Total Complaints
9 filings
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7 · model year
2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7
9 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002SUZUKIGRAND VITARA XL-7 carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7 is power train:automatic transmission with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (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 GRAND VITARA XL-7. 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.
9
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recalls (1)
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.
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.
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
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
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
Compare 2002SUZUKIGRAND VITARA XL-7 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7 have?▼
The 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7 has 9 NHTSA complaints, 2 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 1 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 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
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.
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.