INCLUDING MY MOTHER IN LAW ONCE WHEN WE LET HER BORROW IT . NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO US SO MAYBE YOU WILL ! I HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SEEN THIS CAR DO ! NO SAFETY DEFECTED MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
19990701POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. REPEATEDLY AND THEY NEVER FOUND PROBLEMS SO CONVIENANTLY WE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND ENDED UP TURNING THE CAR IN AND LOSSING EVERYTHING WE PUT IN TO IT AND MESSING UP OUR CREDIT DUE TO WE WERE TIRED OF FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. SO OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THESE DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT STRANDED ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN SEVEERAL TIMES NOT INCLUDING MY MOTHER IN LAW ONCE WHEN WE LET HER BORROW IT . NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO US SO MAYBE YOU WILL ! I HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SEEN THIS CAR DO ! NO SAFETY DEFECTED MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
19990701ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT. REPEATEDLY AND THEY NEVER FOUND PROBLEMS SO CONVIENANTLY WE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS AND ENDED UP TURNING THE CAR IN AND LOSSING EVERYTHING WE PUT IN TO IT AND MESSING UP OUR CREDIT DUE TO WE WERE TIRED OF FIGHTING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. SO OTHER PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THESE DANGEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. IT STRANDED ME AND MY 2 CHILDREN SEVEERAL TIMES NOT INCLUDING MY MOTHER IN LAW ONCE WHEN WE LET HER BORROW IT . NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO US SO MAYBE YOU WILL ! I HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAD SEEN THIS CAR DO ! NO SAFETY DEFECTED MENTIONE DIN SUMMARY. *AK
19981203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE PULLEY: CRANKSHAFT BROKE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING, AND THE BALACING AND THE TIMING BELT WAS DAMAGED AND THE BOLT CAME OFF. *AK
19970519CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY, HIT THE BRAKES BUT REARENDED VEHICLE ANYWAY; DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY; WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ESTEEM WAS TOTALED. *AK
19970519CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY, HIT THE BRAKES BUT REARENDED VEHICLE ANYWAY; DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY; WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ESTEEM WAS TOTALED. *AK
19970422SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
ABS BRAKE FAILURE, FRONT CALIPERS AND BUSHING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING FRONT END VIBRATION. *AK
Compare 1996SUZUKIESTEEM to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 SUZUKI ESTEEM have?▼
The 1996 SUZUKI ESTEEM has 8 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 SUZUKI ESTEEM?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 SUZUKI ESTEEM is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 SUZUKI ESTEEM 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.