Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 · model year

2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7

35 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 2 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
35
Recalls
2

The verdict

The 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

20th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
2
recall campaigns

The 2002SuzukiGrand Vitara XL-7 carries 35 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7 is tires with 5 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (4) and suspension (3). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2002 Grand Vitara XL-7. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

35
Complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

35 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
TIRES5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
SUSPENSION3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
ENGINE2
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
STEERING1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
POWER TRAIN1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recalls (2)

04V42700030/08/2004

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.

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

20201029UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE VEHICLE 28610-54G10-000 SUZUKI SOLENOID,SHIFT LOCK IS BAD. CAN NOT FIND PART. IF THEIR ARE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE I WOULD LIKE THEM FIXED IF POSSIBLE PLEASE. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND IS ALSO RUNNING LEAN THE COMPUTUER CODE READS LEAN AND BAD SOLENOIDS.

20181029ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.

20181029ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.

20181029ENGINE

WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.

20161108ENGINE

KEEP HAVING A OIL LEAK FROM THE VALUE COVER GASKET. I HAVE HAD IT FIX BEFORE AND NOW IT IS LEAKING AGAIN ON MY MOTOR AND IS SMOKING WHILE DRIVING IT. THE PLACE SAYS THEY ONLY GIVE ME A 1 YR WARRANTY . IT HAS COST ME OVER $500 BEFORE TO FIX AND NOW THE SAME . NEED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE A RECALL. FIRST DATE OF PROBLEM WAS 1/28/2013 AND NOW THE SAME PROBLEM.

20150201SUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM WORK AND I WAS ONLY GOING 40MPH AND MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF IT AND SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED AND NOTICED THE CROSS MEMBER WAS BROKE. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND CAN'T DRIVE IT CAUSE IT DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20140605CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE CHEST AREA AND A SLIGHT CONCUSSION THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.

Mileage: 230,000

20090624TIRES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 687 (NA) TIRES, SIZE P235/60R17. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE SET OF TIRES TWO YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY, THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE DETERIORATING FROM THE INSIDE. THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 1/8 AND 1/16. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,130.

Mileage: 77,130

20071001SUSPENSION

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR TALLAHASSEE, FL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR BRIEFLY SHOOK/VIBRATED. I LET OFF THE GAS PERPLEXED WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY CAR CAREENED TO THE LEFT AND WITH A DEATH GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I MOVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE 2 LANES OF INTERSTATE AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE GAINING CONTROL. PARTS OF TIRE AND PLASTIC WERE FLYING BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT MILE MARKER 193. IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES FOR ME TO GET MY COMPOSURE. I WAS CRYING, SHAKING AND VERY SCARED. WHEN I FELT CALM AND SAFE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I SAW THAT MY TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED BUT WAS NOT EVEN FLAT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT, IT RIPPED OUT ALL MY TIRE GUARD, IT TORE MY FENDER, MY BUMPER WAS TOUCHING THE GROUND AND I COULD SEE PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

20071001TIRES

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-10 EASTBOUND NEAR TALLAHASSEE, FL GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN MY CAR BRIEFLY SHOOK/VIBRATED. I LET OFF THE GAS PERPLEXED WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. MY CAR CAREENED TO THE LEFT AND WITH A DEATH GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL, I TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I MOVED BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE 2 LANES OF INTERSTATE AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE GAINING CONTROL. PARTS OF TIRE AND PLASTIC WERE FLYING BEHIND ME. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AT MILE MARKER 193. IT TOOK A FEW MINUTES FOR ME TO GET MY COMPOSURE. I WAS CRYING, SHAKING AND VERY SCARED. WHEN I FELT CALM AND SAFE ENOUGH TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I SAW THAT MY TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED BUT WAS NOT EVEN FLAT. THE FORCE WAS SO GREAT, IT RIPPED OUT ALL MY TIRE GUARD, IT TORE MY FENDER, MY BUMPER WAS TOUCHING THE GROUND AND I COULD SEE PIECES OF DEBRIS ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

20060531FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STARTED MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. BACKED OUT OF MY GARAGE AND THE BACK DOOR ARM REST WAS SMOKING. SHUT THE CAR OFF AND PUT OUT FIRE. CALLED THE SUZUKI SHOP AND THEY HAD ME DRIVE IT IN. MY ELECTRICAL WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THEY REPLACED FUSE, SWITCH, HANDLE AND WIRE COMP. ON THE REAR DOOR. $561.00 LATER I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. *NM

20060518FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

DAMAGES TO MY SUV BECAUSE THE COMPANY HAVEN'T SENT THE RECALLS FOR MY SUV TO REPLACE SOME PART OF THE SUV. *NM

20060517SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

I AM SENDING THIS TO YOU SO MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME. MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7 3 YEARS AGO. MY XL-7 MANUFACTURES DATE IS 4/02. THE BUCKLE THAT SLIDES ON THE SEAT BELTS IS RUBBING ON THE SEAT BELTS AND TEARING MY SEAT BELTS. ALL MY REAR SEAT BELTS ARE RUINED. TWO OF THE ARE COMPLETELY IN HALF AND ONE IS HANGING ON ONLY BY A FEW STRANDS AND THE LAST IS JUST STARTING TO TEAR. I HAVE CONTACTED SUZUKI AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO HAVE AN INSPECTION ON THEM AND I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT SUZUKI IS GOING TO DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF YOU SEE THE SEAT BELTS YOU CAN TELL IT IS OBVIOUSLY FROM THE BUCKLE. THIS IS MY ONLY FAMILY VEHICLE WE HAVE AND WE ARE A FAMILY OF 4. I HAVE A 1980 VEHICLE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE EVER HAD I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? *NM

20051123CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT: THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO CRASHES AS A RESULT OF THE SURGING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION OVER FIFTY TIMES. THERE HAS BEEN NO DETERMINATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 8,000

20050525CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V512000 IN DECEMBER 2004 PURCHASED A SUZUKI XL-7 FOR $15,000 CASH WITH 24,000 MILES IN APRIL 2005 I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, SIGNALED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CAR SPUN FROM THE REAR CAUSING IT TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND INTO A WALL. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS SMASHED, REPAIRS ARE GOING TO COST ME $9,000 IN DAMAGES. EXPLAINED TO SUZUKI THAT THIS CAR WAS PAID FOR IN CASH AND THAT I ONLY HAD LIABILITY. SUZUKI IS STATING THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING CAUSE THE CAR DIDN'T HAVE FULL COVERAGE, AND THE RECALL WAS SENT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A DEALER NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CAR HAS AROUND 26,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IS IN THE AUTO BODY SHOP BEING REPAIRED. SUZUKI SHOULD PAY FOR THIS SINCE THIS CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. WHY SHOLD I HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA $9,000 WHEN THE CAR FAILED. IF THE CAR IS DAMAGED DUE TO THIS RECALL WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. DESPERATELY SEEKING ADVISE. THANK YOU

Mileage: 26,000

20050502POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN. OCCASIONALLY AFTER THE SOUND, THE STEERING CONTROL WOULD NOT BE THERE. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THEY WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND CHANGED THE OIL.

Mileage: 42,900

20050502ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN. OCCASIONALLY AFTER THE SOUND, THE STEERING CONTROL WOULD NOT BE THERE. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THEY WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND CHANGED THE OIL.

Mileage: 42,900

20040812POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A HUMMING NOISE IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. DEALER FIRST REPLACED AN AXLE BEARING. SECOND TIME REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR, DRUM TO DRUM. THIRD TIME DEALER SAID THEY DIDN'T HEAR THE NOISE EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CHANGE FROM THE SECOND TIME WHEN THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE REAR.

Mileage: 3,000

20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE OIL LEAKS THROUGH THE EXAUST PIPE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN COVER SEAL. THE BURNING SMELL CAN BE SMELLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE. I THOUGHT THE SMELL WILL GO AWAY. AT 4250 MILES, I FOUND OIL SPOT ON MY DRIVE WAY. DEALER TOOK OUT THE FROM PART OF ENGINE AND RE-SEALED. AFTER REPAIR, I THINK THE ENGINE IS STILL LEAKING, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL/GREASE IS FROM THE RUST PROOF. I LIKE TO GET A SECOND OPION, BUT THE NEXT AVAILABLE DEALER IS MILLION MILES AWAY. IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG AND DISTURBING PROCESS FOR ME DOWN THE ROAD. SO, I DON'T RECOMMAND SUZUKI TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN PEOPLE I HATE.

Mileage: 4,250

20040421VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V512000 REGARDING ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL COULD CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE, AND INSUFFICIENT LONG TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

Compare 2002SuzukiGrand Vitara XL-7 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

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Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 have?▼
The 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 has 35 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7?▼
Yes, the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 is TIRES with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL and SUSPENSION.
Is the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 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.

Data vintage: August 2026. 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.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.