Total Complaints
26 filings
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 · model year
26 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002SUZUKIGRAND VITARA XL7 carries 26 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 GRAND VITARA XL7 is tires with 4 filings, followed by vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (3) and suspension (3). 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 XL7. 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.
Total Complaints
26 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| TIRES | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
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
WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.
WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.
WHEN I PUSH ON GAS IT DOESN'T EXCELLERATE. MAKE A GRINDING NOISE ON LOWER DRIVERS SIDE OF ENGINE. I SMELL SOMETHING BURNING.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
BRIDGESTONE DUELER 687 P235/60R16 TIRES PREMATURE WEAR, UNSAFE TO DRIVE, SUZUKI HAS 21,000 MILES, STEERING SHAKES, TIRE DEALER STATES IT MAY BE CAR ALIGNMENT WILL NOT REPLACE. TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AT STATED INTERVALS, HOWEVER, MAINTENANCE HAS FAILED TO HELP THE PREMATURE WEAR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE WEB AND CANNOT FIND ANY RECALL ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANY CARS FOR OVER 30 YEARS, AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A WEAR PROBLEM THIS BAD. I WOULD LIKE THE MANUFACTURER TO NOT ONLY REPLACE THE TIRES BUT LOOK INTO THIS MATTER BEFORE ANY LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS. ARE THEY HIDING SOMETHING?*AK
Mileage: 21,000
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE CABLE ACCELERATOR CASING CAP. DEALERSHIP STILL DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. NO DEALERSHIP IN PUERTO RICO HAD THE PARTS ON RECALL. *AK
I HAVE A 2002 XL7 WITH 11,000 MILES TIRES ALREADY HAVE NO TREAD, I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE. SOMETIMES WHEN I GIVE IT GAS IT DOESN'T RESPOND AND WILL JUST PLAIN GIVE OUT ON ME... I SUGGEST NO ONE BUY ONE PLEASE IT GIVES SUV'S A BAD NAME. IF ANYONE HAS INFO ON MY PROBLEMS PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK
Mileage: 2,000
I HAVE A 2002 XL7 WITH 11,000 MILES TIRES ALREADY HAVE NO TREAD, I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE. SOMETIMES WHEN I GIVE IT GAS IT DOESN'T RESPOND AND WILL JUST PLAIN GIVE OUT ON ME... I SUGGEST NO ONE BUY ONE PLEASE IT GIVES SUV'S A BAD NAME. IF ANYONE HAS INFO ON MY PROBLEMS PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK
Mileage: 2,000
I HAVE A 2002 XL7 WITH 11,000 MILES TIRES ALREADY HAVE NO TREAD, I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW MAKING AN AWFUL NOISE. SOMETIMES WHEN I GIVE IT GAS IT DOESN'T RESPOND AND WILL JUST PLAIN GIVE OUT ON ME... I SUGGEST NO ONE BUY ONE PLEASE IT GIVES SUV'S A BAD NAME. IF ANYONE HAS INFO ON MY PROBLEMS PLEASE CONTACT ME.*AK
Mileage: 2,000
TIRES WEARING OUT FAST WITH LOW MILEAGE ON THEM, BRIDGESTONE P235-60-16 DUELER H/T. BEEN COMPLAINING TO SUZUKI DEALER ABOUT TIRES AND STEERING ON THE CAR. IN ONE MONTH FROM LAST VISIT HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES BECAUSE OF CUPPING ON ALL FOUR TIRES. STEERING WAS SHIMMING AT 60 MILES PER HOUR BAD ANDALSO MAKING STEERING GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. DEALER WONT DO NOTHING. BUT SERVICE MANAGER AT TIRAPELLI SUZUKI STATED SUZUKI KNOWS OF A PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES BUT THE DEALER DOESNT WARRANT THE TIRES. ALL THEY SUGGESTED WAS REPLACE TIRES. IF YOU LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS FOR THE SUZUKI XR-7 YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS TIRE HAS BEEN REPLACED BEFORE BECAUSE OF BAD WEAR AND CUPPING. HAD TO PUT OUT 361.00 TODAY FOR THE TIRES AND NOW THE CAR SO FAR DRIVES OK. BUT ONLY HAS 28161 ON TIRES IN WEAR AND CAR ISNT 1 YEAR OLD.
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE IN FEB. 2002 FROM CORPORATE MOTORS DBA SUZUKI OF HAYWARD CA. THROUGH ADDISON AVENUE CREDIT UNION HELD AT HP CORPORATE IN PALO ALTO, CA. ON MAY 17TH 2002 MY NEW SUZUKI XL7-4WD BLEW A HEAD GASKET @ 4,057 MILES. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAN JOSE BOB LEWIS SUZUKI DEALER. WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CURTSEY LOANER AND DUE TO PARTS NOT IN STOCK IT TOOK THREE WEEKS BEFORE I RECEIVED MY XL7 BACK.ON MAY 15TH 2003, I TOOK IT IN FOR A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 17,956. ALL WENT WELL, BUT WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I GET ALL NEW TIRES SOON, TIRES WORN.ON JULY 2ND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE, AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE READING STATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE HEAD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.MONDAY JULY 7TH 2003, TOOK IT TO CORPORATE
Mileage: 4,057
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE IN FEB. 2002 FROM CORPORATE MOTORS DBA SUZUKI OF HAYWARD CA. THROUGH ADDISON AVENUE CREDIT UNION HELD AT HP CORPORATE IN PALO ALTO, CA. ON MAY 17TH 2002 MY NEW SUZUKI XL7-4WD BLEW A HEAD GASKET @ 4,057 MILES. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAN JOSE BOB LEWIS SUZUKI DEALER. WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CURTSEY LOANER AND DUE TO PARTS NOT IN STOCK IT TOOK THREE WEEKS BEFORE I RECEIVED MY XL7 BACK.ON MAY 15TH 2003, I TOOK IT IN FOR A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 17,956. ALL WENT WELL, BUT WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I GET ALL NEW TIRES SOON, TIRES WORN.ON JULY 2ND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE, AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE READING STATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE HEAD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.MONDAY JULY 7TH 2003, TOOK IT TO CORPORATE
Mileage: 4,057
I PURCHASED A VEHICLE IN FEB. 2002 FROM CORPORATE MOTORS DBA SUZUKI OF HAYWARD CA. THROUGH ADDISON AVENUE CREDIT UNION HELD AT HP CORPORATE IN PALO ALTO, CA. ON MAY 17TH 2002 MY NEW SUZUKI XL7-4WD BLEW A HEAD GASKET @ 4,057 MILES. IT WAS TOWED TO THE SAN JOSE BOB LEWIS SUZUKI DEALER. WOULD NOT PROVIDE A CURTSEY LOANER AND DUE TO PARTS NOT IN STOCK IT TOOK THREE WEEKS BEFORE I RECEIVED MY XL7 BACK.ON MAY 15TH 2003, I TOOK IT IN FOR A MAINTENANCE INSPECTION AT SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 17,956. ALL WENT WELL, BUT WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I GET ALL NEW TIRES SOON, TIRES WORN.ON JULY 2ND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK TO SUNNYVALE FOREIGN CAR SERVICE, AND THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE READING STATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE HEAD WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.MONDAY JULY 7TH 2003, TOOK IT TO CORPORATE
Mileage: 4,057
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.