2001 Suzuki Esteem

21 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Aug 31, 2015Failure Aug 29, 2015150,000 milesDecatur, ILSuspension

   I WAS DRIVING ONTO AN EXIT AT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND I HEARD A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE AND LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED OVER. THERE WAS NO MORE STEERING.

   NHTSA complaint 10760295
2. Filed May 29, 2014Failure Apr 25, 2014129,000 milesVineland, NJBody, Suspension

   HUSBAND WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN THE FRONT TIRE GAVE WAY AND BENT IN FROM FRAME. TOOK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AS THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR ONLY HAD 129,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. FORTUNATELY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. SHAME ON SUZUKI FOR PRODUCING INFERIOR CARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFELY ISSUE! *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10594844
3. Filed May 15, 2014Failure May 15, 2014115,000 milesBrick, NJSuspension

   I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE EXIT AND THEN TURNING RIGHT FROM STOP SIGN ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN HEARD A CLICK AND THEN TIRE WERE RUBBING AGAINST THE CAR BODY THE KFRAME GOT RUSTED AND TWISTED PUSHING THE TIRE BACK AND STEERING WHEEL OFF. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10588723
4. Filed May 16, 2012Failure Apr 25, 2012199,000 milesBellefonte, PAFrame and members

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SUB FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNSTABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 199,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10458674
5. Filed Oct 26, 2011Failure Oct 26, 2011Hartville, OHUnderbody shields

   BOUGHT A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM IN APRIL OF 2011 CAR LOT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SMALL BRACKET THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY MOTOR AND NEED TO BE REPLACE ASAP HERE TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS THE WHOLE SUBFRAME THAT HOLDS UP THE MOTOR AND TRASMISSION FOUND THAT THERE WAS A SUZUKI RECALL ON THAT PART. TOOK THE CAR TO SUZUKI DEALER THE SERVICE GUY CALLED ME AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A MODIFICATION DONE TO THE SUBFRAME IT SELF AND THAT IT WAS WELDED TO THE FRAME TO HELP SUPPORT IT WHILE WAITING FOR A RECALL SUZUKI DEALER CALLED ME AND SAID SUZUKI CANNOT DO RECALL DUE TO THE MODIFICATION THAT WAS MADE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

   NHTSA complaint 10432914
6. Filed May 12, 2011Failure Oct 22, 2010138,800 milesApalachin, NYFrame and members

   CROSS MEMBER RECALL WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ROTTED OUT CONTROL ARMS THAT WERE A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ROTTED OUT CROSS MEMBER? *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10400665
7. Filed Feb 8, 2011Failure Nov 4, 2010183,000 milesMantua, NJFront

   TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. THE CONTACT STATED ENTERING A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND WHEEL COMPLETELY FRACTURED FROM THE FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS OFFERED TO THE OWNERS OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE BUT THE WARRANTY WAS VOIDED DUE TO THE MILEAGE LIMITATIONS OF THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

   NHTSA complaint 10381122
8. Filed Jul 21, 2010Failure Jul 4, 2010110,000 milesElmira, NYFrame and members

   2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM. STEERING WAS SUDDENLY OFF CENTER SO I HAD AN ALIGNMENT COMPLETED WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. ABOUT 1 WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY OFF CENTER AGAIN. A FEW BLOCKS FURTHER (I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN AT THE TIME, AT SLOW SPEEDS) THE FRONT PASSENGER SUB-FRAME BROKE. THIS CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL TO SLOPE AND THE SUSPENSION TO PULL OUT FROM THE TRANSMISSION, IMMEDIATELY MAKING THE CAR INOPERABLE. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I AM SURE AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE ENSUED. FORTUNATELY IT OCCURS AS I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE FRAME RUSTING THROUGH AND BREAKING. WHILE THERE WERE SMALL RUST SPOTS ON THE BOTTOM OF ONE OF THE DOORS, THE CAR WAS NOT AT ALL RUSTY. DUE TO EXPENSE TO REPAIR, I SOLD THE CAR TO THE HORSEHEADS, NY PICK-A-PART USED CAR PARTS LOT AND PURCHASED A NEW CAR. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10344528
9. Filed Jun 24, 2010Failure Jun 17, 2010150,000 milesKettering, OHFrame and members

   1) DRIVING FROM ALABAMA TO OHIO - ALIGNMENT FELT "OFF" 2) FRAME RUSTED AND DROPPED NEAR RIGHT-FRONT WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING/TURNING 5 MPH IN PARKING LOT 3) JUNK CAR. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10339934
10. Filed Oct 1, 2009Failure Aug 29, 2009123,000 milesSayville, NYFrame and members

    2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM FRONT RIGHT WHEEL RUBBING AGAINST INSIDE FENDER CAR PULLING TO RIGHT K FRAME CROSSMEMBER ROTTED PART REPLACED BY SUZUKI DEALER OLD PART IS AVAILABLE PART AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10285996
11. Filed Feb 25, 2009Failure Feb 17, 200960,000 milesChicago, ILBody, Front

    FRONT SUBFRAME ON A 2001 SUZUKI, ESTEEM CRACKED. CALL SUZUKI DEALER TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS FOR THAT PROBLEM AND THE ANSWER WAS NO. WHICH I THINK THERE SHOULD BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS NOT THAT OLD TO HAVE DOES KIND OF PROBLEMS. PART AND LABOR WILL BE REALLY EXPENSIVE CLOSE TO A $1,000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. WHEN I TALKED TO THE PERSON IN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT, TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR THE SAME PART FOR REPAIR LATELY, THIS IS WHY I THINK IS A RECALL ISSUE AND SUZUKI SHOULD WARRANTY THIS KIND OF PARTS THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO LAST FOR A REALLY LONG TIME I SUPPOSE. PLEASE HELP!!!!! I STILL HAVEN'T FIXED THE CAR BECAUSE OF COSTLY REPAIR. *TR

    NHTSA complaint 10259958
12. Filed Sep 12, 2008Failure Aug 1, 2008Windham, MEFrame and members

    2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM WAGON FRONT CROSS MEMBER FRAME RUSTED OUT. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NJ

    NHTSA complaint 10242615
13. Filed Jan 9, 2006Failure Nov 27, 2005Owings Mills, MDStructure

    2001 SUZUKI ESTEEM LOST THE FRONT GRILL. *TS *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10147581
14. Filed Oct 31, 2005Failure Oct 20, 200546,500 milesPhila., PAEngine

    NOTICED TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TOOK IT TO GET OIL CHANGED AND STATE INSPECTED NO PROBLEM FOUND. 3 WEEKS LATER TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE MAY HAVE OCCURRED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 46000 MILES. PRIOR TO HEARING TICKING NOISE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECT. TIMING CHAIN REPAIR $1000. IF THEY FIND ENGINE DAMAGE $3400.*JB

    NHTSA complaint 10141354
15. Filed Apr 16, 2005Failure Jan 9, 200330,000 milesFT Hood, TXIgnition

    PURCHASED A NEW SUZUKI ESTEEM IN 2001. ABOUT 30000 MILES THE KEY BEAGN TO STICK IN THE IGNITION AND YOU COULD NOT TAKE IT OUT. ONCE YOU TURNED THE CAR ON, YOU COULD NOT MOVE INTO PARK. HAVE HAD IT "FIXED" 3 TIMES NOW. THERE IS A LITTLE WHITE BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF STEERING WHEEL THAT ONCE PUSHED WILL RELEASE THE KEY FROM THE LOCKED POSITION BUT IN ORDER TO GET TO IT YOU MUST TAKE OFF THE COVER.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10117984
16. Filed Jun 16, 2004Failure Jun 16, 2004Biscoe, NCAnti-theft deviceCrash

    WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN RIGHT TURN POSITION. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO COLLIDE INTO AN EMBANKMENT, HITTING A TREE. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 10079368
17. Filed Dec 10, 200336,700 milesBlakely, PAEngine

    WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE MAKE A TICKING NOISE AS IF IT NEEDED OIL, BUT IT DIDN'T. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY INDICATED THAT THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM. *AK *CB *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10042806
18. Filed Jun 7, 2002Failure Aug 27, 2001Willowick, OHExhaust system, Automatic transmission

    THERE WAS A VIBRATING NOISE IN THE EXHAUST, THE DEALER LUBED THE HANGERS. *SLC

    NHTSA complaint 566024
19. Filed Sep 12, 2001Failure Sep 1, 2001Washington, DCService brakes, Foundation components1 injured

    WHILE ENTERING A RAMP CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO SLOWDOWN AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN CAR UP ON CONCRETE TO STOP. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT BRAKES FELT SMUSHY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 896206
20. Filed Aug 9, 2001Failure Aug 7, 2001Bullhead City, AZWiring

    WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DIED. VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. THIS WAS SECOND TIME THAT PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED WHEN DRIVER LIFTED HOOD AND JIGGLED MASTER CONTROL FUSE (80 AMP) COME LOOSE. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 893993