Total Complaints
42 filings
SUZUKI VITARA · model year
42 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000SUZUKIVITARA carries 42 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 2000 VITARA is suspension:front with 4 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (4) and air bags:frontal (3). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2000 VITARA. 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.
Total Complaints
42 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM | 2 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
MY SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FAIL WHILE HITTING THE BRAKES ON AN OFFRAMP ON MY 2000 SUZUKI VITARA. MY WHOLE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THE PASSENGER NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL AND AFTER I INSPECTED IT, I FOUND THAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS MOUNTED TO THE CROSSMEMBER, IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PART FOR THE 2000 CHEVY TRACKER WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME VEHICLE. COULD NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE VITARA HOWEVER. I THINK THIS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS COMPONENT IS REPLACED AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE ALSO GOTTEN HURT. *TR
Mileage: 108,519
MY SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER FAIL WHILE HITTING THE BRAKES ON AN OFFRAMP ON MY 2000 SUZUKI VITARA. MY WHOLE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THE PASSENGER NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SHAKING OUT OF CONTROL AND AFTER I INSPECTED IT, I FOUND THAT WHERE THE CONTROL ARM IS MOUNTED TO THE CROSSMEMBER, IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PART FOR THE 2000 CHEVY TRACKER WHICH IS BASICALLY THE SAME VEHICLE. COULD NOT FIND A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR THE VITARA HOWEVER. I THINK THIS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL THIS COMPONENT IS REPLACED AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE ALSO GOTTEN HURT. *TR
Mileage: 108,519
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 3/18/08 AND AS I LEFT THE GAS STATION I HEARD THIS POP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR CUT OFF. LATER AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIMING CHAIN BELT POPPED. I WAS ALSO NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE WITH THE VEHICLE AND SUZUKI KNEW OF THIS, BUT HAD NO RECALL TO FIX OR CHANGE IT. I HAD NO IDEA OF THIS AND WAS TOLD WHEN BUYING THAT HAVING A CHAIN RATHER THAN A BELT WAS MUCH BETTER FOR YOUR CAR. NOT UNLESS IT POPS AND REPAIRS OF $2000 ARE NEEDED. I AM APPALLED THAT SUZUKI WOULD KNOW OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND IN NO WAY OF FIXING IT. I AM HOPING THAT SUZUKI COVERS THE COST OF THIS REPAIR AND REALIZES THAT THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MOST OF THE CHARGE IS LABOR, BECAUSE IT WILL BE 11-13 HOURS TO GET TO THE CHAIN. I AM HOPING TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE LOOK AT THIS AND REALIZES THAT IF SOMEONE INVEST IN YOUR PRODUCT THAT MEANS THAT WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO NEVER BREAKDOWN, BUT IF IT DOES AND IT SOMETHING YOU KN
Mileage: 130,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND LOSE STEERING ABILITY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME ROTTED AT THE POINT WHERE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ATTACHED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE CROSS MEMBER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CROSS MEMBER AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,300.
Mileage: 29,000
AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY DESPITE FRONTAL IMPACT AT ROUGHLY 550 MPH. *JB
Mileage: 52,000
SUZUKI IS AWARE OF LATENT DEFECTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN COVER SEALS THAT LEAK OIL AND WILL WORSEN OVER TIME. IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT THE LEAKS OCCUR WITH SUZUKI GRAND VITARAS FROM 1999-2001. MY GRAND VITARA IS ONE OF THOSE CARS WITH THE LATENT DEFECT. I TOOK IT TO A AUTHORIZED SUZUKI MECHANIC AS REQUIRED, BUT THEY NEVER INFORMED ME THAT SUZUKI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ON MY PART DID SUZUKI CORPORATION ACKNOWLEDGE THEY KNEW OF THE LATENT DEFECT. I AM ASKING SUZUKI IN ALL FAIRNESS TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR BASED ON THIS DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE. *NM
Mileage: 53,500
MOTOR BLEW AT 94000 MILES RINGS WORE OUT AND POURED OIL. *JB
Mileage: 94,545
1. VEHICLE TRANSMISSION PUT INTO PARK POSITION. KEY WITHDRAWN. KEY TRANSMISSION INTERLOCK FAULTY 2. PARK POSITION DID NOT HOLD AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND PROPERTY. 3. AUTOMOBILE BEING REPAIRED, TRANSMISSION IGNITION KEY INTERFACE BEING INVESTIGATED. *NM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY WIFE BROUGHT IT IN TO ROYAL SUZUKI TUCSON,, ARIZONA REPEATEDLY WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER KEPT TELLING HER IT WAS HER FAULT FOR NOT CLOSING GAS CAP TIGHTLY ENOUGH. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AT A CHARGE OF $50 , EXTENDED WARRANTY DEDUCTIBLE, EACH TIME. I EVEN BOUGHT A NEW GAS CAP, NO CHANGE. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEY TELL US IT THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE TANK NEEDS REPLACING. THERE ARE NO AFTER MARKET PARTS FOR THIS, AND I REFUSE TO PAY THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE PART THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THEREFORE, MY WIFE , LISA SCHRANT, IS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. THIS MAY HIDE ANY NEW PROBLEMS WHICH MAY OCCUR.*AK
AFTER PURCHASE WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR, IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED UP AND MOTOR WENT OUT ON THE POWER WINDOWS. NEXT PROBLEM WAS A MAJOR OIL LEAK. SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THEN THAT I WOULD HAVE MORE PROBLEMS DOWN THE ROAD. REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000 MILES. WAS TOLD THAT FRONT AND REAR OIL SEALS WERE REPLACED. NOW AT 77,000 MILES AM BEING TOLD THAT MOTOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. OIL CHANGES WERE MAINTAINED REGULARLY. TIMING CHAINS IN MOTOR HAVE BROKE. STILL OWE ON VEHICLE AND WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AT 72,000 MILES. HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I ASKED DEALERSHIP WHY THE OIL SEALS WOULD GO OUT, THEY COULD NOT ANSWER THAT QUESTION. HAVE HAD OTHER VEHICLES WITH WAY OVER 100,000 MILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE OIL SEALS. *NM
Mileage: 35
OWNER OF A 2000 SUZUKI VITARA 2.0L AND CAR IS NOT EVER 4 YEARS OLD YET BUT HAS 74,000 MILES AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER ALREADY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED! NOW THE CAR IS NOT GOING TO PASS SMOG THE FIRST YEAR IT IS REQUIRED TO PASS SMOG FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES! WHAT KIND OF BULL IS THAT! JUST A WAY FOR CA. EMISSIONS TO GET MORE MONEY! *NM
THE BRAKES ON MY 2000 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA HAVE BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 4 YEARS. THEY WERE REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2003 3 TIMES WITHIN 2 MONTHS BECAUSE THEY SQUEAK AND MAKE GRINDING NOISES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY SERVICE PEOPLE THAT THEY CONTACTED SUZUKI DIRECTLY AND WERE TOLD TO PUT ON SPECIAL NO SQUEAK BRAKES SO THEY DID---THEY STILL SQUEAK AND SOMETIMES GRIND. I HAVE HAD THE SERVICE PEOPLE CHECK THEM SEVERAL TIMES AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN WE REPLACED THE FIRST SET OF BRAKES--THE BRAKES WERE WORN REALLY STRANGE. ONE PAD WAS COMPLETELY GONE ON THE BOTTOM HALF AND REALLY THICK ON THE TOP HALF. I THOUGHT I KEPT THEM BUT AM NOT SURE. THEY HAVE NOT FAILED ME BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT THEY WON'T SOMETIME IF I HAVE TO PUT THEM ON QUICKLY. I HAVE HEARD OTHER GRAND VITARA'S WITH THE SAME PROBLEM--HAVE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF OWNERS AND THEY ARE JUST AS FRUSTRATED AS I AM. I ALSO HAD THE SAME IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEM AS ANOTHER PERSON HERE. I HAD TO HAVE MY SW
WHILE DRIVING 30-40 MPH CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE, AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN INTO A 15 FEET EMBANKMENT. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
REAR MAIN SEAL IN THE V-6 ENGINE FAILED AND SPRAYED OIL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. SMELLED LIKE IT COULD CATCH FIRE WITH THE OIL OPEN THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *LA
Mileage: 62,000
MY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE A 200 SUZUKI VITARA, AND WITHIN THE FIRST MONTHS I NOTICED IT WASN'T SHIFTING JUST RIGHT. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL. RIGHT AWAY ALSO I NOTICED IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND WHEN I TOOK IT IN THE DEALERSHIP GAVE THE SAME ANSWER. FINALLY AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE FORCED TO TO REALLY DEAL WITH THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR IN THAT NEXT DAY. ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP MY VEHICLE STALLED. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND THE NEXT DAY WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD BLOWN DUE TO THE PROBLEMS THEY WERE NEGLECTING. THE ENDED UP CHANGING THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS WITHOUT MY VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH. WHEN I INTIALLY TOOK MY VEHICHLE IN I POINTED OUT A CRACK IN THE WINDSHEILD AND TOLD THEM THAT I HAD TAKEN MY VECHILE TO SEVERAL WINDOW REPAIR SHOPS. THE REPAIR SHOPS TOLD ME IT WOULD BE P
DEFECTS AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DAMAGE BEHIND FAN ASSEMBLY. FAILURE OF CONDENSER IN LOCATION CONSISTENT WITH OTHER FAILURES BY OTHER OWNERS. PULL TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING EVEN AFTER ALIGHNMENT, SIMILAR TO OTHER OWNER COMPLAINTS. VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING AND PREMATURE WEAR, SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER OWNERS. ITEMS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.*AK
Mileage: 1
DEFECTS AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DAMAGE BEHIND FAN ASSEMBLY. FAILURE OF CONDENSER IN LOCATION CONSISTENT WITH OTHER FAILURES BY OTHER OWNERS. PULL TO RIGHT WHILE DRIVING EVEN AFTER ALIGHNMENT, SIMILAR TO OTHER OWNER COMPLAINTS. VIBRATION WHILE BRAKING AND PREMATURE WEAR, SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER OWNERS. ITEMS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED.*AK
Mileage: 1
CONDENSER FINS BEHIND ELECTRIC FAN ARE BENT/SMASHED; FAN BLADES APPEAR NOT TO HAVE CONTACTED FIN AREA; NO FRONT END DAMAGE; FINS OUTSIDE FAN AREA APPEAR IN NEW CONDITION; ONE OTHER VEHICLE AT DEALER CHECKED AND HAS SIMILAR DAMAGE; APPEARS TO BE DESIGN PROBLEM
THE LOWER CONNECTOR ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL OFF. AUTO BODY SHOP AND INSURANCE COMPANY BOTH FEEL THAT IT WAS INSTALLED WRONG WHICH IS WHY IN SNAPPED. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND SUZUKI WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY CLAMING THAT IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL ERROR. I HAVE THE OTHER HALF OF THE PIECE THAT SNAPPED OFF AND YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT IT IS A DEFECTED PART.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW WILL VIBRATE HARD, AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
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.