2003 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7

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

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE IGNITION SYSTEM WIRING HARNESS IS ROUTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE HARNESS CAN RUB AGAINST THE MANIFOLD DURING VEHICLE OPERATION AND ABRASION DAMAGE TO THE HARNESS CAN OCCUR.

THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE AT THE PROPER ELEVATION TO PRESS THEM SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH ONE FOOT. BECAUSE IT IS REAR WHEEL DRIVE AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES, THE CAR SPEEDS UP WHEN THAT HAPPENS. THIS IS A TYPICAL ENGINEERING FLAW THAT HAPPENS WITH MANY VEHICLES ("HE THOUGHT HE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE WHEN HE RAN INTO THE CROWD OF PEOPLE..."). THE FRONT ANTI-LOCK BRAKES RELEASE WHEN THE REAR WHEELS WANT TO KEEP TURNING. WITH REGULAR BRAKES, ONE CAN STILL OVERCOME THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE AND STOP A CAR. I RAN INTO A HOUSE TRAILER BECAUSE OF THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE! THE PROBLEM CAN BE ENGINEERED OUT. I HAVE NOT YET FOUND A WAY TO DISSEMINATE THIS INFORMATION TO ANY NATIONAL SAFETY COMMITTEE. IT IS PROBABLY A COMMON PROBLEM FOR PEOPLE WHO USE ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE OTHER FOOT ON THE GAS.

Mileage: 15,000

I HAD BOUGHT A USED SUZUKI AUTO FROM ENTERPRISE RENTAL CARS. IN MID-JUNE 2005 I WAS RETURNING TO PHILA. ON I-95 AFTER TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO CAMP IN MASSACHUSETTS. JUST OUTSIDE DARIEN, CONN. ALL THE POWER ON THE CAR JUST SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. AN 18-WHEELER WAS BARRELING DOWN ON ME IN THE CENTER LANE BUT FORTUNATELY FOR ME THE LANE TO MY RIGHT WAS EMPTY AND THE SHOULDER WAS WIDE ENOUGH FOR ME TO PULL OVER. AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT IN DARIEN AND HAVING A REPAIR SHOP TOW THE CAR, THE MECHANIC SAID THERE HAD BEEN A BLOWN FUSE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE AND GAVE ME A SPARE AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPLACE IT IF I NEEDED TO ON MY WAY HOME. AFTER I GOT BACK TO PHILA., I TOOK THE CAR TO MY NEAREST SUZUKI DEALER. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE PROBLEM WHICH HE SAID WAS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND THAT ENTERPRISE HAD NEVER TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM, BY THE WAY, WAS THAT A WIRES RUBBER COATING HAD BEEN ABRADED DUE TO RUBBING AGAINST THE CHASSIS OF THE CAR. ONCE T

Mileage: 20,000

GAS DOOR HINGES RUST AND BREAK CAUSING THE DOOR TO FALL OFF. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM THE PARK IT WAS RAINING A LITTLE BIT SUDDENLY MY STEERING WHEEL STAR GOING THE LEFT, I HIT THE BRAKE AND THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR FALL DOWN AND THE CAR STOP COMPLETELY, I CHECK THE WHEEL AND IT WAS ABOUT TO COME OUT. *TR

Mileage: 33,800

DT: THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING, AND THE TECHNICIAN CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND WERE STILL SQUEAKING. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR SHOCKS NOT WORKING WELL, AND THIS WAS NORMAL. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WAS NOT COOLING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE ANYMORE.*AK

DT: THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING, AND THE TECHNICIAN CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND WERE STILL SQUEAKING. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR SHOCKS NOT WORKING WELL, AND THIS WAS NORMAL. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WAS NOT COOLING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE ANYMORE.*AK

DT: THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING, AND THE TECHNICIAN CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND WERE STILL SQUEAKING. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR SHOCKS NOT WORKING WELL, AND THIS WAS NORMAL. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WAS NOT COOLING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE ANYMORE.*AK

DT: THE BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING, AND THE TECHNICIAN CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND WERE STILL SQUEAKING. THE FRONT SHOCKS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE REAR SHOCKS NOT WORKING WELL, AND THIS WAS NORMAL. AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) WAS NOT COOLING. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT FEEL SAFE ANYMORE.*AK

PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ACCELERATING BACKWARDS WHEN TRYING TO PARK. *MR THE VEHICLE HIT A STEEL BEAM. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE ACCELERATOR CABLE. (SUZUKI XL 7) *SC THE C ONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED FOR A RECALL REGARDING THE ACCELRATOR CABLE. *JB

FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM

FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM

FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM

FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM

FAILURE ON BRAKES, ACCELERATOR, ALARM, LIGHTS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CARPET. *MR THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR WERE RECALLED. THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE ALARMED FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ABOUT TEN TIMES IN REFERENCE TO THE ALARM. THE DOOR AJAR CHIME DID NOT WORK. THE CARPET WAS LOOSE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS FIXED. *NM

BASED ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT GETTING THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED, THE CONSUMER WANT THE WORK DONE OR ANOTHER SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. *PH PROBLEMS WITH ALARM SYSTEM AS WELL AS VEHICLE CUTTING OFF AND LOSS OF CONTROL. *MR

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, AND MADE 3 SEPARATE APPOINTMENTS. ALL WERE CANCELLED BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO SERVICE VEHICLE. *AK

Mileage: 9,850

WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND COLLIDED INTO A WALL BARRIER. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK

Mileage: 200

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FROM A SUZUKI DEALER ON LONG ISLAND, 14 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT A SUZUKI 2003 AERIO SX AWD, FROM THE SAME DEALER. THE AERIO HAD LOUD HUMMING IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. BROUGHT IT BACK 3 TIMES BEFORE THEY HAD A FACTORY REP TELL THEM THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY REPLACED IT, AND ALTHOUGH THE HUMMING WAS GONE, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE VIBRATION WHEVER I STEPPED ON THE GAS. BROUGHT IT BACK 2 TIMES BEFORE THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THEY ORDERED THE PARTS IN EARLY NOVEMBER, AND SAID THEY WERE ON BACKORDER. THIS IS A 2003 CAR !!! I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY MADE ME A "GREAT" DEAL. THEY SOLD ME THIS 2003 XL7 WITH 11206 MILES. AS I DROVE THE CAR HOME, I NOTICED A VERY SEVERE WIND NOISE COMING FROM THE LOWER LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD, AND A WHINING TYPE NOISE WHEN FIRST STEPPING ON THE GAS. AGAIN, THIS IS A 2003 CAR. THIS WAS 12/22/03. I CALLED THE DEALER AND SAID THAT I WOULD DROP IT OFF AFTER CHRISTMAS. I DID, AND THEY SAID A FACT

Mileage: 11,206

THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FAILED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED AND IT WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. THE HAND BRAKE WAS PULLED AND THE CAR WAS DIRECTED OUT OF THE ROAD INTO THE GRASS TO MAKE IT STOP. *JB THE DISTANCE WAS MEASURED AND IT WAS 75 FEET FROM THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED TO THE POINT THE CAR STOPPED. THE CAR WAS GOING 35-40 MPH. THE DRIVER FINALLY GOT THE CAR TO STOP BY PULLING THE HAND BREAK BUT THE CAR HIT THE BUMPER HIT THE REAR OF PICK UP TRUCK IN FRONT AND THE TOW HITCH OF THE PICK UP TRUCK CRACKED THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE CAR THE CAR IS BRAND NEW AND HAS 1300 MILES ONLY ON THE CAR. *JB

Mileage: 1,300

TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. THIS WAS INCONSISTANT BUT RECURRING PROBLEM WHICH USUALLY OCCURRED WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP UNDER ACCELERATION AND NOT SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR UNTIL STOPPED ACCELERATING. THIS CIRCUMSTANCE CREATED A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE ANALYST AND TECHNICIAN COULD NOT CONFIRM THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM , BUT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEMS W/ THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION SINCE THE 2000 MODEL YEAR AND CONTINUES THROUGH THE 2003 MODEL YEAR. A TSB REGARDING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.*AK