2002 Suzuki Aerio recalls and problems

The 2002 Suzuki Aerio has 2 recalls and 13 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is suspension.

Pictured: a 2003 model; the 2002 may differ in details. Photo: 2003 Suzuki Aerio by Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2002 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 6 Aerio model years — 5th most.

2recalls

13complaints

2crashes

0fires

0injuries

27,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Power Train

Jul 15, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V307000 · 14,251 vehicles

Problem: On certain vehicles equipped with 5-SPEED manual transmissions, due to improper shape of the clip, the retaining clip that keeps the gear shift cable attached to the gear shift lever can contact the gear shift lever housing if excessive lateral force is applied when shifting to first gear.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP, THE RETAINING CLIP THAT KEEPS THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE ATTACHED TO THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN CONTACT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER HOUSING IF EXCESSIVE LATERAL FORCE IS APPLIED WHEN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR.

Risk: Repeated shifting in this manner can eventually cause the retaining clip to break. If the retaining clip breaks, the shift cable can become disconnected from the shift lever, resulting in loss of the ability to change transmission gears.

Original NHTSA wording

REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the gear shift cable retaining clip with a clip that has a different shape. The recall began on August 13, 2007. Owners May contact american Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.

Suzuki recall no. Mu.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Visibility

Jun 16, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V223000 · 5,319 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Suzuki recall no. Ec.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Latches/locks/linkages1

Power Train1

Tires1

Visibility1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2002 vs. other Suzuki Aerio years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2002. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2002 Suzuki Aerio have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Suzuki Aerio, the latest from Jul 15, 2007 (power train). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Suzuki Aerio?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention suspension (4), service brakes (3), engine (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.