Total Complaints
8 filings
SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT · model year
1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT
8 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998SUZUKISIDEKICK SPORT carries 8 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 1998 SIDEKICK SPORT is tires:tread/belt with 1 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and power train:clutch assembly (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 1998 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.
8
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 | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20031205POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
THE BRACKET WHICH THE CLUTCH FOOT PEDAL AND THE ARM WHICH THE MAIN CLUTCH VALVE ACTUATOR IS DRIVEN BY HAS A METAL FATIGUE WHICH MAKES THE CLUTCH INOPERATIVE. COULD LEAD TO A ACCIDENT OR OTHER PROBLEMS.*JB
20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE SECURED. *SLC
20001120POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *SLC
20001120POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION, DRIVESHAFT CV JOINT FAILURE DUE TO POSSIBLE POOR DESIGN. *SLC
20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DRIVE BELT FAILED. *SLC
20001120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EXHAUST BOLTS VIBRATED LOOSE AND BROKE OFF. *SLC
20001120STEERING:LINKAGES:ARM:IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
IDLER PULLEY WAS REPLACED. *SLC
20000922TIRES:TREAD/BELT
ORIGINAL TIRES ON A 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT, P215/65R16 DOT AP2HJEUUO58. RIGHT REAR TIRE CAME APART, CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE EXHAUST. THEN, CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP THUMP NOISE LIKE TIRE WAS COMING APART.*AK THE TIRE CAME APART AT THE SEAMS WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE TREAD SEPARATION. *YH
Compare 1998SUZUKISIDEKICK SPORT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT have?▼
The 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT has 8 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT is TIRES:TREAD/BELT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1998 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.