Total Complaints
4 filings
SUZUKI SWIFT · model year
1997 SUZUKI SWIFT
4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997SUZUKISWIFT carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 SWIFT is power train:manual transmission:floor shift assembly with 1 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission:shift pattern indicator (1) and power train (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 SWIFT. 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.
4
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010802CrashAIR BAGS
AFTER THE CRASH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED VERY SLIGHTLY, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL.
20000727CrashPOWER TRAIN
FROM PARK TO NEUTRAL CAR DOWN A HILL, ACROSS A YARD, ACROSS A STREET AND HIT A POLE. NO KEYS WERE IN THE VEHICLE, AUTOMATIC CAR, TOTALLED LOST
20000209POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR
RECALL # 98V225002. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *AK
19981117POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
RECALL 98V225002. THE SHIFT LEVER WILL MOVE FREELY WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKES OR THE BUTTON. DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, OTHER INCIDENTS OCCUR THAN WHAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK
Compare 1997SUZUKISWIFT to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 SUZUKI SWIFT have?▼
The 1997 SUZUKI SWIFT has 4 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 SUZUKI SWIFT?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 SUZUKI SWIFT is POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 1997 SUZUKI SWIFT 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.