Problems · NHTSA complaints

2000 Suzuki Esteem problems

Owners filed 26 complaints about the 2000 Suzuki Esteem with NHTSA between Mar 2000 and Sep 2014. The most-cited component is structure (9).

Complaints
26
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure9
  2. Suspension7
  3. Engine and engine cooling4
  4. Air bags2
  5. Latches/locks/linkages2
  6. Seat belts2
  7. Power train2
  8. Exterior lighting1
  9. Visibility1
  10. Other / unknown3

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
20004
20013
20023
20031
20042
20051
20060
20071
20081
20091
20102
20112
20123
20131
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

Structure

9 reports
“2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT END PROBLEMS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR UNAUTHORIZED REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR FRONT END PROBLEMS. WHILE THERE, HE WAS INFORMED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR A FRAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY CONFIRMED, THAT IN FACT, THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER, STATING A MISTAKE HAD BEEN MADE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS FIVE MONTHS OLDER THAN THE RECALLED COVERED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $603.26 AFTER DEDUCTING $300 FROM THE ORIGINAL BILL. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER AUTHORIZED THEM TO PERFORM THE WORK, SINCE THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2013Suspension, StructureODI 10500361

Suspension

7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CROSS MEMBER BAR FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2014SuspensionODI 10638725

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports
“VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AND RUMBLED UPON TURNING... APPARENTLY SUZUKI KNOWS OF THE RECALL BUT IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR OUTSIDE MARCH 2012. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 13, 2012Suspension, Engine and engine coolingODI 10475269

Air bags

2 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN A DEER CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH, THE FRONT AXLE, CV JOINT, HOOD, RADIATOR, HEADLIGHTS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FENDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,931.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2011Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10418281

Latches/locks/linkages

2 reports
“THE LATCH ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN AND OWNER IS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR. OWNER HAS TO UNLOCK THE DOOR BY USING THE REAR DOOR. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY OWNER.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 10, 2005Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10107078

Seat belts

2 reports2 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE CHILD CAME OUT OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT, ALTHOUGH THE CHILD WAS PROPERLY RESTRAINED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2004Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10096642
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.