Total Complaints
5 filings
SUZUKI SAMURAI · model year
1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI
5 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
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.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1986 SAMURAI is seat belts:rear/other with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front (1) and structure:frame and members (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1986 SAMURAI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
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 vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1986 SUZUKI SAMURAI; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.