1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK

2 recalls, 81 complaints - 5 TSBs

SUSPENSION

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH OF THE MOUNTING BASE ON THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE MOUNTING BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE UPPER END OF THE FRONT STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE BODY.

Consequence

IF THE STRUT BROKE LOOSE, A DRIVER COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD A REINFORCEMENT, FOR BOTH FRONT STRUTS, BETWEEN THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASE AND THE VEHICLE BODY. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING BASES, MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS, AND STRUT BAR STAYS WILL BE REPLACED.

13,461 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Defect Description

THE FUEL TANK ON THESE VEHICLES CAN BECOME PUNCTURED BY A FUEL TANK FLANGE ATTACHMENT REINFORCEMENT DURING REAR-END COLLISIONS. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL TANK INTEGRITY."

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTING FROM THIS PUNCTURE COULD RESULT IN A POST-CRASH FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO NEW SHIELD GUSSETS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND ATTACHMENT BRACKETS TO PREVENT THE REINFORCEMENT FROM PUNCTURING THE FUEL TANK WALL.

4,325 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.

Complaint Statistics

81 total complaints 3 crashes 3 fires 2 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SUSPENSION	7
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY	5
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT	4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP	4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS	4
SUSPENSION:FRONT	4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL	4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	3
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)	3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN	3

Incident date: Dec 20, 2007

CLUTCH PEDAL SEPARATES FROM PIVOT SHAFT. WELD BRAKES, PEDAL DETACHES, VEHICLE DISABLED. THIRD OCCURRENCE. OEM PEDAL REPLACEMENT REVEALS NO-WARRANTY, COMMON OCCURRENCE FAILURE MODE. PEDAL RE-ATTACHED TO SHAFT BY PROFESSIONAL WELDERS ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCURRENCES. HAVE REPLACED CLUTCH CABLE, CLUTCH PLAT... Read more

Incident date: Dec 20, 2007

Incident date: Feb 8, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK SPORT ON AN ICY AFTERNOON HE PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH AND HIT THE UTILITY POLE, AND BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG POPPED AND BURST INTO FLAMES IN THE CENTER OF THE BAG. A NEIGHBOR SAW WHAT HAPPENED ... Read more

Crash Fire 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 16, 2004

CONSUMER STATES THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. SHE STATES THAT SHE GOT INTO HER VEHICLE AND INSERTED THE KEY. SHE SAID THAT WHEN SHE TURNED THE KEY, IT SOUNDED AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. SHE STATES SHE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, WAITED AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON AGAIN, THEN SHE SMELLED AND SA... Read more

Fire

Incident date: May 7, 2003

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS NHTSA RECALL 96-V-121-002 RELATED TO THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM

Incident date: Oct 10, 2002

CONSUMER STATES, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ALWAYS INDICATED HOT, DUE TO THE RADIATOR CAP WHICH IS DEFECTED, HAS BEEN CHANGE THREE TIMES. AND REOCURRING THE PROBLEM.. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Incident date: Aug 23, 2002

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ALMOST FROM THE DAY I PURSCHASED IT FROM LARGO HONDA IN KEY LARGO FLORIDA; DEC. OF 1999. ALTHOUGH I PURSCHASED AN EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT FOR $8,000, I WAS NEVER ABLE TO GET SATIFACTION FROM THE DEALER, THE SELLER, OR MY WARRENTY CO. ALWAYS AT MY EXPENCE , TOWING... Read more

Incident date: Aug 23, 2002

Incident date: Mar 12, 2002

RIGHT FRONT DROPPED WHILE PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT FRONT STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION LAST YEAR IN 2001,TO DATETHE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SUPPLY THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENT FOR THE VEHICLE. NLV CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED SECOND NOTICE FOR SAFETY RECALL. *MR

Incident date: Mar 12, 2002

RECALL 00 V 008000 /FRONT STRUTS: C AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER: (KNOXVILLE, FORD LINCOLN, SUZUKI; KNOXVILLE, TN; PHONE# 865/688-4600, HE STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE STRUTS, AND ONLY MAKE REPAIRS IF IT NEEDED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Incident date: Jun 16, 2001

CLUTCH WELL ARM BROKE WHILE DRIVING. WAS UNABLE TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

Incident date: May 1, 2001

IT SEEMS THESE TROUBLES ARE UNUSUAL FOR ANY CAR OWNER AND VERY COSTLY!! THE SPEEDOMETER WAS RELACED BY MY HUSBAND WITH A PART BOUGHT ONLINE FOR $50 IN ONE DAY, WHERE THE DEALER WOULD HAVE HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND CHARGED US $350. HOWEVER, THE CLUTCH IS A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM. THE DEALER QUOTED THE PA... Read more

Incident date: May 1, 2001

Incident date: Mar 30, 2001

CROSS MEMBER OF VEHICLE IS HELD IN PLACE BY ONE BOLT, BOLT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WAS SHAKING BADLY. HARD TO CONTROL, ALMOST LOST DRIVESHAFT.*AK

Incident date: Jan 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT AND EXPERIENCES CONTINUED VIBRATION, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, FRAME ADJUSTED, NEW TIRES PUT ON AND BALANCED, FRONT END ALIGNED, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE TIRES OR THE FRONT END SUSPENSION. CJ

Incident date: Jan 1, 1998

SINGLE CAR ROLL-OVER. WIND GUST WAS THOUGHT TO BLOW CAR TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. DRIVER OVER CORRECTED TRAVELING TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AND THEN ROLLED 6-8 TIMES. DID THIS CARS ROLLOVER TENDENCY CONTRIBUTE TO THE ROLLOVER AND RELATED PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY? *AK

MOUNTING BOLTS BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (00V008) DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH. NLM

Incident date: Apr 14, 2000

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V008000 IN MAIL & CONTACTED DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR THE FRONT STRUTS. *AK

Incident date: Mar 20, 1999

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL CONCERNING LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE. AND HAS BEEN IN FOR REPAIRS ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL (00V008) LETTER FOR THE FRONT STRUT MOUNTING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE RECALLED COMPONENT, IT TOOK ONE MONTH FOR THE DEALER TO RECEIVE THE PART TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. *YH

Incident date: Apr 3, 2000

RECALL 00V008000; MANUFACTURER DIDN'T HAVE PARTS TO SEND TO DEALER. THEY WERE ON BACK ORDER. *AK

THERE IS ONLY 1 DEALER IN ENTIRE STATE, AND DOES NOT MAKE APPOINTMENTS FOR RECALL REPAIRS. ALSO, NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA RECALL 00V008000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL W2/FRONT STRUTS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

Incident date: Mar 7, 2000

RECALL200V008000/MCPHERSON STRUTS. PARTS THAT ARE NEEDED TO PERFORM THE RECALL ARE NOT AVAILBALE.*AK

Incident date: Mar 14, 2000

CONSUMER CALLED DEALER TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT FOR RECALL 00V008000/ FRONT STRUTS REPAIRS. PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. CONSUMER IS UPSET BECAUSE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHEN PART WILL BE IN. MANUFACTURER ALSO CONTACTED BUT OF NO HELP. PROBLEM STILL REMAINS UNREPAIRED. *AK *ML

Incident date: Dec 3, 1999

THE FUSE CONTROLLING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND ANOTHER FUSE CONROLLING DOME LIHT BLEW OUT. YH

Incident date: Dec 10, 1999

FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE STRAPS OF WIRES ABOVE THE GAS TANK TO MELT,SHUTING OFF THE VEHICLE. YH

Incident date: Jan 20, 2000

BECAME VERY HARD TO CHANGE GEERS,COULD NOT SHIFT IN INTERSECTIONS, TOOK TWO HANDS CAUSING SHOLDER PAIN! THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY REPLACE PARTS-CLUTCH ROD,PEDAL ROD&CLUTCH LINKAGE PIECES. THOUGH THEY ADMIT THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM/DEFECT IN CLUTCH POWER TRAI... Read more

Incident date: Aug 1, 1999

AXLE SEAL FAILED, CAUSED BRAKE SHOES TO ROTATE AND LOCK RR WHEEL. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1999

AXLE SEAL FAILED, CAUSED BRAKE SHOES TO ROTATE AND LOCK RR WHEEL. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1999

AXLE SEAL FAILED, CAUSED BRAKE SHOES TO ROTATE AND LOCK RR WHEEL. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR OR DOWNSHIFT WHILE DRIVING. CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Incident date: Oct 29, 1997

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION IS HARD TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEARS.REPAIRS WERE DONE ON VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

MOUNTING BRACKET HOLDING RADIATOR FAN CRACKED AROUND MOUNTING BOLTS. NLM

Incident date: Mar 31, 1999

IN ADDITION, REPAIR JOB HAD TO BE DONE TWICE, AS LISTED PART DID NOT SEAL. *AK

Incident date: Apr 10, 1999

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THAT I'LL NEED TO HAVE MY CLUTCH REPAIRED/REPLACED. IT WILL NOT GO INTO 1ST OR REVERSE WITHOUT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE. PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW BARELY GOES UP AND DOWN-IT'S BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. REAR PASSENGER SIDE PANEL FALLING OFF CAR.

Incident date: Apr 10, 1999

Incident date: Mar 15, 1999

CLUTCH WELD ATTACHMENT BROKEN: PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. REOCCURING SIGNS OF "STICKING" OCCURED WHILE UP-SHIFTING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY SAFETY WAS IN JEOPORDY! CAR WOULD NOT HAVE STARTED-UP AGAIN, IF THE PEDAL BROKE DURING ANY TRIP.

Incident date: Mar 4, 1997

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. CONSUMER HAS HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER LEAKING/CONDENSATION THRU THE VENTS CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

SPEEDOMETER CABLE FAILED.

PULLEY ASSEMBLY PLATE DESIGN WAS NOT THICK ENOUGH FOR AMOUNT OF PRESSURE RECEIVED, RESULTING IN PULLY TO BE BROKEN AWAY FROM ENGINE BLOCK DAMAGING COMPONENTS WITHIN ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE ON, HEARD LOUD HISSING NOISE, SMELLED FOUL ODOR, AND NOTICED THAT PROPELANT OR CHEMICALS OF AIRBAG WAS BEING RELEASED INSIDE VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Nov 25, 1997

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE VARIOUS MILES OCCUPANT BEGAN TO STEP ON THE BRAKE THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, STILL GOING THE SAME RATE OF SPEED. OCCUPANT HAS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. *AK

Showing 50 of 81 complaints.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK

5 manufacturer communications from 4 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
015100 STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP	1
111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY	1
062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM	1
020000 SUSPENSION	1
350000 EQUIPMENT	1

020000 SUSPENSION

This Service Bulletin was sent by Suzuki Motor Corporation to its authorized Suzuki automobile distributors in the U.S., explaining the importance of proper inspection and maintenance of suspension lower arm ball joints to prevent the ball

350000 EQUIPMENT

111000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

THIS BULLETIN CONTAINS THE REVISED CLAIMS SUBMISSION PROCEDURES FOR REPLACEMENT BATTERIES UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

015100 STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

MODIFICATION OF POWER STEERING PUMP SERVICE PROCEDURES. *YC

062000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

CORRECT COOLANT USAGE. *EH

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SUZUKI SIDEKICK

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1991

SEAT BLT LOCKS-STOW POSIT.

There is no summary currently available

PE, Closed , Model Year: 1989

WELD FAILURE IN STRUCTURE

There is no summary currently available

SUZUKI SIDEKICK - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the SUZUKI SIDEKICK across all model years (1989, 1997).

8 Total Recalls

299 Total Complaints

2 Investigations

26 Reported Crashes

11 Reported Fires

1 Reported Deaths

SUZUKI SIDEKICK - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2000	0	1	View
1998	0	41	View
1997	1	52	View
1996 (current)	2	81
1995	0	29	View
1994	1	32	View
1993	1	14	View
1992	0	11	View
1991	1	16	View
1990	1	5	View
1989	1	15	View
1988	0	1	View

Other SUZUKI Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
KIZASHI	86	108	View
GRAND VITARA	63	879	View
GSX1300R	42	45	View
GSX-R1000	25	61	View
SX4	24	427	View
GSX-R750	21	65	View
DL1000	20	39	View
FORENZA	18	1,360	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 1996 SUZUKI SIDEKICK

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, SUZUKI SIDEKICK

SUZUKI SIDEKICK - All Years Overview

SUZUKI SIDEKICK - Year by Year

Other SUZUKI Models