2002 Suzuki Esteem
The Verdict
The 2002 Suzuki Esteem has 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (4 complaints) and engine (4 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 98/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating.
This is the cleanest year on record. Nice pick.
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT OCCASIONALLY HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIELDING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AROUND THE MUFFLER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER,THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT WAS BROKEN ON THE SUBFRAME WHICH WAS CORRODED WITH EXTENSIVE RUST IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE CRADLE CROSS MEMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
SOLE OWNER 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON WITH ROTTED K-FRAME AND RUSTED WHEELS. SUZUKI WILL ONLY COVER K-FRAME PART AND DEALER WANTS $390. FOR LABOR. ARE THERE OTHER SUZUKI VEHICLES WITH REPORTED ROTTED K-FRAMES?. I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE APRIL 2002. THIS VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION DUE TO ROTTED FRAME. *TR
AFTER SEVERAL MISDIAGNOSES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY CAR GOING INTO GEARS THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED TWO MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WENT OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS CHARGED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS COMPLETELY UNFAIR. THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT THE CAR IN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WASN''T PUSHING HARD ENOUGH ON THE BRAKE. THE SECOND TIME HE SAID IT WAS DO TO THE COLD WEATHER. THE THIRD TIME HE SAID THAT UNTIL THE CAR COULD NEVER GET BACK INTO GEAR HE WAS UNABLE TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY. THE FOURTH TIME HE FIXED A PART AND IT STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIFTH TIME I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SUZUKI DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE OTHER DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSTALL THE PART CORRECTLY. THEN THE SIXTH TIME THEY SAID IT IS A DIFFERENT PART AND FIXED IT AND CHARGED ME BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM TOOK ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH TO FIX. THE DISTRICT MANAGER SAID BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THAT HE WOULD NOT APPROVE THE COST OF FIXING IT. EVEN THOUGHT THE PROBLEM STARTED AFTER ONLY TWO YEARS OF ME OWNING THE CAR AND WAS CLEARLY BACK WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR TO THIS DATE STILL DOESN''T HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT.
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND MOTORCYCLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. *AK
THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION AND THE BIKE'S IGNITION ENGAGED AND CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT TURNING THE KEY TO THE "ON" POSITION IS ONLY SUPPOSE TO GIVE THE VEHICLE POWER. THE CONSUMER NORMALLY HAS TO HOLD THE CLUTCH LEVER IN AND PRESS START BUTTON FOR THE MOTORCYCLE TO ENGAGE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 SUZUKI VOLUSIA VL800 BK2 MOTORCYCLE. *NLM *TT
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
MODEL DR200 SEK2; THE DRIVE CHAIN ON THE MOTORCYCLE CAME WHILE TRAVELING 3-4 MPH. THE CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN WITH THE OWNER INSPECTING THE CHAIN TO MAKE SURE THE CHAIN OPERATED WITH MANUFACTURES' SPECIFICATION(S). PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS
FROM NEW THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 2000 MILES (WHEN THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS REPLACED), THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL ABRUPTLY WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS APPLIED FROM A STAND STILL. THIS HAPPENED SIX TIMES AND EACH WAS AT AN INTERSECTION WHERE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME COULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY AS IT IS A MOTORCYCLE. THE SELLING DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND THEY INITIALLY HAD NO SERVICE BULLETINS REGARDING THE POSSIBLE CAUSE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER SUZUKI WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THEY LOGGED THE COMPLAINT WITH THE DECLARATION THAT THEY HAD NO REPORTS OF SUCH FAILURES AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I HAD. THE DEALER FINALLY GOT UNOFFICIAL WORD THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR MAY BE AT FAULT. IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE PROBLEM SOLVED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH OTHERS WITH THE SAME MODEL MOTORCYCLE WHO EXPERIENCED SIMILAR STALLING AND THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AS WELL. IT IS MY CONCERN THAT MOTORCYCLES ARE BEING SOLD THAT COULD STALL UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. EVEN THOUGH MY BIKE IS FIXED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MANUFACTURER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY INSTEAD OF REMAINING IGNORANT. A RECENT CALL TO THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER BY A FRIEND REVEALED THEY STILL DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH A PROBLEM EXISTS, DESPITE SEVERAL OWNERS PREVIOUSLY REPORTING DIRECTLY TO THEM! DT
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON 6 TIMES AND THERE IS NO COMPUTER CODE. GAS GAUGE IS INACCURATE. *JB *NLM *****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****768037 *TS
ORIGINAL TIRE ON SUZUKI, ESTEEM 2002, P18560R14 DOT ELBODEH340. WHILE TRAVELING AT 10 MPH ON SLIGHTLTY WET PAVEMENT CONSUMER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN WHEN VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TIP OVER. CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A DEFECT IN TIRES. *AK *JG
WHILE TRAVELING ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE'S LANE AND HIT IT. STEERING WHEEL HAD PLAYED INTO WHEEL, ENABLING HIM TO STEER.*AK