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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control12
  2. Engine and engine cooling11
  3. Air bags7
  4. Tires5
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  6. Suspension4
  7. Visibility4
  8. Power train4
  9. Fuel system, gasoline3
  10. Equipment3
  11. Seat belts3
  12. Service brakes2
  13. Steering2
  14. 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
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
20019
20027
200310
200415
20055
20061
20071
20080
20091
20100
20110
20120
20133
20140
20151
20161

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

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2016Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10938340

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2005Engine and engine coolingODI 10141739

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2013Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10547265

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 18, 2006TiresODI 10168516

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2009Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10262245

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 19, 2003Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, VisibilityODI 10043958
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.