Total Complaints
8 filings
SUZUKI ESTEEM · model year
2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM
8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002SUZUKIESTEEM carries 8 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 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 2002 ESTEEM is structure:frame and members with 2 filings, followed by wheels (2) and steering (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 2002 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
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recalls (1)
03V22300016/06/2003
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
Recent Complaints
20140520STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIELDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AROUND THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN ON THE SUBFRAME WHICH WAS CORRODED WITH EXTENSIVE RUST IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20140520WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIELDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AROUND THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN ON THE SUBFRAME WHICH WAS CORRODED WITH EXTENSIVE RUST IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
20081210STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
SOLE OWNER 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON WITH ROTTED K-FRAME AND RUSTED WHEELS. SUZUKI WILL ONLY COVER K-FRAME PART AND DEALER WANTS $390. FOR LABOR. ARE THERE OTHER SUZUKI VEHICLES WITH REPORTED ROTTED K-FRAMES?. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2002. THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTED FRAME. *TR
Mileage: 67,050
20081210WHEELS
SOLE OWNER 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON WITH ROTTED K-FRAME AND RUSTED WHEELS. SUZUKI WILL ONLY COVER K-FRAME PART AND DEALER WANTS $390. FOR LABOR. ARE THERE OTHER SUZUKI VEHICLES WITH REPORTED ROTTED K-FRAMES?. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2002. THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTED FRAME. *TR
Mileage: 67,050
20030502FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 6 TIMES AND THERE IS NO COMPUTER CODE. GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *JB *NLM *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****768037 *TS
20030502ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 6 TIMES AND THERE IS NO COMPUTER CODE. GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *JB *NLM *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****768037 *TS
20020429TIRES
ORIGINAL TIRE ON SUZUKI, ESTEEM 2002, P18560R14 DOT ELBODEH340. WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH ON SLIGHTLTY WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TIP OVER. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A DEFECT IN TIRES. *AK *JG
20020325CrashSTEERING
WHILE TRAVELING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE'S LANE AND HIT IT. STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAYED INTO WHEEL, ENABLING HIM TO STEER.*AK
Compare 2002SUZUKIESTEEM to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM have?▼
The 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM?▼
Yes, the 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM is STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include WHEELS and STEERING.
Is the 2002 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.