SUZUKI XL-7 · model year

2006 SUZUKI XL-7

38 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2006SUZUKIXL-7 carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 0 fires, 11 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 2006 XL-7 is air bags with 8 filings, followed by steering (3) and electrical system (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 2 active recall campaigns, 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 2006 XL-7. 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.

38
Complaints
10
Crashes
0
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

38 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS8
STEERING3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
POWER TRAIN2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP2
SERVICE BRAKES2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
EQUIPMENT1
TIRES1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM1

Recalls (2)

10V25000009/06/2010

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR MODEL YEAR 2006 GRAND VITARA AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 XL-7 VEHICLES. THE TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY FOR THE DRIVE BELT THAT OPERATES THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR (IF EQUIPPED) HAS AN OUTER PORTION THAT IS MADE OF PLASTIC. REPEATED HEAT

05V45200005/10/2005

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Recent Complaints

20170925ENGINE

I HAD THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAD TO BE REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 200,000 MILES. THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 210,000 MILES AND STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN. THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED SO OFTEN AND I HAVE HEARD OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEB SITES AND FROM OTHER SOURCES.

Mileage: 210,000

20151019AIR BAGS

I WENT OUT TO START MY VEHICLE ONE MORNING. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION ON, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAME ON, AND AT THE SAME TIME THE PASSENGER AIRBAG NOTIFICATION LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. AFTER CALLING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO WORKS ON SUZUKIS HERE, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS M/M/Y OF VEHICLE, AND THAT THE REPAIR IS BETWEEN $1.5K-$2K. MY VEHICLE IS NOT OLD, ABUSED, NOR HAS IT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. WITH THE MILES AT APPROX 61,000... WHY IS THERE A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING MY AIRBAG SYSTEM? AFTER DIGGING AROUND ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS M/M/Y VEHICLE DOES, IN FACT, HAVE A LARGE COMPLAINT AGAINST IT REGARDING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. MOST SPECIFICALLY THE EXACT ISSUE I AM HAVING. IN LIGHT OF THE MASSIVE AIRBAG RECALL ISSUE, ONE WOULD ASSUME SAFETY IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE. I THINK THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

Mileage: 61,000

20150818STEERING

I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO MOTION AND NOW I HAVE TO CLICK THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO REVERSE OR STEER PROPERLY (SO THAT I'M NOT ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SETTING) BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BLINKS. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON.

Mileage: 109

20150818SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO MOTION AND NOW I HAVE TO CLICK THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO REVERSE OR STEER PROPERLY (SO THAT I'M NOT ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SETTING) BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BLINKS. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON.

Mileage: 109

20150818ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO MOTION AND NOW I HAVE TO CLICK THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO REVERSE OR STEER PROPERLY (SO THAT I'M NOT ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SETTING) BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BLINKS. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON.

Mileage: 109

20150616AIR BAGS

SUZUKI HAS NOT PROVIDED INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR VEHICLES FOR THE AIR BAG RECALL. AS A 71 YEAR OLD, WEIGHING ONLY 90 POUNDS, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IN MY CAR. SINCE SUZUKI PULLED THEIR AUTO UNIT OUT OF THE US A FEW YEARS AGO, THOSE OF US WHO PURCHASED A SUZUKI HAVE BEEN LEFT HANGING HIGH AND DRY.

20140820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAR SUDDENLY LOST SPEED BUT RPM'S KEPT GOING UP, COULD NOT GO OVER 40, WHEN PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK BUT ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP. *TR

20140820POWER TRAIN

WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAR SUDDENLY LOST SPEED BUT RPM'S KEPT GOING UP, COULD NOT GO OVER 40, WHEN PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK BUT ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP. *TR

20140820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ONE DAY WHEN I GO TO START MY CAR WHEN I TURN THE KEY, A STATIC NOISE COMES FROM WHERE THE KEY GOES. VEHICLE STARTED BUT WHILE DRIVING, WOULD LOOSE POWER AND ACT LIKE IT IS GOING TO CUT OFF. *TR

20140820SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN , BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AT ALL, HAD TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. MY YOUNG SON WAS IN THE CAR, THIS COULD HAVE ENDED BADLY. *TR

20140820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE FUSE THAT GOES TO THE FUEL INJECTORS KEEPS BLOWING, IT ONLY BLOWS HALF OF THE FUSE, EVERY FEW WEEKS, THE CAR WON'T START AND THE FUSE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

20140820FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUSE THAT GOES TO THE FUEL INJECTORS KEEPS BLOWING, IT ONLY BLOWS HALF OF THE FUSE, EVERY FEW WEEKS, THE CAR WON'T START AND THE FUSE HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

20140820AIR BAGS

FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN THE SEAT IS EMPTY AND THE SEAT BELT IS NOT BUCKLED. THE LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES AND BEEPS. *TR

20140711SUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING MY BACK AXLE CAME OFF. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MOVE MY VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY THE SPARKS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CAUGHT ON FIRE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE BODY SHOP AND NO ONE COULD GIVE ME A EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE AXLE CAME OFF. MY TRUCK IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED, THIS HAS COST ME UNFORESEEN EXPERIENCES FOR CAR RENTALS AND MISSING WORK TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 162,000

20140206CrashSTEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH TO LANES, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE THEN DRIFTED ABNORMALLY TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC WHAT CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

Mileage: 185,000

20131217AIR BAGS

THE VEHICLES AIRBAG DASH LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS NOT FUNCTIONING. THE CLOCK ALSO BEGAN FLASHING AND CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED. I WAS TOLD BY THE AIRBAG SPECIALIST THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THIS EXACT VEHICLE YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, BUT FOR SOME REASON MY VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNTIL FIXED. I WAS TOLD THE PART COSTS $1700 TO REPLACE OUT OF POCKET. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

20131017AIR BAGS

THE OCM SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THEREFORE MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED. IT HAS ALWAYS REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION. IT HAS NEVER BEEN SUBJECT TO EXCESS MOISTURE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VALID SAFETY ISSUE TO NEED A RECALL OF THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE IS A CRASH, THEN THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE PASSENGER WILL BE SUBJECT TO MORE SERIOUS INJURIES. MY PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, JUST ONE DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER SHUT OFF. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20131017SEATS

THE OCM SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS FAILED. THEREFORE MY PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2007. THE PASSENGER SEAT HAS RARELY BEEN USED. IT HAS ALWAYS REMAINED IN THE SAME POSITION. IT HAS NEVER BEEN SUBJECT TO EXCESS MOISTURE. THIS SEEMS LIKE A VALID SAFETY ISSUE TO NEED A RECALL OF THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THERE IS A CRASH, THEN THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE PASSENGER WILL BE SUBJECT TO MORE SERIOUS INJURIES. MY PASSENGER SEAT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED, JUST ONE DAY THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND NEVER SHUT OFF. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

20111206STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

2006 SUZUKI XL7. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE REGARDING POWER STEERING PUMP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECENTLY RECEIVED A SECOND RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON JANUARY 14, 2010 AND THE INFORMATION WAS SUBMITTED TO SUZUKI ALONG WITH THE FIRST RECALL NOTICE WHICH HE RECEIVED ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 20, 2010, WHICH WAS SEVEN MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY SUZUKI, THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW THE PART NUMBER. *JB

20110415AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE OCM SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,200.

Mileage: 60,200

Compare 2006SUZUKIXL-7 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2006 SUZUKI XL-7 have?
The 2006 SUZUKI XL-7 has 38 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 0 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2006 SUZUKI XL-7?
Yes, the 2006 SUZUKI XL-7 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 SUZUKI XL-7?
The most-complained component for the 2006 SUZUKI XL-7 is AIR BAGS with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2006 SUZUKI XL-7 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.