Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 problems

Owners filed 189 complaints about the 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 with NHTSA between Jan 2006 and Jul 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (60).

Complaints
189
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags60
  2. Exterior lighting30
  3. Electrical system29
  4. Steering27
  5. Vehicle speed control11
  6. Power train11
  7. Seats11
  8. Seat belts10
  9. Engine and engine cooling9
  10. Suspension8
  11. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  12. Equipment7
  13. Structure6
  14. Visibility6

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 14, 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
200611
200711
200810
200913
201033
201131
20129
201322
201418
201517
20162
20175
20181
20190
20203
20210
20221
20231
20240
20250
20261

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

60 reports7 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light was constantly illuminated while the doors were securely closed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the front passenger’s side occupant classification system sensor was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2026Air bagsODI 11751603

Exterior lighting

30 reports1 fire
“I bought this car used one year ago and have had to change the low beam lights twice and now they are out again. At night I drive with the high beams on and they are so weak no one can tell. Last month the engine started surging making the car try to take off wether in neutral, park or drive. I have to hold the brake very strongly to keep the car from taking off. This is extremely dangerous for obvious reasons and someone is going to get seriously hurt or killed because Suzuki will not acknowledge or fix this problem. This will be my last Suzuki product ever. I can't afford to get another vehicle right now so I'm having to drive this nightmare daily.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2023Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Vehicle speed controlODI 11514906

Electrical system

29 reports1 crash2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACTS OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED TO PROVIDE THE SPEEDOMETER READING, FUEL GAUGE READING, AND ABS READING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GERMAIN TOYOTA OF NAPLES (13315 TAMIAMI TRL N, NAPLES, FL 34110, (888) 722-4941) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,675. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 31, 2020Electrical systemODI 11385785

Steering

27 reports3 crashes
“THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED TO A SUZUKI DEALER IN PUERTO RICO AND THEN SHIPPED BACK TO THE USA. ONCE SHIPPED TO PUERTO RICO, SUZUKI PROVIDES A SPECIFIC VIN AS VEHICLES EXPORTED OUT OF THE USA. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIPPED BACK TO USA IN 2009 AND EVER SINCE I HAVE RECEIVED THREE SAFETY RECALL NOTIFICATIONS TO HAVE DONE BY LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL SUZUKI DEALERS SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VIN DOES NOT APPEAR IN THEIR SYSTEM AT ALL. I BEEN TOLD THEY WILL NOT SERVICE MY VEHICLE BEING THAT IT WAS SHIP FROM PUERTO RICO AND THE ONLY PLACE THEY WOULD FIX THE RECALL WOULD BE THERE. I HAVE CONTACTED CORPORATE SUZUKI MULTIPLE TIMES AND BEEN TOLD THEY CAN'T DO MUCH TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE DEALER AGAIN WHICH HAS REFUSED TO DO THE SERVICE. I HAVE BEEN MANY HOURS EXPLAINING MY SITUATION TO DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS FROM DEALER AND SUZUKI AND NEVER COME TO A SOLUTION AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS. I'M TOLD THAT VEHICLES SHIPPED TO PUERTO RICO (US TERRITORY) AND BACK TO US ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THESE SAFETY RECALLS DESPITE I AM RECEIVING THE NOTIFICATION TO MY OHIO ADDRESS. ITS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS WE BEEN TRYING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND ALWAYS GET THE RUN AROUND. ONE OF THE RECALL…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2015Steering, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 10788180

Vehicle speed control

11 reports9 crashes
“MY VEHICLE WAS AT A STANDSTILL AT A RED LIGHT. I HAD THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHILE WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR INSTANTANEOUSLY SPED FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLABLE HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2015Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10714289

Power train

11 reports2 crashes
“WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE, CAR SUDDENLY LOST SPEED BUT RPM'S KEPT GOING UP, COULD NOT GO OVER 40, WHEN PULLED OVER, PUT IN PARK BUT ENGINE KEPT REVVING UP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2014Power train, Electrical systemODI 10626925
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 14, 2026

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