Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Suzuki Aerio problems

Owners filed 36 complaints about the 2003 Suzuki Aerio with NHTSA between Sep 2003 and Oct 2014. The most-cited component is power train (11).

Complaints
36
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train11
  2. Wheels6
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  4. Tires2
  5. Engine and engine cooling2
  6. Steering2
  7. Electrical system2
  8. Engine1
  9. Latches/locks/linkages1
  10. Vehicle speed control1
  11. Equipment1
  12. Electronic stability control1
  13. Visibility1
  14. Fuel system, gasoline1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20032
200411
20058
20064
20072
20084
20091
20101
20111
20121
20130
20141

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

11 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO SX WAGON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION DISLODGED FROM THE FIFTH GEAR WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE FIFTH GEAR OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FIFTH GEAR WAS EXTERNALLY HOUSED, CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE REMAINING GEARS WERE ALL INTERNALLY HOUSED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND REPAIRS WERE AGAIN PERFORMED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2012Power trainODI 10458571

Wheels

6 reports1 crash
“THE RIGHT FRONT RIMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE RIMS BEND EASILY AND ALLOW AIR TO ESCAPE UPON THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT ON ROAD SURFACES. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2004WheelsODI 10089292

Service brakes, hydraulic

3 reports
“DEVELOPMENT OF "BRAKE SHAKE" UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, I.E. USAGE UNDER 15,000 MILES ANNUALLY; WARPED FRONT DISCS DUE TO INFERIOR MANUFACTURE/MATERIALS; ATTEMPTED TO RESOLVE UNDER WARRANTY; ADVISED BY SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS TO HAVE BRAKE PADS CHANGED AGAIN, NORMAL BRAKE PAD SEATING REACTION, OTHER LIES, ETC. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2006Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10162993

Tires

2 reports
“THE REASON IS THAT I BOUGHT ONE USED GOOD YEAR TIRE BUT I JUST RUN ON HIGH WAY FOR FEW MILES ONLY IT WAS SERIOUSLY FLAT ON LAST SATURDAY (MAY 9, 2009). I DID NOT KNOW WHY AN INFERIOR TIRE WOULD BE SOLD IN THE STORE, WHEN I PURCHASED IT SEEMS VERY GOOD LIKE A NEW GOOD YEAR TIRE, AND I WAS NOTICED I NEED TO PAY FOR REPLACE IT. I NOTICED THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE SOMETHING WAS MELTED---A FLIMSY PIECE OF MATERIAL. COULD YOUR OFFICE INVESTIGATE THOSE PROBLEMS, BECAUSE IF THOSE TIRES WERE EQUIPPED TO THE FRONT OF THE CARS WOULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS ON THE HIGH WAY?. COULD YOU INVESTIGATE WHY THEY HAVE/SELL THOSE INFERIOR TIRES? THE USED TIRE STORE INFORMATION: AFFORDABLE TIRE & WHEELS; 12099 BALLAIRE BLVD, HOUSTON, TX 77072. *TR WENLUO ZHANG”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2009TiresODI 10268657

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI AERIO. OVER THE COURSE OF A FEW DAYS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED AS TIME PROGRESSED. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2007Engine and engine coolingODI 10190366

Steering

2 reports
“APPROXIMATELY IN JUNE 2005 A NOISE AND VIBRATION DEVELOPED WHEN RUNNING THE A/C AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE S-BELT TENSIONER, WHICH WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, AT CRAWFORD SUZUKI ON AIRWAYS BLVD. IN EL PASO, TEXAS.ON JUNE 12, 2006, WHILE RETURNING FROM TUCSON, AZ, MY WIFE NOTICED A VIBRATION AND NOISE. I TOOK THE CAR TO CRAWFORD SUZUKI ON 6/15/2006 (SMCS345882). AFTER THE CAR WAS EXAMINED BY THE TECHNICIAN I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MISALIGNED, FACTORY INSTALLED POWER STEERING BRACKET. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICEMAN ABLE AGUIRRE, I WOULD HAVE TO FULLY PAY FOR THE REPAIR AS THE CAR IS OVER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.ON SATURDAY 17, I SPOKE TO JAVIER, THE OWNER OF THRIFTY CAR SALES AND HE AGREED THAT SUZUKI SHOULD REPAIR AT THEIR EXPENSE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT. AT CRAWFORD THEY AGREE THAT THIS IS A MATTER OF A FACTORY DEFECT AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.ON FRIDAY 23, I SPOKE TO A PERSON WHO IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS ''MANNY'' THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT ALL HE COULD DO WAS TO CONTACT THE SUZUKI DISTRICT MANAGER AND HE WOULD GET BACK TO ME. HE ALSO, STATED THAT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM WAS ADDRESSED IN A ''SERVICE BULLETIN'' THEY HAD…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 29, 2006SteeringODI 10161046
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.