Total Complaints
32 filings
SUZUKI SIDEKICK · model year
1994 SUZUKI SIDEKICK
32 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994SUZUKISIDEKICK carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1994 SIDEKICK is suspension:front with 2 filings, followed by structure:frame and members (2) and power train:axle assembly (2). 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 1994 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.
32
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
3
Injuries
1
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 |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| TIRES | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020326STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER HEARD A CREAKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING, DURING INSPECTION OF VEHICLE THE DEALER NOTICED THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE HAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALL THE WELDS CAME APART. NLM
20020201FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
VEHICLE STARTED TO CATCH ON FIRE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, FIRE BEGAN ON THE LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK
20010523STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
PLASTIC PORTION OR THE REAR DOOR LATCH KEEPS MELTING WITHIN DAYS OF BEING INSTALLED. NO OBVIOUS REASON FOR FAILURE. DOOR WILL NOT STAY LATCHED. *AK
20010123FatalSTRUCTURE
THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BY OVERSTEERING, THE VEHICLE HAD VEERED OFF OF THE ROADWAY AND THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEHICLE SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, WHICH CAUSED IT TO ROLL OVER APPROXIMATELY 5 TIMES, 3 OUT OF FOUR OCCUPANTS HAD BEEN THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE 2 SEVERE INJURIES AND 1 DEATH BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, SEAT BELTS HAD NOT BEEN USED. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC
19991014SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DIFFERENTIAL PROPORTIONAL VALVE
WHILE DRIVIN GON HIGHWAY CAR LOST CONTROL. CAR WOULD NOT STEER OR BRAKE GOING ACROSS THE ROAD. THEN IT SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT BRAKE HOUSING DIFFERENTIAL CRACKED. *AK
19990730STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
MOUNT BOLT AT A/C COMPRESSOR ADJUSTMENT BROKE CAUSING THE SERPENTINE BELT TO LOOSE TENSION RESULTING IN POWER STEERING LOSS. NLM
19981106POWER TRAIN
WHEN DRIVING HEARD A HUMBLE NOISE, AND NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPED. CONSUMER CAN'T DETERMINE HOW FAST THEY ARE TRAVELING. NOW THE ENTIRE NEEDLE IS OFF THE SPEEDOMETER AND IS LYING ON THE DASHBOARD. *AK *ML
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
DEALER IS UNABLE TO CORRECT VEHICLE EMISSION PROBLEM; VEHICLE GIVES OFF FUEL VAPOR INTO VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. *AK
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
EGR VALVE STUCK AND SENSOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
EGR VALVE STUCK AND SENSOR FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THERMOSTAT FAILED, BELTS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
THERMOSTAT FAILED, BELTS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT.
19981014ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ECM UNIT FAILED.
19971219LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
SPRING IN REAR DOOR LATCH SEPERATED FROM OTHER PARTS CAUSING LATCH TO FAIL.
19970201ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, STARTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. TT
19961216SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
HAD BRAKING (ABS) PROBLEM 1 YR AGO, AT SERVICE CENTER MECHANIC SAID WRONG CALIPER PUT ON, NOW PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, TOOK IT TO MECHANIC IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, INFORMED CALIPER SEAL HAD BUSTED & HAD WRONG ROTORS ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
19961216SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
HAD BRAKING (ABS) PROBLEM 1 YR AGO, AT SERVICE CENTER MECHANIC SAID WRONG CALIPER PUT ON, NOW PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, TOOK IT TO MECHANIC IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT, INFORMED CALIPER SEAL HAD BUSTED & HAD WRONG ROTORS ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK
19960711TIRES
TIRES PROVIDE INSUFFICIENT TRACTION , RESULTING IN VEHICLE SKIDDING IN WET CONDITIONS. *DH
19960628TIRES
BRIDGESTONE TIRES FAIL TO STOP ON WET ROADS. *DH
19960601SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR END PROBLEMS. *SD
Compare 1994SUZUKISIDEKICK to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 SUZUKI SIDEKICK have?▼
The 1994 SUZUKI SIDEKICK has 32 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 SUZUKI SIDEKICK?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 SUZUKI SIDEKICK is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS and POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1994 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.