Model year record

2008 SUZUKI Grand Vitara

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 58 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V187000

Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

Component
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
Manufacturer
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
31,302
Reported to NHTSA
2019-03-07
Owners notified
2020-02-21

Defect description

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kizashi and 2006-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles. The front passenger leather seat may shrink due to high humidity and high temperature. As a result, the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor mat may not accurately detect if an adult or child is occupying the seat.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, an incorrect classification may result in the passenger frontal air bag deploying even if there is a child in the front passenger seat, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat bottom cushion, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 3, 2019. All second letters notifying owners of the remedy were mailed by April 10, 2020. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's numbers for this recall are 4011 and 4012.

Recall campaignNHTSA 13V405000

Air bags

Component
Air bags
Manufacturer
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
189,901
Reported to NHTSA
2013-09-06
Owners notified
2014-05-23

Defect description

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Grand Vitara and 2007-2011 SX4 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, over time, the OCS sensor mat installed in the front passenger seat may fail due to repeated flexing of the mat from use of the seat. As a result, during a crash necessitating deployment, the air bag will deploy regardless of whether the front seat occupant is an adult or a child.

Safety risk

Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.

Manufacturer remedy

Suzuki will notify owners and dealers will replace the front passenger seat cushion assembly (which includes the OCS sensor mat) free of charge. Sufficient quantities of parts are not currently available to fix all of the affected vehicles. Owners will be notified of the recall in October 2013 and will receive a second notification when parts are available to have their vehicle repaired. The recall began on May 23, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's recall campaign number is VD.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Exterior lighting1820,000 mi
Air bags1340,000 mi
Electrical system1020,000 mi
Engine421,511 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights230,382 mi
Seats2
Suspension254,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)1100 mi
Fuel/propulsion system168,000 mi
Power train1131,000 mi
Seat belts18,300 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic115,101 mi
Vehicle speed control188,000 mi
Wheels154,000 mi

The 2007 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2009 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.