2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara recalls and problems

The 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara has 4 recalls and 29 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is vehicle speed control.

How the 2003 compares

Average

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Average complaint count among 14 Grand Vitara model years — 7th most.

4recalls

29complaints

1crashes

1fires

2injuries

50,000median 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

Service Brakes

Oct 5, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V452000 · 801 vehicles

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with 16-INCH wheels, the front brake discs May break under severe driving conditions. The breakage can occur in conditions where the vehicle is driven on a regular basis on extremely steep paved down-slopes while continuously applying the brakes.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 16-INCH WHEELS, THE FRONT BRAKE DISCS MAY BREAK UNDER SEVERE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE BREAKAGE CAN OCCUR IN CONDITIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON A REGULAR BASIS ON EXTREMELY STEEP PAVED DOWN-SLOPES WHILE CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE BRAKES.

Risk: The front brakes May become inoperative and the vehicle May pull to one side. This could result in a crash without prior warning.

Original NHTSA wording

THE FRONT BRAKES MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE VEHICLE MAY PULL TO ONE SIDE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the front brake discs on these vehicles. The recall began on November 10, 2005. These vehicles are located on st. Thomas island (virgin islands). Owners May contact Suzuki del caribe at 787-622-0600.

Suzuki recall no. 99-HQ.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.

Fuel System

Aug 30, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V427000 · 172,093 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, under ambient temperatures below -25 degrees celsius, moisture can freeze in the fuel pressure regulator. As a result, fuel system pressure May increase at the time of engine start up, causing fuel loss at the fuel pipe/fuel hose connection.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, UNDER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW -25 DEGREES CELSIUS, MOISTURE CAN FREEZE IN THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. AS A RESULT, FUEL SYSTEM PRESSURE MAY INCREASE AT THE TIME OF ENGINE START UP, CAUSING FUEL LOSS AT THE FUEL PIPE/FUEL HOSE CONNECTION.

Risk: Fuel loss in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

FUEL LOSS IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the fuel pressure regulator, the fuel deliver hose and replace the hose clamp with an improved clamp. The recall began on September 29, 2004. Owners should contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.

Suzuki recall no. 99-ER.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Vehicle Speed Control

Dec 5, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V512000 · 196,876 vehicles

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the accelerator cable casing cap that is attached to the vehicle firewall can crack due to extended exposure to forces from the accelerator cable and insufficient long-term durability of the plastic casing cap. If the casing cap becomes cracked, movement of the inner accelerator cable through the cap can cause the inner accelerator cable to become frayed.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE CASING CAP THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE FIREWALL CAN CRACK DUE TO EXTENDED EXPOSURE TO FORCES FROM THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND INSUFFICIENT LONG-TERM DURABILITY OF THE PLASTIC CASING CAP. IF THE CASING CAP BECOMES CRACKED, MOVEMENT OF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE THROUGH THE CAP CAN CAUSE THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE TO BECOME FRAYED.

Risk: If the inner accelerator cable becomes frayed, it can stick during vehicle operation. In the case where an accelerator cable sticks, the driver could have difficulty controlling vehicle speed, which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THE INNER ACCELERATOR CABLE BECOMES FRAYED, IT CAN STICK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. IN THE CASE WHERE AN ACCELERATOR CABLE STICKS, THE DRIVER COULD HAVE DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING VEHICLE SPEED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the accelerator cable, which includes the plastic casing cap. Owner notification began on January 5, 2004. Owners should contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934.

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

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

Vehicle Speed Control12

Latches/locks/linkages1

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

Complaints by year filed

2003 vs. other Suzuki Grand Vitara years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara, the latest from Oct 5, 2005 (service brakes). 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 2003 Suzuki Grand Vitara?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention vehicle speed control (12), electrical system (8), fuel system (4). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.