2008 Suzuki XL7 steering problems

“FALL 2018 HAD OBD CODE FOR TIMING CHAIN- REPLACED TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONER, END OF NOVEMBER 2019 PULSATING AT LOW SPEEDS- ALIGNMENT, NEW BRAKES, NEW TIRES. JANUARY 2020 MADE A U TURN AT LOW SPEEDS APPROX. 2 MPH AND VEHICLE MADE GRINDING NOISE AND SHUT OFF WHEN STARTED IT BACK UP STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF PARKED VEHICLE UNTIL MARCH 2020 WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT TO A MECHANIC, DURING DIAGNOSIS MECHANIC NOTED CORROSION TO BOTH SERPENTINE BELT AND TIMING CHAIN DUE TO OIL LEAK FROM TIMING CHAIN COVER VALVES, HAD BOTH SERPENTINE AND TIMING CHAINS/TENSIONERS REPLACED WITH NEW PARTS AS WELL AS VALVES AND SEALS REPLACED, MECHANIC ALSO NOTED BALANCE HARMONIZER MELTED AND DETERIORATING DUE TO OIL LEAK SO REPLACED THAT AS WELL, POWER STEERING PUMP REPLACED DUE TO METALLIC PIECES IN POWER STEERING FLUID AND SYSTEM WAS BLED AND FLUSHED ALSO REGULAR MAINTENANCE SPARK PLUGS AND OIL CHANGE DONE. STEERING WAS STILL STIFF SO MECHANIC PUT IN A NEW RACK AND PINION, TIE RODS, STEERING GEAR AND ANOTHER NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AT SAME TIME AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS DONE AFTER NEW RACK WAS PUT IN, STEERING STILL INTERMITTENTLY BECOMES STIFF DURING TURNS, VEHICLE HAS ALSO STARTED TO MAKE LOUD…”

“TOOK MY 2008 SUZUKI XL7 PREMIUM INTO THE SHOP BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING FLUID, MAKING NOISES AND WAS BECOMING HARD TO STEER. 3 DAYS LATER AND 2 PUMPS LATER I STILL DON'T HAVE MY CAR BACK. THEY MECHANIC SAID THEY EVEN FLUSHED THE POWER STEERING FLUID OUT AND THERE WAS METAL SHAVING IN IT FROM THE LINE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE THE MECHANIC $500. FOR A NEW LINE AND $500 FOR A NEW PUMP BECAUSE OF A DEFECT ON THE MANUFACTURER'S END. I WOULD LIKE THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR RECALL PURPOSES FOR SAFETY AND MANUFACTURE ISSUES. MULTIPLE SOURCES STATE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH IT”

“MY STABILITY TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON WHICH TURNED STC OFF, IN ADDITION IT TURNED OFF THE AWD. THE POWER STEERING ONLY WORKS AT FASTER SPEEDS. I'VE ALMOST WRECKED THIS CAR ON MANY OCCASIONS DUE TO THIS. IT'S HORRIBLY UNSAFE IN THE RAIN. IT WILL LITERALLY GET STUCK IN A LITTLE MUD PUDDLE BC OF THE ST N AWD BEING OFF. SO MANY COMPLAINTS! IT SHOULD BE RECALLED SOON! IT'S 7 PASSAGE VEHICLE I'M ASSUMING MOSTLY FOR KIDS N IT'S STC,AWD,POWER STEERING JUST STOPS N IT SHAKES WHEN U SLOW DOWN. I'M SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE MINE ESPECIALLY IN BAD WEATHER!!!”

“DRIVING THE SUZUKI ON MULTIPLE OCCASION WHEN I BEGIN TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENS AND IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I MUST YOU BOTH HANDS AND FORCEFULLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING REPLACE 3 TIMES AND IT IS STILL OCCURRING!!! IT HAPPENS WHILE MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND THE HIGHWAY. IT SO STIFF ITS DIFFICULT TO TAKE AN EXIT. THIS LAST OCCURRED YESTERDAY 7/4/2018.”

“LOST STEERING WHILE DRIVING,BECAME VERY HARD TO STEER. COST $2300 TO REPAIR. SAID DEFECT STARTED AS STEERING RACK AND CAUSED METAL TO GO THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM AND TAKE OUT THE PUMP ALSO. ABS/TRAC CONTROL/STABILITY LIGHTS AMONG OTHERS COME ON AND LOOSE AWD. SUNROOF LEAK AND PAINT PEELING. STEERING WAS LOST AGAIN WHILE DRIVING 1.5 YEARS LATER. DEFINITE RECALL SITUATION.”

“TO BEGIN, MY MOONROOF LEAKED INTO THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS IN THE CABIN ANY TIME I WASHED THE CAR. HAD TO TAKE IT IN 3 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED. WINDOW SEALS WERE BUCKLING AND GOT THOSE REPLACED BY DEALER - BUT CONTINUED TO BUCKLE. ALL STABILITRAC LIGHTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTERMITTENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. KEY FOB WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AROUND 85000 THEN THE REAR DRIVER DOOR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO IT. REPLACED BATTERY IN FOB AND HAD TO TAKE IT IN TO ONLY HAVE IT DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACTUATOR IN THE DOOR WAS GOING OUT. WHILE I WAS TURNING A CORNER IN MY 2008 XL7, I HEARD A GRINDING/RATTLING NOISE THAT SEEMED TO WORSEN AT SLOWER SPEEDS AND WOULD GO AWAY AS I ACCELERATED THROUGH THE TURN AROUND 90000 MILES. POWER STEERING FELT TIGHT, ABS LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, AWD OFF, STABIL-TRAC LIGHT ALL CAME ON...INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK IT IN FOR OTHER REPAIRS BEFORE WARRANTY RAN OUT AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE/SOUND. AT 95700 MILES SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING, TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. AT 103000 MILES THE NOISE/RATTLING/GRINDING IS BACK IN FORCE. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO DUPLICATE…”