2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7 steering problems

“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…”

“I WAS DRIVING MY CHILDREN HOME AND I HEARD A THUDDING IN THE ENGINE LIKE SOMETHING WAS BREAKING. THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT HOT INSTANTLY AND I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO PULL TO A STOP TO LOOK AT IT. WHEN I STOPPED AND TRIED TO TURN THE CORNER, I FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I COULDN'T TURN PROPERLY AND WAS TURNING WIDE INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE OF THIS. MY 4 WHEEL DRIVE WENT INTO MOTION AND NOW I HAVE TO CLICK THE BUTTON TO BE ABLE TO REVERSE OR STEER PROPERLY (SO THAT I'M NOT ON THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SETTING) BUT THE LIGHT FOR THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE BLINKS. MY BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ARE ON.”

“THERE HAVE BEEN MANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE DATING BACK TO 07. IN 2010 RECALL FOR STEERING/ TENSION ADJUSTER PULLEY, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THIS SERIOUS RECALL, THE AIR BAGS IN 2014 I HEARD ABOUT THE AIR BAGS BUT NEVER WAS NOTIFIED AS TO WHO HAD THE PARTS TO REPLACE IT. ARE THEY WAITING FOR A CASUALTY? I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR AND IT IS NOT WORTH JUNK PRICE!”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI XL7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SWITCH TO LANES, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE THEN DRIFTED ABNORMALLY TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A MILD CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC WHAT CAUSED THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THREE YEARS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. 10V250000 (STEERING), THE STEERING PULLEY BECAME FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE PULLEY REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE STEERING PULLEY AND THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO CALL A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOSE AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,493.”