Total Complaints
5 filings
SUZUKI SIDEKICK · model year
1990 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990SUZUKISIDEKICK carries 5 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, 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 1990 SIDEKICK is seat belts:front:anchorage with 2 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder (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 1990 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.
5
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020607STRUCTURE:BODY
FIREWALL CRACKED AFTE CLUTCH WAS INSTALLED IN VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD BY MECHANIIC THAT THERE WAS A WEAK SPOT IN FIREWALL. COST TO HAVE IT REPAIRED WAS $1700.OO. CONSUMER THINKS THIS MAY OR SHOULD BE A RECALL.*AK
20010419SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
THE MASTER CYLINDER IS DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKES DRAG INTERMITENTLY, AND THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT THE "CHECK VALVE" INSIDE THE MASTER CYLINDER IS FAILING TO RELEASE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN THE CHECK VALVE FAILS TO RELEASE, THE BRAKES DRAG, AND IF I NEED TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY HARD TO PUSH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO TWO REBUILT MASTER CYLINDERS, AND ALSO TO A NEW REPLACEMENT MASTER CYLINDER FROM SUZUKI.*AK
19960705CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DURING IMPACT, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASED FROM THE BELT BUCKLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960125SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILURE. *AW
19950223SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS FAILED, ONE SHATTERING AND NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. TT
Compare 1990SUZUKISIDEKICK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 SUZUKI SIDEKICK have?▼
The 1990 SUZUKI SIDEKICK has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 SUZUKI SIDEKICK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 SUZUKI SIDEKICK is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER.
Is the 1990 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.