SUZUKI Complaints

ELECTRICAL/EXTERIOR LIGHTING: JUST PRIOR TO 10/10/2009, I BEGAN NOTICING MY LIGHTS WERE PERIODICALLY FLICKERING. ON OCT. 10, 2009, I NOTICED WHAT SMELLED LIKE WIRES BURNING (ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL). THE FOLLOWING EVENING I STARTED MY CAR AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE LIGHTS, THEY DIDN'T COME ON, HOWEVER MY RUNNING LIGHTS DID COME ON WHEN I RELEASED MY BREAK (5 SPEED), I WAS ALSO WITHOUT THE USE OF MY HI-BEAMS, HOWEVER THEY WORK WHEN I PULL BACK ON MY TURN SIGNAL/HI-BEAM HANDLE. AFTER DOING A LITTLE INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS ONCE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED SUZUKI, I WAS OF COURSE TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL! HOW NICE! THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD COST NOT LESS THEN $150 TO FIX! I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2006, IT IS NOW JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD! I HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS, JUST HAPPENED TO HEAR ABOUT THE DOOR HANDLE RECALL BECAUSE I HAD ANOTHER ISSUE AND HAD TO CONTACT A DEALER (NOT THE ONE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM, EITHER) AS I HAVE NOT HAD THE BEST CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. MY MECHANIC TRIED TO INQUIRE AS TO HOW TO OBTAIN THE WIRING DETAIL FOR THIS CAR SO THAT HE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THUS SAVING ME A GOOD DEAL OF MONEY...$150! I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND WOULD HOPE THAT A CAR THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WOULD NOT HAVE THE DIFFICULTIES THIS CAR HAS HAD IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. FOR THE MOST PART, I HAVE ENJOYED THE CAR, BUT THE FACT THAT SUZUKI IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY MANUFACTURING OF THIS CAR OR AT LEAST THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING IS SO DISHEARTENING TO ME. THIS IS CERTAINLY A ROAD HAZARD NOT TO MENTION THE SAFETY ISSUE FOR MYSELF, MY CHILDREN AND ANY PASSENGER I MAY HAVE. *TR

ABRUPT ON/OFF THROTTLE CAN CAUSE SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED RAPID DECELERATION AND ACCELERATION, DESTABILIZING THE VEHICLE POTENTIALLY LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH. THIS CAUSES AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKE OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE GREAT DAMAGE AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO OCCUR AT LOWER ENGINE RPM'S (4,000-6,000 RPM) AND SEEMS MOST PREVALENT AT HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES (205+ DEGREES) AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON AND STARTED WHILE AT HIGHER TEMPERATURES. *TR

I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE USED AND IT NOW HAS 37,500 MILES. I BARELY DRIVE IT AND KEEP IT GARAGED AND REGULARLY MAINTAINED. AFTER THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN IT PAST THE 36,000 MILES (WARRANTY EXPIRED BEFORE MILEAGE REACHED) I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE HARD DOWNSHIFT AND HESITATING SHIFTS UPWARD (REACHES OR GOES ABOVE 3000 RPMS BEFORE IT SHIFTS). THESE HARD SHIFTS ARE MOSTLY BETWEEN 30-20 MPH AND ALSO OCCUR BETWEEN 5-20 MPH BUT SOMEWHAT SOFTER BUT STILL EASILY NOTABLE. THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IS FOR 100,000MILES/7YRS SO I TOOK IT THE DEALER AND TOLD HIM MY COMPLAINT. RIGHT OFF THE BACK THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO REALLY CHECK IT OUT AND THAT ALL THEY COULD DO IS DRIVE. ALSO, HE TOLD ME THAT MY WARRANTY (BUMPER TO BUMPER) EXPIRED AND THAT IF THE GUY HAD EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IT WAS OTHERWISE I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY $80+$8 TAX FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THAT IF IT IS ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WITH THE TRANSMISSION THAT IT WASN'T COVERED. OF COURSE AS I EXPECTED HE DIDN'T SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND TOLD ME TO SCHEDULE THE $88 DIAGNOSIS. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT SUZUKI FORENZAS ARE KNOWN FOR DOWNSHIFTING HARD BUT I TOLD HIM THAT IT WASN'T LIKE THAT BEFORE THE 36,000 MILE MARKER. I CAME BACK HOME THOUGH WITHOUT MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS APPOINTMENT AND READ MY WARRANTY DETAILS. UNDER "...WHAT IS NOT COVERED" FOR POWERTRAIN, NO WHERE DID IT SAY TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICS, INFACT IT COVERS 'TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE' WHICH IS AN ELECTRICAL COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, ALONG WITH MANY OTHER TRANSMISSION PARTS! I GUESS THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE HE TRIED TO CONVINCE THAT IS NORMAL AND THAT HE RIGHT OFF THE BACK TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T COVER TRANSMISSION ELECTRONICS AND THAT THERE IS A CHARGE OF $88 FOR DIAGNOSIS. AFTER READING SOME OF THE POWERTRAIN COMPLAINTS ONLINE, IT SEEMS LIKE SUZUKI KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE A BIG PROBLEM ON THEIR HANDS AND ARE WAITING UNTIL WARRANTIES EXP. *TR

2006 SUZUKI FORENZA WAGON. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET ONLY TO FIND THAT VERY MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JUST LIKE WE ARE. IT IS STUCK IN 2ND GEAR & VERY SLOW TO ACCELERATE, REVS WAY TO HIGH WHEN REACHING POSTED SPEEDS.BOTH ARE VERY DANGEROUS. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? WE FEEL WE ARE DESTROYING THE ENGINE. WE BOUGHT IT LAST YEAR,USED & WITH NO WARRANTY. WE FEEL WE HAVE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF . THE DEALER WILL NOT HELP US(DODGE DEALER). WE CALLED A SUZUKI DEALER AND THEY TOLD US THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON BUT IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WHICH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE. WHAT CAN WE DO? PLEASE HELP. *TR

I STOPPED FOR A SIGNAL LIGHT. THE CLUTCH ON THE MOTORCYCLE LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE MOTORCYCLE SURGED FORWARD. I HAD TO KILL THE ENGINE BY USING THE EMERGENCY KILL SWITCH. I HAD TO HAVE THE MOTORCYCLE TRANSPORTED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. AFTER DISASSEMBLY, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TUBULAR NUT ON THE (GEAR ASSY., PRIMARY DRIVE SKU: 21100-48G00) HAD BACKED OFF. THIS ALLOWED THE PRIMARY GEAR TO MOVE PREVENTING THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FROM OPERATING. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AN FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I WAS LUCKY THAT WHEN MINE LOCKED UP I WAS STOPPED AND WAS ABLE TO KILL POWER WITH THE EMERGENCY SWITCH. I WAS ALSO LUCKY IN THAT I WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE IN LINE AND DIDN'T REAR END ANYONE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHEN I WAS MOVING I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I CALLED THE SUZUKI TECHNICAL HELP LINE ASKING FOR THE TORQUE SPEC FOR THE TUBULAR NUT. SUZUKI REFUSED TO GIVE IT TO ME. I WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO BUY A NEW ASSEMBLY FROM A SUZUKI DEALERSHIP. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE EXISTING COMPONENTS OTHER THAN THEY WERE NOT ASSEMBLED PROPERLY. THE TUBULAR NUT WAS NOT TORQUED PROPERLY. IF I BUY A NEW ASSEMBLY WHAT CHANGE HAS SUZUKI MADE TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE. I WANT SUZUKI TO COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO EXIT HER VEHICLE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE BROKE AND LANDED IN HER HAND. THE SAME FAILURE HAS ALSO OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DOOR HANDLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000. UPDATED 10/27/09.*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SHIFT RELAY WAS INOPERATIVE. THE SHIFTER LOCKED UP AND THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE KEY IN INTO THE UNLOCK SAFETY LOCK AND PUSH THE SHIFTER IN AN UNLOCKED POSITION, THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION LOCKS UP. UPDATED 10/29/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHEN SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 15 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE HESITATING. SHE WAS ABLE TO DECELERATE AFTER REPEATED BRAKING ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE WHEELS WERE MISALIGNED. FOUR NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED WHICH INCLUDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE FAILURE RESURFACED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,251.

OWN A 06 RENO WITH 50K MILES ON IT. JUST RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN AVERAGE NORMAL TRAFFIC ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR WOULD START FLASHING AND THE MIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON. DURING THIS TIME ANY CHANGE IN PRNDL WOULD CAUSE LOUD AND HARSH SHIFTING AS WELL AS SEVERELY DECREASED ACCELERATION ABILITY, ALMOST AS IF IT WAS FLOODING. EVENTUALLY THE MIL LIGHT WOULD GO OFF OR STAY ON AND TRANSMISSION FUNCTION WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS WOULD ONLY LAST MAYBE A FEW HOURS AND THEN WHOLE SCENARIO WOULD REPEAT ITSELF. MY RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE IT IS THE TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR. A PROBLEM A LOT OF RENO OWNERS SEEM TO BE EXPERIENCING. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF FOR EXAMPLE YOU COME TO A STOP JUST BEFORE TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND YOUR TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTS MALFUNCTIONING AND YOUR ABILITY TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING IT INTO THE DEALER FOR OTHER RECALL WORK AND INSPECTION. *TR

THROTTLE RESPONSE ON MY 2006 GRXR 600 HAS BEEN TERRIBLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE BIKE. IT IS NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE THROTTLE CONTROL AT SLOW CORNERING SPEEDS. SUZUKI HAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THIS BIKE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. THIS CONDITION WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OR TIME. *TR

TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR ON 2006-2007 SUZUKI FORENZA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS HIGH FAILURE RATE AND IS DANGEROUS. CAR KICKS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE MOVING CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR