Problems · by component

2005 Suzuki Forenza exterior lighting problems

38 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Suzuki Forenza cite exterior lighting, 24% of all 156 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
38
24% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. THE LEFT HEAD LIGHT DIMS OR DOESNT WORK AT ALL AND THE RIGHT HEAD LIGHT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN. IVE CHANGED BULBS MULTIPLE TIMES AND STILL NOTHING. IF I PUT ON MY BLINKER WHILE DRIVING IT WILL CUT OFF THE ONE LIGHT THAT KIND OF WORKS. USING MY BRIGHTS WHILE ON THE ROAD MAY CUT MY LIGHTS ON BRIEFLY”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11377716
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING HOME USING THE FOG LAMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2018Exterior lightingODI 11130962
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE WITH STARTING. THE DEALER (GERMAIN TOYOTA OF NAPLES, 13315 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, NAPLES, FL 34110) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT NOTED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED PRIOR TO BEING REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V262000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 12V397000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 33,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11084775
“I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ELETRICAL WIRING. I'VE NOTICED A SHORTNESS IN MY RADIO, ACCORDING BREAKS AND PRESSURE FOR THE CAR OVER HEATING WHEN STOPPING. HAD MY RADIATOR AND FANS REPLACED. BUT STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH CAR OVER HEATING. AND AC AND HEAT NOT WORKING WHEN TURNED ON. IF CLOSE THE DOOR OR GO OVER A BUMP IN ROAD WILL WORK. JUST LIKE MY RADIO. I ONLY HAD THIS CAR SINCE LAST FEB AND ITS BECOMING WORRISOME. BRAKE LIGHTS SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK HAS A SHORTNESS ALSO. AND LOW HEAD BEAM ON DRIVER SIDE KEEP GOING OUT... HAVE TO DRIVE ON HIGH BEAM ALL THE TIME AT NIGHT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 9, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11078298
“NOT SURE IF YOU CAN TELL US WHAT TO DO BUT WE BOUT A 2005 SUZUKI FORENZA LAST APRIL FOR OUR 18 YEAR OLD FOR GRADUATION AND WE ONLY BOUT IT FOR $1200 AND WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT A RECALL AT ALL. LONG STORY SHORT MY SON WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE ONE NIGHT AND WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES OF HIM LEAVING HE RUNS IN THE HOUSE YELLING HIS CAR IS ON FIRE SO WE RAN OUT PUT THE FIRE OUT AND THEN LOOKED IT UP AND FOUND A RECALL ON THE PART THAT CAUGHT FIRE. HEADLAMP SWITCH DRL MODULE. THANKS GOD HE WAS NOT DRIVING DOWN THE STREET OR THE OTHER CARS OR HOUSE CAUGHT FIRE. SO AFTER I PUT IN THE VEN NUMBER AND FIND THIS INFO WITHIN A WEEK WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM SUZUKI. NOW MY QUESTION IS WILL THIS GET PAID FOR LIKE THE WIRING THAT GOT BURNT UP AND WHO PAYS TO GET IT TO ANOTHER TOWN TO GET FIXED? IF SOMEONE COULD LEAD ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WOULD BE GREAT I JUST REALLY THINK WE GOT SCREWED AND MY SON REALLY WANTS HIS CAR FIXED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lightingFire reportedODI 11074107
“I FILED A COMPLAINT LAST WEEK NUMBER 10949103 BUT DUE TO THE NHTSA RECALL WEBSITE PROBLEMS WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY PROBLEM. SO I WILL BE TAKING IT IN FOR THE 3 RECALLS ON THIS CAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10955089

Showing 6 of 38 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Exterior lighting: headlights

Remedy pending

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.

Exterior lightingReported May 19, 2014NHTSA 14V262000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEADLAMP LOW BEAM OR DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT (DRL) FUNCTION MAY BE INOPERATIVE DUE TO A MELTED SPLICE PACK ON THE WIRING HARNESS.

Exterior lightingReported Sep 25, 2007NHTSA 07V452000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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