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KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Suzuki Grand vitara

The Verdict

87 Smooth Ride

The 2002 Suzuki Grand vitara has 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (26 complaints) and brakes (10 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 87/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Suzuki Grand vitara, consider the 2005 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2005 has 98% fewer complaints

View the 2005 Suzuki Grand vitara dashboard →

87

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.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20003368355
20012348163
200226103104
2003160751
200441201
200500100
2006441085147
20071623325
2008513231
200922721
2010001622
201141510
201210921
201300112

By Category

Body
26
Brakes
10
Engine
10
Transmission
4
Electrical
3

By Severity

1
22
2
20
4
11

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A BRIDGE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS FROM A STOP SIGN, CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOST CAUSING A CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND HER BODY LUNGED FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (NUMBER 19005490). THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN BY AN AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR HER MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN STERNUM AND MULTIPLE TEETH, INJURED HER CHEST WALL, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT KNEES AND NECK. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD SUFFERED FROM PNEUMONIA AND WAS SEEKING TREATMENT BY A NEUROLOGIST AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR HER LEFT KNEE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNKNOWN LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

79mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AT A STOP WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO REV WITH THE RPM LEVELS VIGOROUSLY FLUCTUATING. SHE NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SINCE JUNE 2009. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURES. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,330. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000.

199mo ago
Body 1

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. UNTIL RECENTLY, THE CONTACT HAS NEVER USED THE TIGER PAW SPARE TIRE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, A TIRE BLEW OUT WITH A LOUD POP. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROAD TO SAFETY. THE FENDER WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE TIRE AND HOW IT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES EXCEEDED 200,000. UPDATED 01/14/09. *JB

215mo ago
Transmission 4

2002 SUZUKI VITARA WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL GO INTO REVERSE WITH NO HELP FROM THE DRIVER AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL LOCK UP AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE. SHE ALSO STATES THAT IT HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO PERSONAL PROPERTY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE THIRD INCIDENT OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. *JB

226mo ago
Body 4

MY 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA (LIMITED 4WD) WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. IT WAS A HILLY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY NEAR PITTSVILLE, MO AND THERE WAS A LIGHT DUSTING OF SNOW JUST STARTING TO FALL. THE CRUISE CONTROL MADE THE CAR JUMP INTO A LOWER GEAR WHEN ASCENDING A HILL TO KEEP IT AT 55 MPH. THE RPM'S JUMPED FROM ABOUT 2,000 TO 5,000 WHEN THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR - WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO LOSE TRACTION AND I WRECKED INTO 2 HIGHWAY SIGN POSTS AND SKIDDED SIDEWAYS ABOUT 50 YARDS INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I DIDN'T ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES. IT COST ME $5,000 IN COLLISION DAMAGE TO FIX THE CAR. THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES THIS ALL THE TIME STILL WHEN EVEN ON MODERATE HILLS TO KEEP UP WITH THE SET MPH. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN MY OPINION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT NEEDED TO JUMP UP TO OVER 5,000 RPM'S JUST TO GO 65 MPH AND STAY UP WITH THE SET CRUISE SPEED. THANKS. DWS *TR

230mo ago
Body 2

I AM WRITING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS IN MY 2002 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FREQUENTLY LOCKS UP AND DOESN'T ALLOW THE PERSON WEARING IT TO MOVE. I FIND IT VERY ANNOYING AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE AS WHOEVER IS IN THAT SEAT USUALLY ENDS UP UNBUCKLING IT AND NOT PUTTING IT BACK ON. THIS ALSO HAPPENS IN THE REAR SEATS, ALTHOUGH IT ISN'T AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM AS I GENERALLY DON'T HAVE REAR PASSENGERS. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT BELTS NOT RETRACTING FULLY WHEN WE EXIT THE VEHICLE, I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER, BUT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AS SEAT BELTS SHOULD LAST LONGER THEN A FEW YEARS. *NM

249mo ago
Body 1

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY BROKE. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT LOCK . HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 12/07/05. *JB

251mo ago
Body 2

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER 2002 GRAND VITARA AIR COMPRESSOR FAILED. *TS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC

252mo ago
Brakes 1

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING AND NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT SHE MAY HAVE RUN OVER SOMETHING. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS, AND SHE PROCEEDED. AFTERWARDS, THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO APPLY. AGAIN THE POPPING NOISE BECAME MORE PROMINENT AFTER APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DISCOVERED NOTHING AT THAT TIME. THE POPPING NOISE CONTINUED ALONG WITH HARD BRAKING, AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT IN WHICH THEY STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED ALONG WITH THE STRUTS. THE ENTIRE HARDWARE INCLUDING THE SHOES AND THE DRUMS WERE DESTROYED. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK (11/23/05) THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE CABLES HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND THE REAR BRAKES COULD SELF DESTRUCT. *SC

252mo ago
Brakes 4

AT SPEED OF 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES QUICKLY, AND MUCH TO MY SHOCK, THE CAR WENT SIDEWAYS AND SLAMMED INTO A STEEL DIVIDER. THIS CAUSED BODY DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE TO THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE - FROM FRONT TO BACK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY REPAIRS DONE AS OF YET. *JB

255mo ago
Brakes 1

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.

256mo ago
Body 2

THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY BEGAN TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE WHEN ENGAGED FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES AND REPLACED THE CABLE ACCELERATOR. *AK THE FIRST OCCASION OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE WENT FLYING INTO THE NEXT PARKING SPACE. THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NOTHING CHANGED, THE ENGINE CONTINUED RACING. THE CONSUMER WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN AND WAS BACK TO NORMAL. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND PLACED INTO DRIVE AND EXACT SAME THING OCCURRED, BUT ONLY THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND STARTED BACK AGAIN IN FULL THROTTLE. ON THE THIRD OCCASION, WHEN THE SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE. THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN NEUTRAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE. *SC *JB

258mo ago
Engine 2

FUEL DOOR FELL OFF AGAIN!!!!

259mo ago
Engine 1

GASOLINE FUEL DOOR FELL OFF FOR NO REASON, AS FAR I CAN TELL, ALL THE HARDWARE THAT WOULD SECURE FUEL DOOR IS STILL THERE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SUZUKI'S WITH THE SAME THING. *JB

259mo ago
Brakes 1

THE PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM

261mo ago
Transmission 1

SUZUKI TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR IGNITION LOCKED AND 2 TIMES FOR THE 4WD PROBLEM. *BF WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME REGARDING THE 4-WHEEL IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERNAL LOCATED IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY. *JB

262mo ago
Body 1

CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE. AFTERWARDS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED HESITANTLY ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

262mo ago
Brakes 2

THERE WAS A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE ROTORS HAD COMPLETELY WARPED. *JB

263mo ago
Body 2

REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFROM RECALL REPAIRS.*MR *JB *NM

264mo ago
Engine 2

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(04V427000) FOR THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB

264mo ago

53 total

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