1997 Suzuki Sidekick

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/15/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE IN SLOW LANE OF INTERSTATE FREEWAY, ENGINE CYLINDER/PISTON FAILED, RESULTING IN A CRASH/INJURIES.

• 11/25/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AFTER A LONG TRIP OR AFTER USING (4) WHEEL DRIVE THE ENGINE QUITS UNLESS YOU KEEP THE ACCELERATOR PRESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SINCE PURCHASING IN OCTOBER OF 1996 AT 1500 MILES AND 4400. *AK

• 11/08/2002· POWER TRAIN

  THE CLUTCH PEDAL ATTACHMENT CLIP IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SPOT WELD BROKE ALLOWING THE PEDAL TO DETACH FROM THE LINKAGE. WHEN THE OWNER ENTERED THE TRUCK THE PEDAL WAS ALREADY DETACHED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS

• 11/06/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ONE FOOT ABOVE GAS PEDAL, CHAIN LINKAGE WRAPPED AROUND ITSELF CAUSING GAS PEDAL TO STAY DOWN AT FULL THROTTLE, LINKAGE WAS WRAPPED OVER TRIANGLE PIECE IN WHICH THE CHAIN ATTACHES TO. *SLC

• 10/27/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKING PERFORMANCE IS SEVERLY DIMINISHED, ONLY PARTIAL BRAKING POWER IS BEING USED. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED A NORMAL WEAR PATTERN AND CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 10/23/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VISIBILITY,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED TWICE BECAUSE A PEBBLE ON THE ROAD STRUCK IT . THE CAR HAS BEEN SHUTTING OFF REPEATEDLY. THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL A BABY. THIS CAR IS A DRIVERS NIGHTMARE.

• 09/29/2000· POWER TRAINCrash

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN DRIVER NOTICED THAT GEAR WAS IN THE 2ND GEAR ,CONSUMER WENT TO SHIFT GEAR WHEN IT SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN AND ROLL OVER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, RESULTING IN INJUIRES TO DRIVER. *AK

• 09/19/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE STALLED WHEN LET OFF GAS DURING TURN IN INTERSECTION ALMOST LOST CONTROL. THIS VEHICLE IS STANDARD SHIFT, NEED 3 FEET TO DRIVE. THIS APPEARS TO POSSABLY BE THE SAME ISSUE AS ODI ID 781364, 824717, 713749, 805550. DEALER SAYS ENGINE DEFECTIVE.

• 09/18/1997· POWER TRAIN

  THE CLUTCH COVER O-RING SEALING IS LEAKS, SPREADING OIL ON REAR TIRE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL WHEN CORNERING, COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK

• 09/02/1998· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  THE A/C COMPRESSOR BRACKET BROKE OFF FROM THE ENGINE. AFTER THE BRACKET BROKE, THE TRUCK OVERHEATED. WHILE LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD THERE WERE SEVERAL PARTS INCLUDING THE FAN, POWER STEERING AND A/C BELTS LOOSE.

• 09/01/2002· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER STATED THE RING AND PINION GEARS FAILED. NLM

• 08/25/2001· POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  PURCHASED THIS SIDEKICK JULY 24, 2001. WITHIN DAYS THE " ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DUE TO A 30 DAY 1000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY I TOOK THE SIDEKICK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP PURCHASED AT. THE SIDEKICK WAS TAKEN TO THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SOLENOID AND VALVE BODY WERE DEFECTED. A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO COST ANALYSIS. AFTER 1.5 WEEKS IN THE SHOP I PICKED UP "MY" SIDEKICK. WITHIN 3 DAYS THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. RETURNED THE SIDEKICK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE SUZUKI DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. IT WAS RELAYED TO ME THAT THE SUZUKI REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSIONS HAD A VALVE BODY DEFECT. TRANSMISSION NUMBER 2 WAS PULLED AND IN WENT REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION NUMBER 3. I PICKED UP THE SIDEKICK THIS MORNING. WITHIN 2 HOURS AND LESS THAN 30 MILES THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. THE SIDEKICK WILL BE PICKED UP MONDAY MORNING AND I'LL BE DRIVING ANOTHER LOANER VEHICLE (FOR WHICH I'M VERY GRATEFUL). I'LL FIND OUT IN 2-3 DAYS WHETHER MY NEW TO ME USED TO YOU GETS TRANSMISSION NUMBER 4. I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 31 DAYS, HAD THE PRIVILEDGE OF DRIVING IT FOR 7 DAYS TOPS. THE 30 DAY 1000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS NOW EXPIRED. I'VE REQUESTED A COLLATERAL TRADE. I WON'T FIND OUT ABOUT THAT UNTIL THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP RETURNS MONDAY. I'VE HAD MORE TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS ONE VEHICLE IN ONE MONTH THAN I'VE HAD IN ALL MY VEHICLES IN THE PAST 15 YEARS! LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR RIGHTS ARE. I'VE NOT EVEN MADE THE FIRST PAYMENT YET. WOULD LIKE SOME INORMATION ON OUR RIGHTS AS CONSUMERS. THANKS!*AK

• 08/15/2001· STEERINGCrash

  WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH CONSUMER SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT STRUT ROD HAD BROKEN, CAUSING THE CRASH. *AK THE LEFT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY HAS SEPARATED BETWEEN THE INNER LINK AND THE ADJUSTING SLEEVE. *SLC

• 08/13/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF ALL POWER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL OCCURS; THE FAILED COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. *AK

• 08/09/2001· TIRES

  TIRES SEPARATED WITH COMPLETE STEEL TREAD AND TIRES CHUNKS MISSING, THIS OCCURRED AT 60MPH. I STILL HAVE TIRES ON CAR.*AK (TIRESIZE: 275 60R16H)

• 08/07/1997· SUSPENSIONCrash

  RIDING A MOTORCYCLE IN A STRAIGHT SEC TION OF ROADWAY, UPON PARTIAL ACCELERATION, FRONT END BEGAN TO WOBBLE; MOTORCYCLE LOST CONTROL, THROWING RIDER OFF ONTO THE ROAD. RIDER SUFFERED INJURIES. *AK

• 08/01/1997· SUSPENSION

  FRONT END WOBBLES WHILE DRIVING.

• 07/13/2001· POWER TRAIN

  CLUTCH KEEP PREMATURELY FAILING ABOUT 6-10 MONTHS DUE TO A WHITE PIECE THAT GOES AROUND CLUTCH THAT KEEPS BREAKING. CONSUMER HAS ALREADY REPLACED CLUTCH 6 TIMES.*AK

• 07/10/2003· TIRES

  WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRES SEPARATED. *CB *NLM

• 07/10/2002· SUSPENSION

  THE VEHICLE STRUTS BROKE WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00V-008 RELATING TO THE STRUT ROD. NLM

• 07/10/2001· POWER TRAIN

  THESE PARTS WERE REPLACED WHEN I HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

• 06/25/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 35 MPH AND WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO STOP, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND STALLING. THEN CONSUMER HAD TO TURN ON THE KEY SO THE VEHICLE COULD START AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENING FOR LONG TIME. *AK

• 06/25/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE GONE OUT COMPLETELY AT 30000 MILES, CAUSING ROTORS TO BE DAMAGED, THEREBY REQUIRING THE REPLACEMENT OF FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

• 06/11/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  WHILE DRIVING THE BRACKET THAT THE COOLING FAN AND AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR MOUNT TO CRACKED AND SEPARATED. THE COOLING FAN WAS THROWN INTO THE RADIATOR AND CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO FAIL SUDDENLY. THE COOLING FAN AND BRACKET PIECE ALSO DAMAGED THE FRONT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR CAUSING FAILURE.

• 05/31/2000· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO GET DEALER TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER RECALL. BUT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 05/20/2000· POWER TRAIN

  I HAD JUST PULLED ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY, LUCKILY WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH IN 4TH GEAR WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT CAME OFF THE MOTOR MOUNT, BUT STAYED ATTACHED TO THE REAR. MY TRUCK CAME UP OFF THE GROUND 3 FT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS WHO WAS BEHIND ME AT THE TIME. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. PER THE SER VICE MANANGER AT DAVID MCDAVID, THE BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE MOTOR MOUNT. I AM NOT HARD ON THIS VEHICLE, AND IN MY OPINION, AND THAT OF THE SERVICE MGR. THIS IS A QUALITY ISSUE WITH SUZUKI. I DID CONTACT THE TX. REP. FOR SUZUKI, SHE WAS VERY RUDE! IT TOOK 17 DAYS FOR THE SERVICE DEPT. AT THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A NEW DRIVE SHAFT. THEY STATED THERE WAS NOT "ONE" IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA OR CANADA." THEY HAD TO HAVE ONE BROUGHT IN BY BOAT. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER, AND WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUZUKI. ALSO, THE DEALERSHIP'S GENERAL MANAGER STATED THAT THEY WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD DEAL ON A GMC FULL SIZE TRUCK. I NEVER WANTED BACK IN THE SUZUKI AGAIN, THIS WAS A VERY TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE FOR ME. I PICKED OUT A GMC TRUCK, MADE A DEAL WITH DAVID MCDAVID, DROVE IT HOME AND THEN THEY WELCHED ON THE DEAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WANTED A $3,000.00 DOWNPAYMENT! I AM TURNING THIS INTO THE BBB. MY WHOLE FAMILY HAS BEEN REPEAT CUSTOMERS OF THAT DEALERSHIP, AND NOW I AM BEING TREATED VERY POORILY. THEY JUST LOST ALOT OF BUSINESS. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.*AK

• 05/15/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NEED TO KNOW IF THIS SUV HAS BEEN KNOWN TO ROLL OVER BEFORE I PURCHASE PLEASE. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

• 04/29/2002· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER STATES FRONT OF CAR STARTED TO SHAKE CAUSING LOOSE STEERING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHERE TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *YD

• 04/28/1997· AIR BAGS

  FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES INCLUDING FACE, NECK, CHEST, AND RIGHT ARM TRAUMA.

• 04/26/2000· SUSPENSION

  RECALL REPAIR COMPLETED (00V-008), HOWEVER THE MECHANIC FAILED TO REPAIR CORRECTLY, CONSUMER HAD TO RETURN FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIR. *MJS

• 04/19/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  BRACKET WHICH HOLDS THE FAN BROKE OFF AND CAUSED THE FAN TO CUT INTO THE RADIATOR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND PART WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

• 04/18/2001· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH UNDER COLD/ DRY CONDITIONS WHEN VEHICLE HIT A DIP IN ROAD, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, AND VEHICLE WENT OVER A SNOW BANK, AND IMPACTED A TREE ON FRONT CENTER AREA OF VEHICLE. DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT GIVEN CONSUMER ANY REASON FOR CAUSE OF DEFECT. *SUZUKI WAS IN POSSESSION OF AIR BAGS, AND VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS.*AK *SLC

• 04/18/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FAN BRACKET BROKE AND SENT FAN INTO RADIATOR CAUSING MAJOR GASHES AND CAR TO OVERHEAT. VEHICLE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEVER WENT TO HOT AND ENGINE LIGHTS DID NOT GIVE ANY SIGNS OF PROBLEMS. MOTOR COMPLETELY BURNT UP.

• 04/17/2002· SUSPENSION

  NHTSA ID# 00V-008-000 MANUFACTURE ID #W2 THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO SERVICE THE RECALL BECAUSE THE COMPUTER READING SHOWS THAT THE FRONT STRUTS WHERE ALREADY SERVICED ON APRIL 13, 2000. THE CONSUMER DEBATES THE PRINT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. NLM

• 04/11/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  STARTER FAILED. NLM

• 04/08/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  SEAL ON THE GAS TANK PLATE FAILED DUE TO DETERIORATION, RESULTING IN GAS LEAKAGE.

• 03/31/2001· POWER TRAIN

  THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNIT WOULD NOT ENGAGE OR WORK ON OCCASIONS, THE TRANSFER CASE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. *MJS

• 03/28/2002· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT: MARKET PLACE SUZUKI, HENERETTA, NY 585-359-4900. NLM

• 03/21/2000· SUSPENSION

  RECALL # 00V008000 SUZUKI/FRONT STRUTS; DEALER DID NOT HAVE PARTS TO CORRECT RECALL CAMPAIGN. OWNER WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 03/16/2000· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD, AND DRIVER COULD NOT STEER. RECALL 200V008000/FRONT END STRUTS WAS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 03/06/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED IMPROPER IDLING, ALMOST STALLED, BUT DIDN'T. ALSO VEHICLE SHUTTERED/VIBRATED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK

• 02/26/2002· STEERINGCrash

  WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON ROAD AT NIGHT, THEN WOKE UP IN HOSPITAL. WITNESS SAID THAT DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, THEN ROLLED OVER. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

• 02/18/1998· POWER TRAIN

  EXPERIENCING CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

• 02/16/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  O2 SENSOR FAILED.

• 02/09/1998· VISIBILITY

  WINDSHIELD CRACKS WITH THE SMALLEST BLOW.

• 02/01/1999· POWER TRAIN

  DRIVE SHAFT SEAL FAILED, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE. *YC

• 01/29/1999· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION/VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT, AND THERE IS NOISE COMING FROM THE HEATER. *AK

• 01/28/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 12 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK