Problems · NHTSA complaints
2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems
Owners filed 14 complaints about the 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara with NHTSA between Dec 2009 and Nov 2019. The most-cited component is air bags (3).
Complaints
14
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags3
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Electrical system3
- Exterior lighting3
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Engine2
- Steering1
- Equipment1
- Power train1
- Other / unknown3
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
1
0
3
1
0
0
1
1
3
0
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 |
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
Air bags
3 reports1 related recall
“NO WORD ABS AND ESP,”
Electronic stability control (esc)
3 reports
“TAKATA RECALL? AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHTS STAY ON. ONLY HAVE 70,000 MILES ON CAR. ABS/ESP LIGHT STAYS ON”
Electrical system
3 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. WHILE DRIVING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES FAILED TO PROVIDE ACCURATE READINGS, AND THE ENGINE, ABS, ASP, AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Exterior lighting
3 reports
“I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHT BULBS SO MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, I HAVE LOST COUNT. NOW I AM BEING TOLD EVEN THOUGH MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE BULB AGAIN, THAT I SHOULD REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AT A COST OF $240 EACH TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEADLIGHT BULBS FOR MANY MODEL YEAR GRAND VITARAS. I THINK SUZUKI SHOULD RECALL THE 2007-2011 GRAND VITARA HEADLIGHTS FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS AND OVERALL CUSTOMER GOODWILL.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AND THE ESP OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND INSPECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FOUND DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,900. UPDATED 8/24/12 *CN”
Engine
2 reports
“WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED AIR CONDITIONING WOULD BE COOL THEN HOT FOR ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES AND COOL AGAIN THEN HOT AGAIN AND REPEAT. TURNED OFF THE AC WHEN I NOTICED THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR GETTING HOTTER. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC. HE PERFORMED PRESSURE TEST ON COOLING SYSTEM AND FOUND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED AND LEAKING COOLANT, LEFT SIDE UNDER EXHAUST MANIFOLD. VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND WILL CAUSE ME TO BE STRANDED. COULD BE SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID #10054717.”
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.