SUZUKI RENO · model year

2008 SUZUKI RENO

37 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008SUZUKIRENO carries 37 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 2008 RENO is power train with 12 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (6) and engine (5). 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 2008 RENO. 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.

37
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

37 filings

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

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL6
ENGINE5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
AIR BAGS3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SEAT BELTS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
STEERING1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1

Recalls (1)

14V26200019/05/2014

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module whi

Recent Complaints

20171127UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RANGE SENSOR ON MY 2008 SUZUKI RENO. I REPLACED IT LAST YEAR WITH A NEW ONE AND FAILED JULY 2016. I REPLACED IT WITH A NEW ONE. NOW ITS LATE NOVEMBER AND AGAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE RANGE SENSOR AGAIN!!!!!!!!! AFTER RELACING IT WITH A NEW ONE IN JULY 2017 THAT'S 4 MONTHS AFTER AND I NEED TO REPLACE AGAIN??? WHAT IS GOING ON HERE LOOKED THIS UP AND THERE ARE ALOT OF ISSUES WITH RANGE SENSOR ON THE RENO'S. I'M UNEMPLOYED AND NOT GETTING ANY BENEFITS CAN'T BE RELPACING THIS PART OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!!! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS!!!!!!!!!! THIS HAPPENS WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON AS I GO INTO DRIVE MODE I FEEL A JOLT/TUG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I COULD BE DRIVING THEN I FEEL A TUG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT UP. ALSO WHEN I TRY TO SPEED UP IT FEELS SLUGGISH IT DOES NOT PICK UP LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. JUST YESTERDAY I WAS BRAKING AS I CAME OFF THE EXPRESSWAY AND I FELT THAT TUG AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS UP AND MY STOPPED!!!! WTH IF I HAD A CAR IN BACK OF ME THE

Mileage: 24,500

20170417ENGINE

A COUPLE DAYS AGO THE TIMING BELT BROKE ON MY GM-DAEWOO 2008 SUZUKI RENO. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS JUST UNDER 130,000 THOUSAND AND HAS BEEN VARY WELL MAINTAINED. THE BELT HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE WITH A GATES TIMING BELT AT ABOUT 100,000 I BELIEVE. THEREFORE MEANING THE BELT BROKE WITH JUST UNDER 30,000 THOUSAND MILES ON IT, WHICH IS WAY BEFORE THE MANUFACTURE OEM CHANGE INTERVAL IN THE SERVICE GUIDE. I UNDERSTAND THE ENGINE IS A GM FAMILY 2 SERIES ENGINE 2.0 D-TEC 4CYLNDER DOHC I THINK THE ENGINE CODENAME IN THESE ENGINES IS A U20SED/ L34. AS FOR THE BELT, IT JUST SNAPPED BESIDES FOR WHERE IT HAD SNAPPED AND BROKE ITS IN GOOD SHAPE, NO RIPS, TEARS ETC.. JUST WONDERING IF GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, I NOT TRYING TO COMPLAIN BUT HONESTLY I FEEL THAT SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG HAD HAPPENED TO MY CAR AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT ABOUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE FORUM PAGES ONLINE, YOUTUBE VIDEOS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT. I HAD GONE THROUGH ALL THE RECALLS AND SERVI

Mileage: 129,905

20160708AIR BAGS

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO FIND OUT WHY THE AIRBAG LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ON BY THE CLOCK AND ON MY DASH. COME TO FIND OUT THE PART THAT I NEED TO FIX IT IS HARD TO FIND AND THAT THE PART IS ALSO BAD. IN ORDER TO FIX MY PROBLEM IT WILL COST ME $2500 TO FIX IT. SO I THINK I WILL WAIT TILL IT GETS RECALLED ALONG WITH THE AIRBAGS. SO NOW NO ONE CAN SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT!!

20160320POWER TRAIN

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AS WELL AS THE TRANSISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THE TRANS AXLE CONTROL MODULE. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ARMS ON THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE THEY HAD CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE MULTIPLE TIMES AND IM SO SICK OF NO ONE TRYING TO FIX WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT. I KNOW THAT THEY DONT MAKE THIS MODEL ANYMORE BUT THIS CARE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND NOT EVERYONE CAN BUY A NEW CAR AT THIS TIME SO WE ARE LEFT TO FIX THE MISTAKES OF THE MAKER.

Mileage: 79,000

20160320VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AS WELL AS THE TRANSISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THE TRANS AXLE CONTROL MODULE. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ARMS ON THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE THEY HAD CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE MULTIPLE TIMES AND IM SO SICK OF NO ONE TRYING TO FIX WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT. I KNOW THAT THEY DONT MAKE THIS MODEL ANYMORE BUT THIS CARE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND NOT EVERYONE CAN BUY A NEW CAR AT THIS TIME SO WE ARE LEFT TO FIX THE MISTAKES OF THE MAKER.

Mileage: 79,000

20160320VISIBILITY/WIPER

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AS WELL AS THE TRANSISSION RANGE SENSOR AND THE TRANS AXLE CONTROL MODULE. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE ARMS ON THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAUSE THEY HAD CAME OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME MY LIFE MULTIPLE TIMES AND IM SO SICK OF NO ONE TRYING TO FIX WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT. I KNOW THAT THEY DONT MAKE THIS MODEL ANYMORE BUT THIS CARE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE AND NOT EVERYONE CAN BUY A NEW CAR AT THIS TIME SO WE ARE LEFT TO FIX THE MISTAKES OF THE MAKER.

Mileage: 79,000

20151114POWER TRAIN

THIS REALLY SHOULD BE ENFORCED AS A RECALL. OBD2 CODES ARE P0705 AND P0705P (TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR FAILURES). WHEN SHIFTING TO D OR R, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, YOU HEAR A LOUD VOICE AND THE CAR SHAKES, IT'S SCARY. THE FAILURE STARTS SOON AFTER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRATION DATE. I REALIZED THIS HAPPENS TO A LOT OF OWNERS OF SUZUKI CARS, SHARING THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCES. IT'S A SHAME SUZUKI CHARGES $500 TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS TO VIRTUALLY EVERYONE. ON THE INTERNET EVERYONE COMPLAINS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS ONLY 20,550 MILES. IT REALLY SHOULD BE MANDATED AS A RECALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Mileage: 20,550

20141019ENGINE

TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SWITCHING GEARS, ODOMETER SCRAMBLES WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, ODOMETER READS AS BEING IN REVERSE WHEN IT'S IN PARK, AND WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS IT SWITCHES HARD AND STRUGGLES TO ACCELERATE. *TR

20141019POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION HAS TROUBLE SWITCHING GEARS, ODOMETER SCRAMBLES WHEN SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, ODOMETER READS AS BEING IN REVERSE WHEN IT'S IN PARK, AND WHEN IT SWITCHES GEARS IT SWITCHES HARD AND STRUGGLES TO ACCELERATE. *TR

20140904EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI RENO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE HEAD LIGHTS SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND STOPPED OPERATING. THE CONTACT INDICATED WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ONLY THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WOULD OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

Mileage: 104,000

20140819FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR SUZUKI RENO 2008 WAS PARKING AT MY DRIVEWAY AND IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DRIVER STEERING COLUMN. THE DAY AFTER I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO SUZUKI MOTORS CORP AND THREE DAYS AFTER I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL A SAFETY RECALL "XA". I TOOK MY VE *TRHICLE TO A SUZUKI DEALER IN MIAMI BUT I WAS TOLD BY SUZUKI THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTING FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

20140623ENGINE

CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE WHEN SWITCHING INTO GEAR AS WELL AS REVERSE AND DRIVING IS VERY SLOW AND RESTRAINED. THE PROBLEM IS SO OFTEN ON FORUMS, IT IS STRANGE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING FAULT/CHEAP PART. AUTO SCANNER SAID PART IS THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20140623VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE WHEN SWITCHING INTO GEAR AS WELL AS REVERSE AND DRIVING IS VERY SLOW AND RESTRAINED. THE PROBLEM IS SO OFTEN ON FORUMS, IT IS STRANGE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING FAULT/CHEAP PART. AUTO SCANNER SAID PART IS THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20140623ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE WHEN SWITCHING INTO GEAR AS WELL AS REVERSE AND DRIVING IS VERY SLOW AND RESTRAINED. THE PROBLEM IS SO OFTEN ON FORUMS, IT IS STRANGE THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURING FAULT/CHEAP PART. AUTO SCANNER SAID PART IS THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20140516POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE LURCHED AND HOPPED OUT OF GEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, HE STATED THE CODE INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS HAVING AN ISSUE, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FIX LASTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THE SENSOR AGAIN WENT BAD, I JUST HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE ALL OF THE ISSUES, I HAVE TO DRIVE IN 3 TO KEEP THE CAR SHIFTING AND KEEP IT FROM RANDOMLY HOPPING OUT OF GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS! I HAVE PULLED OUT ONTO HIGHWAYS AND HAD THE CAR JUMP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO MANEUVER TO A SAFE SPOT, NEARLY GETTING HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE! IF YOU VISIT ANY SUZUKI OR REPAIR FORUM YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS POSTS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MECHANICAL ONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20140516ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE LURCHED AND HOPPED OUT OF GEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, HE STATED THE CODE INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS HAVING AN ISSUE, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FIX LASTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THE SENSOR AGAIN WENT BAD, I JUST HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE ALL OF THE ISSUES, I HAVE TO DRIVE IN 3 TO KEEP THE CAR SHIFTING AND KEEP IT FROM RANDOMLY HOPPING OUT OF GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS! I HAVE PULLED OUT ONTO HIGHWAYS AND HAD THE CAR JUMP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO MANEUVER TO A SAFE SPOT, NEARLY GETTING HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE! IF YOU VISIT ANY SUZUKI OR REPAIR FORUM YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS POSTS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MECHANICAL ONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20140516VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE LURCHED AND HOPPED OUT OF GEAR. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, HE STATED THE CODE INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR WAS HAVING AN ISSUE, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPLACED AT A LATER DATE. THE FIX LASTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AND THE SENSOR AGAIN WENT BAD, I JUST HAD IT REPLACED AGAIN BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE ALL OF THE ISSUES, I HAVE TO DRIVE IN 3 TO KEEP THE CAR SHIFTING AND KEEP IT FROM RANDOMLY HOPPING OUT OF GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS! I HAVE PULLED OUT ONTO HIGHWAYS AND HAD THE CAR JUMP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO MANEUVER TO A SAFE SPOT, NEARLY GETTING HIT NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE! IF YOU VISIT ANY SUZUKI OR REPAIR FORUM YOU WILL SEE NUMEROUS POSTS ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL AS A MECHANICAL ONE. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20131024ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 SUZUKI RENO ON THE ROAD ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN DESPITE ME TRYING TO GIVE IT GAS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF FOR A MOMENT. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE, MY CAR JOLTED AND AN X APPEARED OVER THE D WHERE THE GEARS ARE LOCATED. FRIGHTENED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IS GOING TO COST ME $200 TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT. I HIGHLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVER OR DO A RECALL ON IT.I GIVE THANKS TO GOD I WASN'T INJURED OR I INJURE SOME ONE ELSE PLEASE TAKE ME TO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. *TR

Mileage: 88

20131024VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 SUZUKI RENO ON THE ROAD ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN DESPITE ME TRYING TO GIVE IT GAS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF FOR A MOMENT. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE, MY CAR JOLTED AND AN X APPEARED OVER THE D WHERE THE GEARS ARE LOCATED. FRIGHTENED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IS GOING TO COST ME $200 TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT. I HIGHLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVER OR DO A RECALL ON IT.I GIVE THANKS TO GOD I WASN'T INJURED OR I INJURE SOME ONE ELSE PLEASE TAKE ME TO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. *TR

Mileage: 88

20131024STEERING

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 SUZUKI RENO ON THE ROAD ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN DESPITE ME TRYING TO GIVE IT GAS, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF FOR A MOMENT. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE, MY CAR JOLTED AND AN X APPEARED OVER THE D WHERE THE GEARS ARE LOCATED. FRIGHTENED, I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN. THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR IS GOING TO COST ME $200 TO REPLACE IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WONT COVER IT. I HIGHLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE COVER OR DO A RECALL ON IT.I GIVE THANKS TO GOD I WASN'T INJURED OR I INJURE SOME ONE ELSE PLEASE TAKE ME TO CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. *TR

Mileage: 88

Compare 2008SUZUKIRENO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 SUZUKI RENO have?
The 2008 SUZUKI RENO has 37 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 SUZUKI RENO?
Yes, the 2008 SUZUKI RENO has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 SUZUKI RENO?
The most-complained component for the 2008 SUZUKI RENO is POWER TRAIN with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and ENGINE.
Is the 2008 SUZUKI RENO 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.