NHTSA Campaign 03V223000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Issued by AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. · Reported Jun 16, 2003 · 5,319 vehicles affected

What's wrong

CERTAIN PASSENGER (111 MY 2002 ESTEEM, 777 MY 2002 AERIO, 2,368 MY 2003 AERIO) AND SPORT UTILITY (324 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA, 274 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA, 684 MY 2002 GRAND VITARA XL-7, AND 781 MY 2003 GRAND VITARA XL-7) VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING." THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE PAINT APPLIED DURING THE SECOND-STAGE PAINTING PROCESS AND THE PAINT APPLIED DURING FINAL-STAGE PAINTING.

Consequence

IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, IT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE DURING A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE EJECTION OF UNBELTED OCCUPANTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT PAINT ADHESION WILL EITHER HAVE THE PROBLEM REMEDIED BY REPAINTING, OR WILL BE REPLACED, OR REPURCHASED AND DESTROYED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
SUZUKI AERIO 2002 5,319
SUZUKI AERIO 2003 5,319
SUZUKI ESTEEM 2002 5,319
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2002 5,319
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2003 5,319
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7 2003 5,319
SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7 2002 5,319

Source: NHTSA Campaign 03V223000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.