2005 Suzuki Reno problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (13) · Exterior Lighting (5) · Air Bags:frontal (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Suzuki Reno model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2014-05-19 · campaign 14V262000 · 184,244 vehicles
Defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Forenza vehicles, and 2005-2008 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2003, through July 30, 2008. In the affected vehicles, heat may be generated in the headlamp switch or daytime running light (DRL) module which could melt the headlamp switch or the DRL module.
Risk: If the heat generated within the headlamp switch or DRL module located on the left side of the steering column melts the headlamp switch or DRL module, there is an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Suzuki will replace the signal switch and add a jumper relay kit and will replace the DRL Module in teh instrument panel harness. Suzuki distributed to owners an interim letter on July 30, 2014. The recall began October 29, 2014. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is XA.
Exterior Lighting:headlights 2012-08-14 · campaign 12V397000 · 101,688 vehicles
Defect: Suzuki is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 Forenza and model year 2005-2006 Reno vehicles manufactured from September 23, 2003, through March 7, 2006. Increased resistance due to poor contact between the terminals of certain wires can generate heat that can melt the splice pack used to connect the power circuit wires for the headlamps. This can result in intermittent or total loss of low/high beam headlamp function.
Risk: If the headlamps fail to function, this will lead to reduced driver visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and Suzuki dealers will reconnect the affected wires with two heat-shrink crimps, free of charge. The safety recall began on September 25, 2012. Owners may contact Suzuki at 1-877-697-8985.
Service bulletins (14)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Suspension 2022-07-08 · SUZ_016008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
reminder of the importance to conduct safety inspections for rust damage to suspension and related parts that could be caused by road salt or other chemicals applied to the roadway.
Suspension 2018-11-20 · N-Q-G-045 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin was sent by suzuki motor corporation to its authorized suzuki automobile distributors in the u.s., explaining the importance of proper inspection and maintenance of suspension lower arm ball joints to prevent the ball stud from becoming separated from the suspension lower arm.
Seats 2016-05-18 · SUZ_013175 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin updates a bulletin originally issued on may 18, 2016, concerning a special warranty extension (zh) for 2005-2008 suzuki forenza and suzuki reno vehicles. the updates are: (1) the existence of diagnostic trouble code (dtc) b1379 is added to the list of dtcs that make a vehicle
Engine 2013-08-08 · TS-30-06263 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suzuki: suzuki has replacement oil pumps that have a threaded plug. the threaded proves to be difficult to remove without causing damage to the new oil pump. this bulletin provides procedures when replacing the old oil pump. *js
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) 2008-01-01 · TS0601238 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
required automatic transmission control module initialization procedure. my 2004-2008 forenz sedan/wagon, reno (rq420). *nj
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2008-01-01 · TS0501158 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
airbag light on; dtc b1378 (driver side airbag resistance too high) and/or dtc b1382 (passenger side airbag resistance too high). forenza, sedan/wagon, reno (rq420) 2005-2006. vin(s) -6k425022. *nj
Showing the 6 most recent of 14 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2019-09-06 · Air Bags“drivers side airbag light stays on. not sure airbag would inflate if i was in a accident or if it might inflate on its own while i am driving and cause a accident. i also cannot find a suzuki dealership anymore that could do a recall repair if there is one.…”
2017-05-09 · Air Bags · 94,854 mi“the airbag light keeps coming on and the passenger airbag is off. all the time.…”
2015-10-14 · Air Bags · 50,000 mi“the airbag warning light turned on without any readily identifiable cause. several repair facilities cannot seem to find out why it remains on. i suspect this is related to the following tsbs: #ts0501158, #0312234, and #0512234. why this isn't being treated as a safety issue is unclear to me. this is a known problem that disables a safety syste…”
2015-03-30 · Exterior Lighting“i have had a recalled on my car since 12/2014 and as of today 3/30/2015 and still having an issues with the dealerships to fix it. *tr…”
2014-06-17 · Power Train · 33,570 mi“from day one, my engine light has come on and i have been dealing with different issues ie, it's the gas cap, the man who sold me the car, (the dealer) took the car to the dealership to be repaired,so much, then he took off, and left massachusetts after selling me a lemon. etc. how many gas caps do i have to buy? now at year 2014, the engine and tr…”
2014-05-24 · Engine And Engine Cooling“there is a fume that smells toxic. i have had a new valve cover gasket and a cabin filter put on this car but the fumes persist. i think they are bad for my health because the effects stays with me long after i'm out of the car, my breathing/chest just doesn't feel right. i just don't know what to do. i've taken it to several mechanics and the …”
2013-09-02 · Air Bags · 30,000 mi“the air bag light and "passenger air bag disabled" light are on all the time. it originally appeared to be due to the passenger seat sensor that disables the right side air bag when it detects a weight under a certain limit (e.g., so the air bag is deactivated if a child's car seat is there). the way we came to assume that it might be the sensor…”
2013-06-04 · Air Bags · 99,000 mi“airbag warning light came on for no reason.vehicle has never been in any kind of accident. i have read online that this a common problem with the reno and forenza. there are problems with seat sensors/wiring and clocksprings. suzuki has long known of the problem ,but will not issue a recall for this vehicle. i was told by the dealer that they have …”
2013-03-10 · Air Bags · 42,000 mi“the airbag warning light is on all the time. it is irritating that we cannot get it to go away. even when resetting the system it comes back within hours. suzuki will not fix unless we pay. have checked the connection under the seats and made sure they were not loose. suzuki should be forced to recall effected vehicles. bulletin no: ts0501158 date …”
2012-12-03 · Exterior Lighting · 139,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2005 suzuki reno. the contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under nhtsa campaign id number: 07v452000 (exterior lighting) and since the repair, the headlights failed to function properly. the vehicle was not taken to a mechanic. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was contacted about the issue. the failure m…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.