Total Complaints
15 filings
SUZUKI SIDEKICK · model year
1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
15 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989SUZUKISIDEKICK carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 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 1989 SIDEKICK is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 4 filings, followed by electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (3) and fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system (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 14 investigation files overlapping the 1989 SIDEKICK. 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.
15
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20090421ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND PAID $100 TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THERE IS A SWITCH IN THE CIRCUIT THAT HE CANNOT LOCATE, BUT NEEDS TO REMOVE IT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING AGAIN. THE SUZUKI DEALER WILL NOT REMOVE THE SWITCH BECAUSE IT IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED MALFUNCTION, ACCORDING TO THE PAPERWORK THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED. IF THE SWITCH IS NOT REMOVED, THE WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE AND PREVENT THE CONTACT FROM RECEIVING AN EMISSIONS STICKER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 5/5/09 *CN THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE OXYGEN SENSOR. UPDATED 05/06/09.*JB
Mileage: 50,000
20090421ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON TWO OCCASIONS, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND PAID $100 TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURNED OFF. THERE IS A SWITCH IN THE CIRCUIT THAT HE CANNOT LOCATE, BUT NEEDS TO REMOVE IT IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FROM ILLUMINATING AGAIN. THE SUZUKI DEALER WILL NOT REMOVE THE SWITCH BECAUSE IT IS A FEDERALLY MANDATED MALFUNCTION, ACCORDING TO THE PAPERWORK THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED. IF THE SWITCH IS NOT REMOVED, THE WARNING INDICATOR WILL ILLUMINATE AND PREVENT THE CONTACT FROM RECEIVING AN EMISSIONS STICKER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 5/5/09 *CN THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE OXYGEN SENSOR. UPDATED 05/06/09.*JB
Mileage: 50,000
19960710SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELT EXPLODED INTO BUNCH OF LITTLE PIECES, NOW INOPERATIVE, HAPPENED AS RELEASE BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. *AK
19960611ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST LEAK, CONSUMER REPORTED BURNED REAR PASSENGER SEAT AREA WHILE DRIVING, CAUSED BY LEAK FROM THE TAIL PIPE PE91-1260. *AK
19950713ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ALTERNATOR OVER POWERED THE SYSTEM, FRIED THE BATTERY *AK
19950713ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
THE ALTERNATOR OVER POWERED THE SYSTEM, FRIED THE BATTERY *AK
19950707FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTOR ELECTRICAL RELAY BURNED. *AK
19950707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TURN SIGNAL ELECTRICAL RELAY BURNED. *AK
19950707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BURNED. *AK
19950707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FAILURE. *AK
19950707ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VOLTAGE REGULATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN. *AK
19950707VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES
WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
19950522SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE, REPLACED, REPLACEMENT BROKE ALSO. TT
19950308SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL NOT LATCH WILL POP OUT WHILE DRIVING. TT
19950227SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT UNLOCK. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Compare 1989SUZUKISIDEKICK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK have?▼
The 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK has 15 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.
Is the 1989 SUZUKI SIDEKICK 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.