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Suzuki Vitara Maintenance and Repair

314 messages,  Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 9:43 PM

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What is this discussion about? Suzuki Vitara, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Engine, Suspension, Transmission, SUV

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#3 of 314 Back end noise by scully62 Aug 29, 2001 (5:49 pm)
I purchased a Touring model 01,at the end of July.After about 1 week I heard a noise coming from the back end, so I thought. I took it to the dealership for repair,the problem was actually coming from the front. It was a loose clamp that was rubbing. I've heard nothing since.
#4 of 314 Noises 99 Grand Vitara by kimberlycdr Nov 30, 2001 (10:01 am)
Well, just for starters, my '99 Grand Vitara XLS has been in for several noises, there seems to be a continueing rattle, this i have been told by the first dealer that it was my heat sheild and it would need to be cleaned every once in awhile, to just keep bringing it back (ha), the second dealer stated it was my exhaust and has replaced the exhaust, needless to say i still have the rattle. This SECOND NOISE it is in for now I was told was a common problem with the 99 and 2000 Grand Vitara's is the Timing Chain Tensionure.
#5 of 314 1999 Grand Vitara by arkainzeye Jan 03, 2002 (5:24 pm)
the 1999 Grand Vitara made the 2002 comsumer reports buyers guide as "used cars to avoid by make and year" it said that this car has Below-average reliability... and you should avoid buying this year and model.. i dont know if they fixed ALL the problems for 2000 or not. but out of the whole entire suzuki line of cars and years, that one was the only one that made consumer reports "avoid" list...
#6 of 314 2000 Suzuki Vitara not good in a crash! by stacyann2002 Feb 08, 2002 (8:52 am)
I rear ended a mini van with my 2000 Suzuki Vitara going 30 miles per hour (Yep It was my fault - I know) The Vitara had over $5,000.00 worth of damage (Drive train damage, transmission was shot, the frame was bent) It is now 3 months and I still don't have my Vitara back. I have made three car payments and I have no Vitara to drive. The transmission took over a month to get from Suzuki. They said they were shipping it from Japan and it was stuck in customs. Anyway, my point is I don't think this truck holds up in a crash. What if I had been going 50 or 60 miles per hour, Would I be dead? Would this truck crumble? A lot of damage for a small rear end collision. I would not buy another truck from Suzuki just because of this. I want a truck that can hold up in a crash and I can get parts for in America. By the way my air bag did not work and I hit my mouth on the steering wheel and cut my lip. The air bag probably did not deploy because I was not going fast enough. I must say before all of this I loved the Vitara. Has anyone else had these problems that I have mentioned? Replies to this message: pnurplec (Jul 14, 2005 8:05 pm)
#7 of 314 Cd changer for Grand Vitara by ccskw Mar 29, 2002 (4:26 pm)
A year ago I saw a post about someone who bought a cd changer the same as the dealers for about $189? it plugged right into the harness. Do you remember the site?
#8 of 314 4wd drive problem that never ends! by sbunch Apr 21, 2002 (4:41 pm)
My 99 GV (bought in April 00)had a 4wd popping sound coming from what seemed like the front differential right from the beginning. (There was no place to test the 4wd in Denver, the asphalt jungle. So I just took it home trusting that it was ok. Wrong choice!) I took it back for a warranty repair (some of you may remember the story about the defective "clip") and they changed out the whole front differential. So far, so good until August 02, when it started making that awful popping noise again, only now it only does it when climbing STEEP terrain or backing down the same. So...back to the dealer I went. They gave me some story about the differential fluid being low and old (with only 38000 on it?). Low, maybe I could believe. They did a full 4wd service (new fluid in both differentials and the transfer case) and said they test drove it and it only Popped once. So.... off I go to the San Juan Mtns and it STILL does it! Now, nobody wants to talk to me and they say it will cost $1500 for a new differential or $1200 for a new transfer case, whereever the problem really is. As far as I am concerned, the 4wd has never worked reliably or properly since I got it and I feel like I have a lemon. (Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the transfer case lever pops from 4high to 2wd on it's own frequently.) I have registered a formal complaint with the NHSTA since the dealers and Suzuki Corp have been uncooperative. If I can't get this resolved through them I am going after the Colorado Lemon Law. I bought this vehicle SPECIFICALLY for moderate duty off-roading and since that is SPECIFICALLY the function it is unable to perform, I will not be stuck with it. Unlike many of the other complaints I have read about in the forum, my Suzi is PERFECT except for the above problem. I don't mean to sound like a whiner; I really love my Suzi and want to keep it but I don't know what else to do and it seems unfair that the warranty repair never really took hold and now I am responsible for such an expensive repair on such a relatively new vehicle. It is now out of warranty. Any comments? Suggestions? Similar stories?
#9 of 314 Hole through drivers seat upolstery. by stank29 May 06, 2002 (3:34 pm)
I have a 1999 Grand Vitara with 52K miles. Just recently I notice a hole the size of a quarter through the cloth upholstery on the drivers side back rest just above the seat. Upon closer inspection there appears to be a sharp metal bracket that after a period of time getting in and out of the car causes the bracket to wear through the cloth.  Since the car is out of warranty I'm sure I'll be stuck with the repair.   Just wondering If any one else has experienced this problem?
#10 of 314 nope.....seats seem to be of sound construction by mopar67 May 09, 2002 (4:58 pm)
BTW>>>>>>>>>>>they are made by General Seating in Franfort Indiana.....also suppliers to FUJI/Isuzu factory in Lafayette
#11 of 314 that's Frankfort.....Indiana.......sorry by mopar67 May 13, 2002 (5:39 pm)
#12 of 314 Left turn signal not working by peter_dyk May 17, 2002 (7:28 pm)
When I purchased the vehicle there seemed to be a problem with manually controlling the lights. It was new and I thought it must be working properly. I read the manual, and it didn't seem to agree with how the lighting system actually worked. Basically, you have no manual control of the lights. I even went to the dealer, and they told me everything was working fine.   A couple months later, I had a problem with the lights staying on after the vehicle was turned off and the keys removed. There was no buzzer sounding when the door opened.   Next problem was sometime in November when the headlights stayed on, no matter what I did. I had to disconnect the battery cable at night so the battery would not die. Next day I took it to the dealer, with the problem still occurring, and they indicated that the day/night sensor was malfunctioning and replaced it.   Between November and December I had a problem with the left turn signal. It worked intermittently. I called the dealer, and Danny (service manager) indicated that they could not fix it if I did not bring the vehicle to them with it not working. By the end of December, it was not working at all anymore. I brought it in between Christmas and New Years. They replaced the switch on the steering column. The next day I drove to Niagara Falls, and still had a problem with the turn signal when making a turn, but now the cruise control did not work!   Due to the policy of the dealer's shop, that they have no vehicle loaners, I found it difficult to bring the vehicle in to the shop during January or February. In the meantime the left had turn signal problem was back. At the end of March I was trying to book an appointment to bring the vehicle in to the dealer. I finally made an appointment! When I brought the vehicle in, the left turn signal was failing intermently (50%), the manual head light control did not work. Danny advised again that he could not fix the intermittent turn signal problem. So, I pressed him on the manual lighting control, and the cruise control.   Danny finally made a call to Suzuki Canada to ask what the problem might be. This was April 23, 2002. Danny was advised to replace the wiring harness (order number 014489073, reference V69935). He indicated it would take 3 to 4 weeks to get the part. It is now May 17, 2001. I went to see Danny last night. He indicated he had no idea where the part was, whether it had even been shipped, and it has to come from Japan!   Now I emailed Suzuki.   Anyone ever have a problem like this? Any advise on how to get these guys to fix the problem?

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