2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting (18) · Air Bags (10) · Exterior Lighting:headlights (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Suzuki Grand Vitara model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
35 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification 2019-03-07 · campaign 19V187000 · 31,302 vehicles
Defect: 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags 2013-09-06 · campaign 13V405000 · 189,901 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury to that child.
Fix: 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 nu
Service bulletins (7)
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.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System 2012-11-05 · TSB-37-07188 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suzuki: fuel gauge takes a long time moving, after fill up, because of two (2) different fuel meter modes, normal mode and refuel mode, for gauge movement. models 2006-2008 grand vitara. *pe
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2012-07-25 · ABE-ZA-120418 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suzuki: see document search button for owner letter. warranty extension for 'air bag' warning light illumination. *js updated 7/25/12. *pe
Air Bags:frontal:sensor/Control Module-Inactive 2012-06-12 · TSB-TS06-05212 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suzuki: the front passenger seat bottom cushion assembly has the sensor mat located within and the electric disconnection (open) will occur due to repeated flexing, that may develop. *pe updated 04/10/2013 *js
Air Bags:frontal 2012-05-13 · SC-60R-1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suzuki: on certain vehicles, within the front passenger seat bottom cushion, the sensing sensor mat, an electric circuit disconnection may have developed, due to repeated flexing. *pe
Showing the 6 most recent of 7 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-04 · Engine“while stopped at traffic light at idle, i can hear a knocking noise in the engine compartment. took it to my mechanic, and believe it is coming from the lower engine. he removed the oil pan and found that the rod and crankshaft bearing has movement. the car is 2008 and only has 36,000 miles.…”
2025-07-30 · Seats“the air bag light remain on . the vehicle was checked in a scanner and the codes b1312 and b1319 where found..i want to know if are recalls for this car. if yes what dealer in puerto rico can repair it.…”
2024-08-05 · Air Bags“i received 3 urgent letters telling me my2008 suzuki grand vitara has an airbag recall passenger side and needed to be repaired right away. but suzuki only has a few dealers left and none close to me so i have to drive my children in this unsafe car. so i called the dealer and they said i have to drop my car off 3 hours away and leave it for howev…”
2019-01-22 · Air Bags“my 2008 suzuki grand vitara has a bad right side seat cushion open circuit and needs the seat cushion replaced. isn't this covered by nhtsa campaign number: 13v405000, and why haven't i been notified of the recall? how do i get this issue taken care of now that there is no longer an american suzuki dealer?…”
2018-08-28 · Exterior Lighting · 130,000 mi“my suzuki grand vitara is a 2007. bought new. i didn't have trouble with the lighting until after the warranty had run out.then i had problems with the bulbs burning out, but only one at a time several months apart. this has been going on for several years. now i carry spare bulbs for high and low beams, that is a very expensive when it has 2 be di…”
2018-02-10 · Air Bags“just received some recalls ...many of them but they don't have anywhere to send me to..i have not been able to touch bases with them they put me on hold.. one lady said she didn't know what to tell me.another send me to a motocycle place .. another send me 3 hours away can you send some information where to get my airbags replaced…”
2018-01-23 · Air Bags · 126,035 mi“my air bag light keep coming on and making a sound when no one in the seat…”
2017-06-16 · Exterior Lighting · 70,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2008 suzuki grand vitara. while driving 50 mph, the headlights and daytime running lights failed and turned off, one shortly after the other. the contact replaced the bulbs several times, but the failure recurred. the vehicle was taken to suzuki of green brook (101 us-22, green brook township, nj 08812) who stated that both h…”
2017-04-19 · Power Train · 131,000 mi“put vehicle in reverse and thought i was backing up, but when i put shifter in drive, it kept going backwards. i realized being on a down slope, that shifter was not working and i had idled backwards. i put shifter in drive position and continued idling backwards into a snow bank. i had to shut off and restart several times and it eventually went i…”
2016-07-16 · Engine · 21,511 mi“there is a engine knock while vehicle is in neutral or park. took it to the dealer service department. they think it might be a lower motor issue. vehicle only has 21000 miles on it.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.