Total Complaints
5 filings
SUZUKI SAMURAI · model year
1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI
5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986SUZUKISAMURAI carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 1986 SAMURAI is seat belts:rear/other with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front (1) and structure:frame and members (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.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1986 SAMURAI. 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.
5
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
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 |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20000711CrashSTEERING
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON FREEWAY 101 THERE WAS A VEHICLE IN FRONT THAT WAS IN THE WAY. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE MADE A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL OF SUDDEN VEHICLE ROLLED OVER, HITTING AN EMBANKMENT, THEN HIT A WALL, THEN VEHICLE STOOD UP. *AK *ML
19990314ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
I WANTED INFORMATION ON HOW EASILY THE SAMURAI TIPS OVER...
19970325STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
PART OF FRAME AROUND WINDSHIELD FELL OFF, LEAVING A HOLE AROUND WINDSHIELD, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER INTERIOR OF VEHICLE, DAMAGING WIRES TO RADIO AND ALSO FLOODED INTERIOR.
19950525CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
UPON IMPACT, BROADSIDE REAR DRIVER'S, 30MPH SPUN AROUND THEN ROLLED OVER. TT
19950504SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR SEAT BELTS FAIL TO HOLD PASSENGERS SECURELY, CAUSING CHILD SEATS/PASSENGERS TO BE THROWN FORWARD INTO BACK OF FRONT SEATS. *SKD
Compare 1986SUZUKISAMURAI to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI have?▼
The 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI has 5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI is SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT and STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS.
Is the 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI 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.