Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems

Owners filed 53 complaints about the 2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Jan 2020. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (16).

Complaints
53
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control16
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  3. Fuel system, gasoline7
  4. Seat belts5
  5. Power train4
  6. Suspension4
  7. Tires3
  8. Equipment3
  9. Electrical system3
  10. Structure3
  11. Engine and engine cooling3
  12. Air bags1
  13. Seats1
  14. Steering1

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 29, 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
20029
20034
200423
200511
20061
20072
20081
20090
20101
20110
20120
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20201

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

16 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AT A STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO REV WITH THE RPM LEVELS VIGOROUSLY FLUCTUATING. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE JUNE 2009. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,330. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2010Vehicle speed controlODI 10312651

Service brakes, hydraulic

11 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS, AND SHE PROCEEDED. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY. AGAIN THE POPPING NOISE BECAME MORE PROMINENT AFTER APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DISCOVERED NOTHING AT THAT TIME. THE POPPING NOISE CONTINUED ALONG WITH HARD BRAKING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS. THE ENTIRE HARDWARE INCLUDING THE SHOES AND THE DRUMS WERE DESTROYED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK (11/23/05) THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CABLES HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD SELF DESTRUCT. *SC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2005Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10140554

Fuel system, gasoline

7 reports1 fire1 related recall
“GASOLINE FUEL DOOR FELL OFF FOR NO REASON, AS FAR I CAN TELL, ALL THE HARDWARE THAT WOULD SECURE FUEL DOOR IS STILL THERE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SUZUKI'S WITH THE SAME THING. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2005Fuel system, gasolineODI 10114846

Seat belts

5 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A BRIDGE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM A STOP SIGN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST CAUSING A CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND HER BODY LUNGED FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (NUMBER 19005490). THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN BY AN AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR HER MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND MULTIPLE TEETH, INJURED HER CHEST WALL, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT KNEES AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA AND WAS SEEKING TREATMENT BY A NEUROLOGIST AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HER LEFT KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNKNOWN LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2020Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 11296613

Power train

4 reports1 crash
“2002 SUZUKI VITARA WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO REVERSE WITH NO HELP FROM THE DRIVER AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL LOCK UP AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE. SHE ALSO STATES THAT IT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2007Power trainCrash reportedODI 10210568

Suspension

4 reports
“THIS IS THE WORST SUV I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. IT WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD IT SIMPLY WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT. THE BRAKES WHEN APPLIED PULL YOU TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. DT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2002Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Unknown or otherODI 770551
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

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