Total Complaints
6 filings
SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT · model year
1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997SUZUKISIDEKICK SPORT carries 6 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 1997 SIDEKICK SPORT is tires:tread/belt with 2 filings, followed by power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive) (1) and suspension (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 1997 SIDEKICK SPORT. 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.
6
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 |
|---|---|
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030813ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF ALL POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS; THE FAILED COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. *AK
20021015POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
CONSUMER STATED THE RING AND PINION GEARS FAILED. NLM
20020328SUSPENSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT: MARKET PLACE SUZUKI, HENERETTA, NY 585-359-4900. NLM
20010816TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRES SEPARATED WITH COMPLETE STEEL TREAD AND TIRES CHUNKS MISSING, THIS OCCURRED AT 60MPH. I STILL HAVE TIRES ON CAR.*AK (TIRESIZE: 275 60R16H)
20010813TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRES SEPARATED WITH COMPLETE STEEL TREAD AND TIRES CHUNKS MISSING, THIS OCCURRED AT 60MPH. I STILL HAVE TIRES ON CAR.*AK
20010502POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT WOULD NOT ENGAGE OR WORK ON OCCASIONS, THE TRANSFER CASE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *MJS
Compare 1997SUZUKISIDEKICK SPORT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT have?▼
The 1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) and SUSPENSION.
Is the 1997 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT 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.