Model year record

1999 SUZUKI Vitara

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 63 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V273002

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.
Vehicles affected
8,408
Reported to NHTSA
1999-10-15
Owners notified
1999-11-12

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH. IF THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE, A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE LAMP-ACTUATING SWITCH MAY ALSO PREVENT SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Safety risk

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS FOLLOWING CLOSELY, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V154000

Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.

Component
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.
Manufacturer
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,273
Reported to NHTSA
1999-06-28
Owners notified
1999-07-06

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE VEHICLES WIRING HARNESS COULD HAVE BEEN PINCHED BETWEEN THE REAR STEREO SPEAKER AND SPEAKER RETAINING PLATE.

Safety risk

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD OCCUR DUE TO THE PINCHED WIRES.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITION/CONDITION OF THE REAR WIRING HARNESS AND REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS, IF NECESSARY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V155000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.
Vehicles affected
1,273
Reported to NHTSA
1999-06-28
Owners notified
1999-07-06

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 2-DOOR PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING PORT INSTALLATION OF REAR STEREO SPEAKERS, THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS WERE REMOVED TO FACILITATE THE REAR SPEAKER INSTALLATION AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE SPEAKERS.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BELTS MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN AN OCCUPANT INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL RETORQUE BOTH OF THE FRONT SEAT BELT LOWER ANCHOR BOLTS TO SPECIFICATION.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V324002

Steering: steering wheel/handle bar

Component
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Manufacturer
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.
Vehicles affected
38
Reported to NHTSA
1999-02-09
Owners notified
1998-12-21

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE COUPLING THAT CONNECTS THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT IS CRACKED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE STEERING SHAFTS TO SEPARATE.

Safety risk

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT COUPLING.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Suspension96 mi
Suspension: front6
Engine and engine cooling: engine4100,000 mi
Unknown or other4
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch3
Vehicle speed control3
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner2
Power train: automatic transmission2
Power train: manual transmission2
Power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly2
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)2
Structure: frame and members2125,000 mi
Air bags1
Air bags: frontal1
Electrical system1
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys1
Fuel system, gasoline1
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: auxillary tank: selector devices1
Parking brake: conventional1
Power train: axle assembly1
Power train: clutch assembly1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Steering: column1138,000 mi
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm1
Structure1128,000 mi
Structure: body: door1
Tires1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control142,214 mi

The 2000 model has about 1.5 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.