2013 Suzuki Grand Vitara problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (2) · Fuel/Propulsion System (1) · Electrical System (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Suzuki Grand Vitara model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
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.
Power Train:manual Transmission 2017-02-09 · campaign 17V085000 · 791 vehicles
Defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain 2009-2013 Grand Vitara vehicles equipped with a manual transmission. The gear shift rear shaft on these vehicles may break, preventing the gears from being able to be changed.
Risk: If the transmission cannot be shifted, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gear shift rear shaft, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-934-0934. Suzuki's number for this recall is VZ.
Service bulletins (2)
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.
What owners report
2018-12-26 · Power Train · 86,000 mi“i see there is a recall on the 2013 suzuki grand viatara for "power train recall". however, when i put my vin in the system, it says it can't pull it up. i am entering the vin correctly. what do i do next?…”
2018-01-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 62,587 mi“the vitara has recalls for both my issues but only until 2011 mine is 2013 and has the same issues as previous models did. i moved from hot weather state to cold weather and when winter arrived, the airbag light turned on and now the car takes very long to start. apparently previous models had airbag sensors issues in cold weather and the fuel inje…”
2017-06-23 · Electrical System · 50,827 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 suzuki grand vitara. the contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated approximately five months ago. the contact drove the vehicle to suzuki del caribe in carolina, puerto rico where it was diagnosed that the sensor on the passenger side seat was faulty and needed replacement. the vehicle was not repaire…”
2017-05-19 · Power Train · 28,000 mi“got a letter about a recall on the trans. shifter shaft. it said parts are now available so i called my local service provider at 828-485-0002 -this was 6 1/2 weeks ago and was told they didn't have the parts yet and would call me when they got them. they say they still don't have them? are they stalling or just not want to do warranty work because…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.