1999 SUZUKI VITARA Recalls, Complaints & Safety

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY FAILED TO ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A TRUCK AND CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A TORN LIGAMENT TO HER ARM, SKIN TISSUE INJURIES, AND A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/08/10 * BF UPDATED 11/10/10

Crash 1 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, BRAKES WERE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY STOP TO AVOID HITTING A DEER RUNNING ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS A LOUD BANG NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR.ANCHOR FOR THE RIGHT "A" ARM IS RUSTED OUT IN THE FRAME FRONT CROSS MEMBER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DIVE TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO AVOID HITTING A DEER CROSSING THE ROAD. FRAME CROSS MEMBER AND RELATED PARTS WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS NOW UNSTABLE GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

FRONT SUSPENSION CROSSMEMBER HAS RUSTED THROUGH ON MY 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CHEVROLET TRACKER, WHICH IS THE SAME CAR HAS HAD A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPAIRING THE BRAKES, HE DISCOVERED CORROSION ON THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER (FRAME). THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT IF THE FRAME COMES APART, IT CAN CAUSE THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO FAIL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS EXTREME DIFFICULTY TURNING THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IT REMAINS IN A FIXATED POSITION. HE INSPECTED THE STEERING FLUID AND CONCLUDED THAT THE LEVELS WERE NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALTHOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V324002 (STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR), THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 138,000.

WHILE DRIVING 35 MP ENGINE LOCKED UP. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT IT WAS NOT RESOLVED. *AK....*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH A COLLISION OCCURRED, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED BAD INJURIES. *AK

Crash 1 injured

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 04V427000. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE SUZUKI CORPORATION, AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WAS A PART OF THE RECALL. THEN, SUZUKI TURNED AROUND, AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. *AK THE CONSUMER FELT THAT BEING EXCLUDE FROM THE RECALL WAS UNFAIR AND THAT THE ONLY DIFFERENCE WAS THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR THE 6 CYLINDER AND NOT THE 4 CYLINDER. *SC *JB

1999 VITARA HAS LOUD VIBRATION BETWEEN 55 TO 65 MPH. HAVE TO DRIVE BELOW OR ABOVE MPH RANGE TO STOP VIBRATION. SAFETY ISSUE. NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON FILE. FEEL INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED.*AK

BRAKE LIGHTS KEPT BLOWING OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED SIX TIMES. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN CRUISE MODE. WHEN TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE CONSUMER STRUGGLED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, FINALLY GETTING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN ENOUGH TO SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ACTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PHYSICALLY PULL THE GAS PEDAL FROM THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB

THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT EASILY GO INTO 3RD GEAR. THERE WAS A HORRIBLE VIBRATION AND NOISE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND A FEELING OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TT

FROM DAY ONE, THE BELT ON THE CAR MADE A CHIRPING NOISE. THE CAR HAD GONE BACK TO THE DEALER ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS-AND AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE BELT HAS BEEN CHANGED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUES. WHEN IT RAINS, IT GETS A VERY LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RIGHT AFTER PURCHASE. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DELAER AT LEAST TWICE, AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE SENSOR, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS FINE. HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON OCCASSIONALLY OFF AND ON. I HAD CONSISTENT OIL CHANGES AND SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE, BUT LAST WEEK, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STARTING FLASHING. COME TO FIND OUT, THE #3 CYLINDER GOING INTO THE ENGINE WAS GONE. I WAS TOLD THIS HAD TO BE AND ON-GOING PROBLEM-IT DID NOT HAPPEN OVER NIGHT. EVIDENTLY, THERE WAS A PROBLEM EXACTLY ALL THE TIMES THE LIGHT CAME ON. AS A RESULT, I HAD TO PAY OVER $2000 TO GET THE CAR FIXED. *AK

VEHICLE SWERVES AT ANY SPEED, IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONTROL VEHICLE, ALIGNMENTS HAVE BEEN DONE AND TIRES WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER WILL ATTACH COPY TO COMPLAINT FORM FOR FUEL PIPE HOSE IN THE BEGINNING OF JULY, DEALER NOTIFIED CONSUMER TWICE ON 7-25-01, AND 8-20-01 BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, DEALER NAME SANSONES, AUTO MALL RT 21, WOODBRIDGE PHONE# 732-815-0500.*AK CONSUMER STATES AS OF OCTOBER 4,2001 NO ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY DEALER TO REPLACED PARTS.*JB

SINCE PURCHASE CAR HAS EXHIBITED SERIOUS VIBRATION THROUGHOUT VEHICLE AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND CRUISE CONTROL UNIT OPERATES ERRATICALLY AFTER A DOWNSHIFT IS REQUIRED-SUZUKI FACTORY REPRESENATIVE ORIGINALLY SAID A NEW TYPE ECM WOULD CORRECT THE CONDITIONS BUT LATER SAID NO SUCH PART EXISTED AFTER THE DEALER HAD ORDERED IT AND WAITED TWO MONTHS FOR IT TO BE DELIVERED AND INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE- SUZUKI SUBSEQUENTLY AUTHORIZED BALANCING THE TIRES, REPLACING THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE, REPLACING THE DRIVESHAFT, AND REPAIRING THE DIFFERENTIAL, AND INSPECTION OF THE FRAME AND CROSSMEMBERS ALL TO NO AVAIL AS THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST AND ARE GETTING WORSE. I HAVE EXPRESSED TO SUZUKI MY CONCERN OF A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIBRATION AND METAL FATIGUE AND COMPONENT FAILURE AND MY CONCERN AS TO THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE AND SUZUKI RESPONDED TO THE DEALERSHIP BY TELEPHONE ON 07/27/01 INSTRUCTING THE DEALER TO MAKE NO REPAIR ATTEMPT AS THE VEHICLE IS "OPERATING AS DESIGN AND INTENT". ON THAT SAME DAY ANOTHER SUZUKI VITARA OWNER WAS AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WAS ALSO INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER(TOM COLGLAZIER) AND ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER(STEVE COOK) THAT SUZUKI WOULD AUTHORIZE NO REPAIR ATTEMPTS TO THEIR VEHICLE EITHER. AS SUZUKI IS UNWILLING TO VOLUNTARILY CORRECT THESE SERIOUS SAFETY ISSSUES CONCERNING THEIR VIATRA PRODUCT LINE I FEEL AN INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL ACTION IS WARRANTED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE STARTS TO RATTLE AND SHAKE. IT SEEMS AS IF CAR IS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. HAVE BEEN COMPLAING SINCE I PURCHASED VEHICLE BUT NO RESOLUTION AS OF YET. DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE AND CAR LOOSE CONTROL. WOULD LIKE FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE CRASH. I HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE FROM SUZUKI AS OF YET.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR AXLE BROKE AND TIRE COMPLETELY CAME OFF, CAUSE UNKNOWN. NO COLLISION/ INJURIES OCCURRED. *AK *SLC

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. IT WOULD BLOW HOT INSTEAD OFF COOL AIR. TOOK VEHICLE TO GET PART FOR AIR CONDITIONER & WAS INFORMED THAT PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND ON BACK ORDER. *AK

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR VEHICLE.*AK CONSUMER STATES TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE DATE, WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO 5TH GEAR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT WOULD TAKE THREE WEEKS FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO COME IN AND ONE WEEK TO REPLACE, WHEN CONSUMER PICKED UP VEHICLE HE WAS TOLD THAT A RECIEPT WAS UNAVAILABLE AND ONE YEAR LATER WHEN HE OBTAINED A RECIEPT STATING THAT TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND NOT REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES BETWEEN 3-23-2000 AND 3-16-2001 IT BECAOME DIFFUCULT TO DOWN SHIFT INTO 3RD GEARAND IMPOSSIBLE TO GO INTO REVERSE.*JB

WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PRESSED THE ENGINE WILL DIE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10+ TIMES SINCE 2/2000. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND DESPITE 6 RETURNS TO THE DEALER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. WHEN THIS HAPPENS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR LEAVING THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING LOCKS AND THE BRAKES GET VERY HARD TO DEPRESS. I HAVE GONE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE RED LIGHT OUT OF CONTROL AS A RESULT. THE DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

PLASTIC USED IN THE DOOR TRIMS IS VERY BRITTLE. SUZUKI SAYS IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. THERE IS NO SUPPORT UNDER IT.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERHOOD. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

Fire

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION IN THE SYSTEM. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED MORE THAN 30 DAYS AGO & IT ALREADY HAS STALLED A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT SHAKES REAL BADLY, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH GOING AROUND A LEFT HAND CURVE WHEN STEERING SPINDLE FAILED ,COMPLETLY SNAPPED, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.CONSUMER CLAIMED IT WAS ALREADY 1/3 SNAPPED, DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY.*AK

Crash

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND SKIDDED ON HITTING ICE AND CRASHED. YH

ENGINE OIL PAN CRACKED CAUSING AN OIL LEAKED WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, SUCH AS EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE FAILURE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, GRINDS WHEN PUTTING INTO GEAR, AND SOMETIMES WON'T GO INTO GEAR. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE 4 WHEEL DRIVE, INCLUDING THE SHIFTER. *AK

I HAVE HAD MORE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE THAN ALL OF THE CARS I HAVE OWNED. I PURCHASED THIS CAR TO BE SAFE AND NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BREAKING DOWN. I T HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN NOT. THE LATEST IS THAT IT STARTED VIBRATING ABOVE THE SPEED OF 45. WHO COULD FEEL SAFE IN A 3 MONTH OLD VEHICLE THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAS THINGS WRONG WITH IT? I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALEER AND THE MANUFACTOER, WHO ASSURE ME THAT THIS IS "PROBABLY THE LAST THING THAT WILL HAPPEN" I WANT TO GET MY $ BACK AND I FORWARN ALL, I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V273002. CONTACTED DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS, CONSUMER WAS URGED TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER & RECORDING CAME ON ASKING FOR NAME, ADDRESS & PHONE & SOMEONE WOULD GET BACK IN TOUCH. SO FAR NO ONE HAS CALLED. *AK

CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 99V273002 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE WOULD DRIFT RIGHT LIKE ITS STEERING BY ITSELF. WOULD HIT BUMPS OR ROUGH PATCH IN ROAD & LOSE CONTROL. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK. *AK

FIRST TIME ON OPEN HIGHWAY BETWEEN 50 AND 65 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD A VERY BAD SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. MOST OF THE SHIMMY IS GONE BUT, NOW IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY TIME THE CONDITIONS ARE JUST RIGHT. IT HAS ONLY DONE THIS FOUR TIMES IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. IT WILL SHIMMY AT ANY SPEED OR ROAD CONDITIONS. NATURALLY THE TECHNICIAN CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT, IT IS THERE. I STILL FEEL THAT IT IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE IS STARTED, IT WOULD STALL OUT. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON UNTIL THE CLUTCH WAS PUSHED. FINALLY, ALL THE LIGHTS WOULD FAIL TO COME ON. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL WIRES CHECKED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT COME UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE, HAD TO MANUALLY PULL THE PEDAL UP TO GAIN CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

BUMPY/VIBRATION FELT AT 35+ MPH, SMOOTHS OUT TO SOME DEGREE ABOVE 45 UNTIL YOU REACH 60+. VIBRATION ABOVE 60 FEELS AS IF YOU MAY NOT HAVE STEERING CONTROL. A/C CONTROL LEVER DOES NOT OPEN/CLOSE COMPLETELY. A/C FROZE UNDER DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, WOULD NOT COOL, WATER DISCHARGED INTO FLOOR BOARD. DOES NOT ADEQUATELY COOL INTERIOR IN DIRECT SUN WITH TEMPTS. ABOVE 85. GEAR SHIFTER SOMETIMES (SPORADIC) JAMS - PROBLEM APPEARS TO DEAL WITH 2ND GEAR (SOMETIMES 1ST TO 2ND OR 3RD TO 2ND). WHEN IT JAMS IT FEELS AS IF SOMETHING IS HITTING RUBBER (NO NOISE) AND YOU HAVE TO FORCE SHIFTER INTO PLACE. I HAVE HAD TO STOP AND RELEASE AND REPRESS CLUTCH AND MOVE SHIFTER AROUND ON AT LEAST TWO OCCASIONS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER DRIVERS AS WELL. IT DOES HAPPEN SPORADICALLY, CAN MOST OFTEN BE FORCED INTO GEAR AT THIS TIME, SERVICE DEPT. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING. AFTER FOUR TRIPS TO SERVICE DEPT. 2 TIRES REPLACED (FLAT SPOTS), ROTATION, SPIN BALANCE, AND ALIGNMENT HAVE BEEN CHECKED. VIBRATION STILL RECURRING PROBLEM. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS TO THE RIGHT. REPLACED CONTROL SWITCH AND LEVER AFTER FREEZE UP OF A/C. REPLACED A RESISTOR AFTER 2ND EPOSIDE OF WATER IN FLOOR. STILL DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY.( DOT NUMBER: )