Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems
Owners filed 67 complaints about the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 with NHTSA between Jul 2002 and Oct 2020. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (12).
Complaints
67
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Vehicle speed control12
- Tires9
- Power train7
- Electrical system6
- Suspension6
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Steering5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Equipment3
- Engine2
- Air bags2
- Visibility2
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
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 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
8
17
14
3
1
3
4
2
2
2
0
2
1
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 14 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
12 reports
“AC COMPRESSOR WENT OUT TWICE IN MY 2002 SUZUKI XL-7. ONCE IN AUGUST 2009 AND AGAIN IN MAY 2012. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED TWICE BECAUSE IT WAS A PRETTY HOT SUMMER. IT ASSUME IF THE CAR LAST ANOTHER FEW YEARS, I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. HOW ANNOYING! ALSO, AFTER THE SUMMER MONTHS, DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN I NEED TO TURN ON THE HEAT, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I GOT THIS TESTED AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AC COMPRESSOR. THIS MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THE XL-7 COMPRESSOR IS DUAL. IT'S RUNS AC AND HEAT. POWER STEERING HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR THE PAST YEAR. I WOULD ADD POWER STEERING FLUID EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO. BUT NOW IT'S PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE TO ADD FLUID EVERY OTHER DAY. FRONT AND BACK BUMPER IS DISPLAYING CORROSION. IT LOOKS LIKE THE METAL HINGES THAT HOLD UP THE BUMPERS ARE WEARING AND YOU CAN SEE IT. THIS CAR WAS NOT BUILT TO LAST. I FORESEE MANY MORE ISSUES. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
12 reports5 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI XL7. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN WITH A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ADVISED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Tires
9 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/T 687 (NA) TIRES, SIZE P235/60R17. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE SET OF TIRES TWO YEARS AGO. CURRENTLY, THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE DETERIORATING FROM THE INSIDE. THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 1/8 AND 1/16. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE VEHICLE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 77,130.”
Power train
7 reports
“THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HEARD A SQUEALING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD WHILE MAKING A SHARP RIGHT TURN. OCCASIONALLY AFTER THE SOUND, THE STEERING CONTROL WOULD NOT BE THERE. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO DEALER, WHO STATED THEY WORKED ON THE TRANSMISSION AND CHANGED THE OIL.”
Electrical system
6 reports1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WITH THE DEFROST ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.”
Suspension
6 reports
“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD FROM WORK AND I WAS ONLY GOING 40MPH AND MY CAR ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED SHAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND FINALLY GOT CONTROL OF IT AND SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED AND NOTICED THE CROSS MEMBER WAS BROKE. IT WASN'T LIKE THAT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT I'M PAYING FOR AND CAN'T DRIVE IT CAUSE IT DANGEROUS. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.