2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.

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

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE IN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A BRIDGE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM A STOP SIGN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST CAUSING A CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND HER BODY LUNGED FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (NUMBER 19005490). THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN BY AN AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR HER MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND MULTIPLE TEETH, INJURED HER CHEST WALL, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT KNEES AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA AND WAS SEEKING TREATMENT BY A NEUROLOGIST AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HER LEFT KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNKNOWN LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUF

Mileage: 82,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A BRIDGE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM A STOP SIGN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST CAUSING A CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND HER BODY LUNGED FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (NUMBER 19005490). THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN BY AN AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR HER MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND MULTIPLE TEETH, INJURED HER CHEST WALL, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT KNEES AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA AND WAS SEEKING TREATMENT BY A NEUROLOGIST AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HER LEFT KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNKNOWN LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUF

Mileage: 82,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AT A STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO REV WITH THE RPM LEVELS VIGOROUSLY FLUCTUATING. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE JUNE 2009. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,330. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE CONTACT HAS NEVER USED THE TIGER PAW SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, A TIRE BLEW OUT WITH A LOUD POP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE FENDER WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE TIRE AND HOW IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES EXCEEDED 200,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB

Mileage: 200,000

2002 SUZUKI VITARA WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO REVERSE WITH NO HELP FROM THE DRIVER AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL LOCK UP AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE. SHE ALSO STATES THAT IT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *JB

MY 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA (LIMITED 4WD) WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. IT WAS A HILLY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY NEAR PITTSVILLE, MO AND THERE WAS A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW JUST STARTING TO FALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL MADE THE CAR JUMP INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN ASCENDING A HILL TO KEEP IT AT 55 MPH. THE RPM'S JUMPED FROM ABOUT 2,000 TO 5,000 WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR - WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE TRACTION AND I WRECKED INTO 2 HIGHWAY SIGN POSTS AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS ABOUT 50 YARDS INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I DIDN'T ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. IT COST ME $5,000 IN COLLISION DAMAGE TO FIX THE CAR. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES THIS ALL THE TIME STILL WHEN EVEN ON MODERATE HILLS TO KEEP UP WITH THE SET MPH. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED TO JUMP UP TO OVER 5,000 RPM'S JUST TO GO 65 MPH AND STAY UP WITH THE SET CRUISE SPEED. THANKS. DWS *TR

Mileage: 52,500

I AM WRITING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS IN MY 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FREQUENTLY LOCKS UP AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE PERSON WEARING IT TO MOVE. I FIND IT VERY ANNOYING AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AS WHOEVER IS IN THAT SEAT USUALLY ENDS UP UNBUCKLING IT AND NOT PUTTING IT BACK ON. THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN THE REAR SEATS, ALTHOUGH IT ISN'T AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM AS I GENERALLY DON'T HAVE REAR PASSENGERS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT BELTS NOT RETRACTING FULLY WHEN WE EXIT THE VEHICLE, I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, BUT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AS SEAT BELTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THEN A FEW YEARS. *NM

I AM WRITING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS IN MY 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FREQUENTLY LOCKS UP AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE PERSON WEARING IT TO MOVE. I FIND IT VERY ANNOYING AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AS WHOEVER IS IN THAT SEAT USUALLY ENDS UP UNBUCKLING IT AND NOT PUTTING IT BACK ON. THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN THE REAR SEATS, ALTHOUGH IT ISN'T AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM AS I GENERALLY DON'T HAVE REAR PASSENGERS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT BELTS NOT RETRACTING FULLY WHEN WE EXIT THE VEHICLE, I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, BUT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AS SEAT BELTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THEN A FEW YEARS. *NM

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK . HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

Mileage: 58,000

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER 2002 GRAND VITARA AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS, AND SHE PROCEEDED. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY. AGAIN THE POPPING NOISE BECAME MORE PROMINENT AFTER APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DISCOVERED NOTHING AT THAT TIME. THE POPPING NOISE CONTINUED ALONG WITH HARD BRAKING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS. THE ENTIRE HARDWARE INCLUDING THE SHOES AND THE DRUMS WERE DESTROYED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK (11/23/05) THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CABLES HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD SELF DESTRUCT. *SC

Mileage: 41,000

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS, AND SHE PROCEEDED. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY. AGAIN THE POPPING NOISE BECAME MORE PROMINENT AFTER APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DISCOVERED NOTHING AT THAT TIME. THE POPPING NOISE CONTINUED ALONG WITH HARD BRAKING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS. THE ENTIRE HARDWARE INCLUDING THE SHOES AND THE DRUMS WERE DESTROYED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK (11/23/05) THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CABLES HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD SELF DESTRUCT. *SC

Mileage: 41,000

AT SPEED OF 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES QUICKLY, AND MUCH TO MY SHOCK, THE CAR WENT SIDEWAYS AND SLAMMED INTO A STEEL DIVIDER. THIS CAUSED BODY DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE TO THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE - FROM FRONT TO BACK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE AS OF YET. *JB

Mileage: 41,119

FUEL DOOR FELL OFF AGAIN!!!!

Mileage: 63,500

GASOLINE FUEL DOOR FELL OFF FOR NO REASON, AS FAR I CAN TELL, ALL THE HARDWARE THAT WOULD SECURE FUEL DOOR IS STILL THERE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SUZUKI'S WITH THE SAME THING. *JB

Mileage: 62,000

SUZUKI TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR IGNITION LOCKED AND 2 TIMES FOR THE 4WD PROBLEM. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME REGARDING THE 4-WHEEL IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERNAL LOCATED IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. *JB

SUZUKI TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR IGNITION LOCKED AND 2 TIMES FOR THE 4WD PROBLEM. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME REGARDING THE 4-WHEEL IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERNAL LOCATED IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. *JB

THE PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

Mileage: 47,000

CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED HESITANTLY ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

RESPONSE TO A LETTER THE CONSUMER RECEIVED IN REGARDS TO SELLING HER 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL WHILE BRAKING, A SPEAKER WAS BLOWN, NONE OF THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS WORKED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. WHEN THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER NONE OF THE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN REPAIRED. *NM