Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Suzuki Esteem problems

Owners filed 24 complaints about the 1998 Suzuki Esteem with NHTSA between Jan 1998 and Sep 2019. The most-cited component is structure (7).

Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure7
  2. Air bags6
  3. Suspension6
  4. Seat belts3
  5. Seats2
  6. Steering2
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  8. Exterior lighting1
  9. Tires1
  10. Power train1
  11. Fuel system, gasoline1
  12. Electrical system1

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 10, 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
19985
19994
20002
20012
20022
20030
20041
20050
20060
20070
20081
20091
20102
20111
20121
20130
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20191

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

Structure

7 reports1 crash
“I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVED ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE SUBFRAME SNAPPED ON THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY JERK RIGHT WITH SUBSTANTIAL FORCE. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL DUE TO DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED BUT THE CAR WAS PULLING VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE TO A SPOT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY, I NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WHICH CONNECTS THE FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL TO THE BODY HAD RUSTED SEVERELY AND BROKE APART, IT WAS SO BAD THE MATERIAL WAS CRUMBLING. IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ALMOST CERTAINLY OCCURRED. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET CITES HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS FOR THIS EXACT SAME PROBLEM RECALLS WERE MADE ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL YEAR DESPITE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SUBFRAME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2012Suspension, StructureODI 10448231

Air bags

6 reports4 crashes
“AIR BAGS LIGHTS WENT ON YESTERDAY, I NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENT. SEAT BET GETS STOCKS. SUZUKI ESTEEM 1998.[XXX] VIN # *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2019Exterior lighting, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11253298

Suspension

6 reports
“WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY , SLOWED DOWN TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN ONTO SIDE ROAD....THERE WAS A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND IMMEDIATE PULL OF CAR TO RIGHT...HAD TO FIGHT TO KEEP CONTROL OF CAR...WAS HARD TO STEER BUT DROVE HOME AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR...LUCKILY ONLY A QUARTER OF A MILE...PRETTY SURE IF IT HAD LET GO IF I'D HIT A BUMP OR SOMETHING DRIVING 55 ON THE HIGHWAY...THAT THE CAR WOULD HAVE FLIPPED...THAT'S HOW QUICKLY I LOST CONTROL...AFTER READING ALL OTHER REPORTS...TOO BAD THIS CAR HAD NOT BEEN RECALLED...I MIGHT NOT NOW BE WITHOUT A CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2014SuspensionODI 10662579

Seat belts

3 reports1 crash
“RE: 1-131916218, 1998 SUZUKI ESTEEM CLUTCH FAILED. *BF SEAT BELT LOOSENING WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER'S SEAT COVER AND DOOR PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HESTIATION ON ACCELERATION. CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2004Power train, Seat belts, Structure, SeatsODI 10097388

Seats

2 reports1 crash
“CONSUMER WAS REARENDED. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEAT RETRACTORS BROKE, CAUSING THE PASSENGERS TO FALL/LIDE INTO THE REAR SEATS. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE HEADREST BENT. DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 1999SeatsCrash reportedODI 837961

Steering

2 reports
“THIS COMPLAINT DEALS WITH FAILED INNER TIE-ROD IN THE GEAR ASSEMBLY. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN SEVERE PROBLEMS IN CONTROLLING THE CAR AT HIGH SPEED. THE PROBLEM AROSE BECAUSE OF BROKEN BOOT AND SUBSEQUENT MOISTURE BUILD-UP AND DAMAGE TO THE TIE-ROD. THE SERVICE PERSONNEL ATTRIBUTED THE FAILURE TO FAULTY PART AND POOR WORKMANSHIP. THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR AND DANGER TO OCCUPANTS OF THE CAR AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2002SteeringODI 761320
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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