2006 Suzuki Forenza recalls and problems

The 2006 Suzuki Forenza has 4 recalls and 280 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

Pictured: a 2005 model; the 2006 may differ in details. Photo: 2005 Suzuki Forenza by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2006 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 5 Forenza model years — the most of any year.

4recalls

280complaints

19crashes

8fires

30injuries

55,000median 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 →

4 recalls

Exterior Lighting

May 19, 2014 · NHTSA campaign 14V262000 · 184,244 vehicles

Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

Risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy & notes

Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Electrical System

Aug 14, 2012 · NHTSA campaign 12V397000 · 101,688 vehicles

Problem: Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.

Risk: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.

Suzuki's recall campaign number is NU.Customers may 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.

Exterior Lighting

Sep 25, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V452000 · 93,963 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, headlamp low beam or daytime running light (drl) function May be inoperative due to a melted splice pack on the wiring harness.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.

Risk: Inappropriate lighting could reduce visibility of vehicles and increase the potential for a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY OF VEHICLES AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will splice the power circuit wires for the low-beam headlamps and drl free of charge. The recall will be mailed in three phases, starting at the end of October 2007 and concluding by the end of January 2008;. Owners May contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.

Suzuki recall no. Nb.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.

Seat Belts

Jul 24, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V315000 · 75,697 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the front seat belt tongue will not latch into the buckle and, in rare cases, even the locked tongue will pop out by low stretching force. If the buckle does not latch completely, the buckle could release without pressing the release button.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FRONT SEAT BELT TONGUE WILL NOT LATCH INTO THE BUCKLE AND, IN RARE CASES, EVEN THE LOCKED TONGUE WILL POP OUT BY LOW STRETCHING FORCE. IF THE BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH COMPLETELY, THE BUCKLE COULD RELEASE WITHOUT PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON.

Risk: These buckle malfunctions, which could prevent a person from using the seat belt or could cause the seat belt to fail to function as designed, can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THESE BUCKLE MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH COULD PREVENT A PERSON FROM USING THE SEAT BELT OR COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED, CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the front driver and passenger seat belt buckles with the improved part free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2007. Owners May contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.

Suzuki recall no. Ky.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.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train116

Electrical System57

Air Bags56

Engine42

Vehicle Speed Control29

Exterior Lighting21

Suspension14

Latches/locks/linkages12

Fuel System11

Seat Belts11

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

Complaints by year filed

2006 vs. other Suzuki Forenza years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2006. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2006 Suzuki Forenza have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2006 Suzuki Forenza, the latest from May 19, 2014 (exterior lighting). 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 2006 Suzuki Forenza?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (116), electrical system (57), air bags (56). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.