Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems
Owners filed 54 complaints about the 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara with NHTSA between Apr 2001 and Dec 2016. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (12).
Complaints
54
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Vehicle speed control12
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Air bags7
- Tires5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Suspension4
- Visibility4
- Power train4
- Fuel system, gasoline3
- Equipment3
- Seat belts3
- Service brakes2
- Steering2
- Exterior lighting2
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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
7
10
15
5
1
1
0
1
0
0
0
3
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 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
Vehicle speed control
12 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000. UPDATED 04/05/17*LJ *CN”
Engine and engine cooling
11 reports1 crash
“I PURCHASED A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARTA WITH 8000 MILES. AT 24,500 MILES THE ENGINE BEGAN TO HAVE NOISE. TOOK TO DEALER WHO STATED IT WAS TIMING CHIN TENSIONER. THEY REPLACED 2 TENSIONERS AT THE DEALERS EXPENSE. I HAVE PUT AN ADDITIONAL 5000 MILES ON THE CAR AND THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE BACK. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE TENSIONERS AND FOUND 100'S OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PART. SUZUKI HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS ITEM AS OF YET, HOWEVER IF THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD BREAK, ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR. I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND AM NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WITH BE FIXED AND IS SO AT WHOSE EXPENSE. THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP IS 65 MILES AWAY. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN TSB ON THIS PART SO SUZUKI IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NM”
Air bags
7 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UNTIL AFTER IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND STERNUM WHILE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FACIAL INJURY FROM STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE BOTH TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.”
Tires
5 reports
“DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 21 IN OHIO. I HEARD A FUNNY NOISE COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE BACK. DOING 60 MILES AN HOUR AND MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. NO ACCIDENT. *NM”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports1 crash1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA XL7. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 55 MPH, THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES LOCKED WHILE THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A SWERVING VEHICLE. TWO OF THE BRAKE LINES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE RIGHT. THE HOSES ALSO BLEW OUT AND LEFT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY BRAKES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V452000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN $200 TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 100,000.”
Suspension
4 reports
“AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. THE DEALER AGREED TO FIX THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME A DIFFERENT REPAIR WAS MADE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVERY 3000 MILES. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SEAL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE OIL CONSUMPTION. *AK THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE FRONT END WOBBLED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT WINDOWS WHEN CLOSING THEM. *NLM”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.