Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems

Owners filed 20 complaints about the 2005 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 with NHTSA between Mar 2006 and May 2015. The most-cited component is air bags (4).

Complaints
20
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags4
  2. Vehicle speed control4
  3. Seat belts3
  4. Structure2
  5. Interior lighting2
  6. Service brakes1
  7. Steering1
  8. Suspension1
  9. Electrical system1
  10. Exterior lighting1
  11. Service brakes, electric1
  12. Power train1
  13. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  14. Engine and engine cooling1

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 13, 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
20063
20073
20085
20091
20100
20111
20123
20132
20141
20151

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

Air bags

4 reports1 crash
“TRAFFIC CRASH WHERE THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED SEVERAL TIMES. ALL DAMAGE TO FRONT AND DRIVERS SIDE. BOTH PEOPLE EJECTED FROM A VEHICLE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. VEHICLE ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 7, 2015Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10715065

Vehicle speed control

4 reports3 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE RAPID ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO FOUR OTHER VEHICLES. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, SMOKE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED HOWEVER, A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM VIA AMBULANCE FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2012Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10475919

Seat belts

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELTS WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. ...UPDATED 11-14-13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE SEAT BELTS HAVE WORN OUT TWICE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 36,000 AND THEY WERE REPLACED. NOW AT 50,000, THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WHERE THE SEAT BELT RETRACTS INTO THE UNIT, THEY ARE BEING WORN THROUGH, AND THEY WILL NOT RETRACT OR EXTEND.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2013Seat beltsODI 10546272

Structure

2 reports1 crash
“THE 2005 SUZUKI XL-7 IS RAKED DOWN IN THE FRONT SO MUCH SO THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND THE VEHICLE (WITHIN 15 FEET OR SO) WHEN BACKING UP. IF A SHORT PERSON OR CHILD WERE WALKING BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER COULD NOT SEE THEM. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2006StructureODI 10156033

Interior lighting

2 reports1 crash
“BRAKES LOCKING UP WHEN COMING TO A STOP &. MAKING POPPING NOISES WHEN TAKING OFF. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL SOME TIMES NOT GO UP. AT VERY RARE OCCASIONS BRIGHT LIGHTT WILL NOT COME ON DURING THE NIGHT,VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT, DOME LIGHT COMES ON AND TURNS OFF WHILE DOOR IS OPEN...DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BOTH TIMES WHEN TAKEN IN..............NOW2008. AFTER WARRANTY IS NO LONGER. TOOK VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE. THE MECHANIC STATED ROTORS, BRAKES, CALIPER, BEARINGS, SHOCKS HAVE ALL NEED TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO FAILURE OF PARTS AND THE AMOUNT OF MILES PLUS THE YEAR SOME OF THE PARTS SHOULD NOT BE IN THIS SHAPE. THE REPAIRS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO. I NEVER LET MY OIL MECHANIC LOOK AT MY VEHICLE IN FEAR OF LOSING MY WARRANTY BUT NOW THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF IF THE DEALERSHIP WOULD HAVE BEEN HONEST WITH ME NOW I HAVE TO FIND AWAY TO COME UP WITH $1600.00 JUST TO KEEP ME SAFE WHILE SEEING PATIENT'S IN THERE HOMES... I HAVE RAN OFF IN A DITCH DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. TO STOP ME FROM HITTING A CAR. STOP FAST ON DIRT ROAD TO AVOID HITTING A DEER AND MY BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK UNTIL THE PEDAL HIT THE FIREWALL . THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2009Suspension, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, electric, Interior lightingCrash reportedODI 10273583

Service brakes

1 report
“I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 4/2010 IT HAD 22,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED 7/18/2011 AT 47,000 MILES. IT BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES AGAIN IN JANUARY 2012, I FINALLY HAD TO HAVE NEW ROTORS/BRAKES INSTALLED AGAIN 6/2012. I CONTACTED SUZUKI REGARDING THE ISSUES OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THEY STATED THAT MY VIN# WAS NOT ON A RECALL FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM YET, I STILL HAVE ISSUES. WHAT RE-COARSE DO I HAVE IN GETTING RE-EMBURSED FOR PRIOR INSTALLMENT OF NEW BRAKES AND GETTING IT CORRECTED AGAIN! I NOW HAVE 72,000 MILES ON THIS CAR I USE IT FOR IN-HOME HEALTH CARE, I TRANSPORT CLIENTS, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 31, 2012Service brakesODI 10468433
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 13, 2026

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