2004 Suzuki Aerio Problems and Recalls (12 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Suzuki Aerio is Tires (25% of 12 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Tires — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 12 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Suzuki Aerio?

3 of 12 filings named Tires (25% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (2 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2003 has 34 reports on file; this year has 12. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Suzuki Aerio

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
Tires. Check age, tread depth and uneven wear. Uneven wear often points back to alignment.
Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
Suspension. Listen for clunks over bumps and look at tire wear for alignment issues.
Skim a few owner reports below for Tires. Look for the same symptom repeating.
Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Tires 3 complaints · 25.0% of the file

Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:

Crashes 2
Fires 0
Injuries 1
Deaths 0

All Suzuki Aerio years →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table

System / Component	Complaints	Share of Reports	Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Tires (TIRES)	3	25.0%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)	2	16.7%	1 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION)	2	16.7%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)	1	8.3%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)	1	8.3%	0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover	5	41.7%	0 crashes · 0 fires

NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

View timeline records as a table

Date	Record type	Count	Record identifier
2005-Q2	Owner reports	2
2006-Q1	Owner reports	2
2007-Q1	Owner reports	1
2007-Q2	Owner reports	1
2007-Q4	Owner reports	1
2009-Q4	Owner reports	1
2018-Q3	Owner reports	2
2019-Q3	Owner reports	1
2026-Q1	Owner reports	1
Jul 2007	Recall campaign	1	07V307000

NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Transmission / driveline.

Recall campaign 07V307000

Transmission / driveline

Report date

Jul 15, 2007

Component:

Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)

Consequence:

REPEATED SHIFTING IN THIS MANNER CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE RETAINING CLIP TO BREAK. IF THE RETAINING CLIP BREAKS, THE SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFT LEVER, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION GEARS.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE RETAINING CLIP WITH A CLIP THAT HAS A DIFFERENT SHAPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 1-800-934-0934.

View authoritative NHTSA record →

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07

Showing 10 of 12 complaints · page 1 of 1

2026-01-22Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)

NHTSA ODI 11712653

CrashFireInjuryDeath

The contact owns a 2004 Suzuki Aerio. The contact stated that the gear shifter was loose. The gear shifter was shifted, but the vehicle failed to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 220,886.

2019-07-19Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)

NHTSA ODI 11233500

CrashFireInjuryDeath

THE 'PARKING' TRANSMISSION. I REALLY SCARY WHIT THIS CAR. I PUT THE CAR IN PARKING AND HE GO IN REVERSE AND HIT ME.

2018-07-08Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11110072

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TECH. ADVISED REPLACE THE GEAR SHIFT CABLE IMPROPER (SHAPE) OF CLIP. RECALL AUG. 13, 2007. FILED WRONG VIN NUMBER ORIGINALLY GIVEN #11109578 7/5/18

2018-07-05Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 11109578

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TAKATA RECALL GEAR SHIFT CABLE IMPROPER SHAPE OF THE CLIP. RECALL AUG,13,2007

2009-11-25Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 10293545

CrashFireInjuryDeath

MY 2004 SUZUKI AERIO SX'S GAS PEDAL WILL BECOME TRAPPED UNDER THE FLOORMAT IF IT'S PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. I'VE HAD THIS LOOKED AT BY MY DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. NOPE, STILL DOES IT. THE PROBLEM IS THE RETAINING PIN FOR THE DRIVERS FLOOR MAT IS POORLY MADE AND DOESN'T KEEP THE FLOORMAT IN PLACE ALLOWING IT TO SLIDE FORWARD AND JAM THE PEDAL DOWN. VERY EXCITING.*TR

2007-11-27Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)

NHTSA ODI 10210544

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI AERIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE WAL-MART MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY EXPANDED AND COULD EXPLODE. HE TESTED THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STATED THAT THE CRANKS TESTED AT 300, BUT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AT 750. THE ENGINE LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT PAID $76 FOR THE REPLACEMENT AND STATED THAT THE BATTERY SHOULD LAST SEVEN YEARS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000.

2007-05-14Suspension (SUSPENSION)

NHTSA ODI 10190671

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI AERIO. THE CONTACT PLACED BRAND NEW REAR TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ALIGNMENT FAILED AT 14,000 MILES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE FACTORY IMPROPERLY ALIGNING THE VEHICLE'S REAR END. CURRENTLY, THE CONTACT NEEDS TO HAVE THE FRONT TIRES AND BUSHINGS REPLACED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 18,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED COPIES OF THE REPAIR INVOICES. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE PASSENGER AND DRIVER MIRRORS ARE LOOSE, TAIL LIGHT HAS MOISTURE, WINDSHIELDS LEAK, TIRES ARE KNOTTED AND CLICK, PASSENGER HAS TO HOLD SEATBELT, AND POPPING NOISE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. UPDATED 06/15/07 *TR

2007-02-22Tires (TIRES)Unclassified NHTSA leftover

NHTSA ODI 10183288

CrashFireInjuryDeath

TL*- CONTACT BOUGHT THE 2004 SUZUKI AERIO IN MARCH 2004, AND AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAD YOKOHAMA TIRES. AT 12,000 MILES ALL 4 TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TREAD WAS WEARING OUT. THE CONTACT THOUGHT THAT THE TIRES WERE FAULTY SO SHE REPLACED THEM WITH 4 NEW MICHELIN TIRES. AT 14,000 MILES THE TREAD WAS WEARING OUT ON ALL 4 TIRES. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REAR ALIGNMENT, AND THAT THEY WOULD ALSO REPLACE ALL THE TIRES. THEY REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH MICHELIN TIRES, AND AT 12,000 MILES THE CONTACT TOOK EHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THAT BOTH REAR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48000.*AK

2006-03-07Tires (TIRES)

NHTSA ODI 10152124

CrashFireInjuryDeath

MY REAR ALIGNMENT IS OFF SO IN OCTOBER OF 2005 I TOOK IT IN TO GET FIXED AS MY REAR TIRES APPEARED TO BE WEARING AT AN UNUSUAL RATE AND PATTERN. PROBLEM WAS SAID TO BE IN SOME SUZUKI AERIO'S BUT WAS SAID TO BE FIXED. THE SPECS WERE OFF AND HAD TO BE RESET AND REAR TIRES WARRANTED. ON JANUARY 5TH I TOOK CAR IN TO GET OIL CHANGED AND ROTATION OF TIRES. THEY WOULD NOT ROTATE AS BACK TIRES WERE WORN AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK WHERE I GOT IT FIXED THE PREVIOUS TIME. ON JANUARY 20TH REAR ALIGNMENT FIXED AGAIN AND THIS TIME THEY HAD TO BEND SOMETHING (A STRUT ?) IN ORDER TO GET THE SPECS RIGHT ON THE CAR. I WENT OFF THE ROAD WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND WENT INTO A DITCH. NO DAMAGE. THEN ON JANUARY 31TH NEW TIRES PUT ON THE FRONT AND OLD ONES ROTATED TO THE BACK. THE OLD ONES WERE FROM OCTOBER AND WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PER SUZUKI DEALERSHIP. THE TIRES ARE AGAIN WORN TO THE POINT OF UNSAFE. I CAN NOT DRIVE ON DRY ROADS WITHOUT HAVING A PROBLEM. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY DEFECT AND THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS FOR ME TO BUY NEW TIRES EVERY MONTH. THE TIRES WORN DOWN COMPLETELY FROM EXCELLENT TO SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING ON THEM IN 2,000 MILES AND JUST OVER A MONTH. *JB

2006-03-02Tires (TIRES)

NHTSA ODI 10151671

CrashFireInjuryDeath

I PURCHASED MY AERIO OCT 2004 AND NOW MARCH 2006 HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES 3 TIMES THIS HAS BEEN COSTLY WE HAVE HAD IT REALIGNED SEVERAL TIMES AND RE-BALANCED BUT THE TIRES STILL WEAR RAPIDLY. *JB

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Suzuki Aerio?

Owners named Tires most often — 3 of 12 reports (25%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Suzuki Aerio?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Transmission / driveline. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Suzuki Aerio?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check age, tread depth and uneven wear. Uneven wear often points back to alignment. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21

Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources